If your organization requires employees, guests, and others to display ID badges, you'll definitely need accessories to help cardholders wear their badges for visual identification. But how do you choose badge accessories that meet everyone's needs? Here are a few pointers to help you select the right ID card badge accessories that make the most sense for the majority of your cardholders.
Functionality
How will your cardholders use their ID badges? Do they need to swipe them through card readers or payment processing systems? At the same time, do they need to display their ID cards for visual identification?
Depending on how your cardholders need to use their ID badges, you may need badge accessories that let cardholders easily display their IDs for visual verification. In addition, for badges that need swiped often, cardholders need a holder that facilitates quick and easy swiping throughout the day.
Consider how retractable reels can meet both needs. They allow cardholders to display their badges while offering easy swiping when needed. Plus, a retractable reel keeps the ID card out of the way when not in use but easily accessible when you need to swipe.
Visual identification
If the foremost purpose of ID badges is visual identification, consider how you can use colored or clear badge holders to distinguish between security levels or cardholder accessibility.
For example, you could use a clear badge holder for all active employees. A red colored badge holder could distinguish visitors or guests from employees. And a yellow badge holder could help identify contractors allowed to be on site.
Consider how different colored badge holders can make visual identification of card holders immediately available. Your security staff can tell at a glance who belongs where.
High security
For environments requiring high security, choose a shielded badge holder. These protect proximity or smart cards from being skimmed by nefarious individuals. For government installations and other organizations needing top security clearances, the badge holder you choose should protect against undesirables electronically gaining access to your ID badges.
Take your security to a safer level with shielded badge holders that eliminate skimming and the opportunity for cards to be electronically copied and stolen. For example, when traveling around the country, an RFID protected badge holder means hackers can't scan your ID badge and steal security information. Similar to an RFID protected holder for passports, these badge holders secure your restricted information while not allowing scammers to pick up your identification over radio frequency waves.
Low security
When security isn't an issue, consider how you can offer badge holders that don't harm the wearer's clothing. Magnetic ID badges use magnetics to attach the badge rather than pins or clips, saving clothing from holes and wear and tear.
You might also use a lanyard rather than clip badges to clothing. A lanyard attached your credentials to a ribbon you wear around your neck. For safety purposes, some lanyards are break away, meaning if the badge or lanyard gets caught, it automatically releases to keep the wearer safe from strangulation.
Longevity
If your cardholders use their cards often or wear them in high temperature environments or facilities with lots of dirt and debris, choose a badge accessory that protects your ID cards. Also choose an attachment option that helps keep the card protected such as a badge holder clipped or snapped to a lanyard.
Make sure the badge accessory you choose protects your ID cards from dirt and debris, excessive wear and tear, and damage from heat and humidity. The longer your ID cards last, the less the overall cost of your ID card program.
Final thoughts
If this sounds confusing, contact an ID Expert at Idesco (212-889-2530) to discuss your options. He or she can help you decide what's most important about your badge accessories and how to use a badge accessory to stress security and safety or protect your cards' lifespan. With an almost endless variety of badge accessories to choose from, it's easy to get confused. Our ID Experts have years of experience with companies just like yours to help guide you to the perfect employee ID badge accessory that meets your security, business, and operational needs.