The ID Card Solutions industry has seen its fair share of changes over the years. Prior to the pandemic, the industry saw a surge of demand in the event industry as event planners were looking for ways to identify visitors, catering & service staff, security personnel, media representatives and VIP’s quickly even across a large venue or room. Being able to identify who works at an event can also help in emergency situations where an attendee may be looking to report an incident. However, during the pandemic we saw a drop due to the cancellation of live events. On the contrary, the pandemic caused an uptick in the healthcare industry because of the influx of people visiting hospitals daily due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Healthcare facilities needed a way to quickly recognize doctors, nurses, and hospital personnel and often relied on oversized ID badges to accomplish this.
As we transition to a new year, what trends will continue to follow us into 2023 and what changes can we expect?
Supply Shortage – As we all know, 2022 was a year that had ID card and printer manufactures scrambling after major supply chain issues plagued the industry. It also created persistent price increases due to both inflationary pressures and product shortages. In 2023, we may not see the industry go back to the way it used to be with stable prices and infrequent price increases right away. Our prediction is that over time we will see the industry become more stable as manufacturers catch up to the demand. However, supply chain issues will continue well into 2023 as more companies return to the workplace and upgrade their current systems and purchase new ID printers and badges. Same issue with events and trade shows as most people can’t wait to get out and enjoy the fresh air!
High Demand for Oversized ID Badges – With the return of events, we will continue to see large crowds of people attending stadiums, theaters, and other arenas. Oversized badges will continue to be high in demand during 2023 in the event industry. Mainly because it’s much easier to see an oversized badge more clearly from a distance than a regular sized badge. The oversized ID Badges that are used for events are typically 3.5” by 5.5” and are usually worn around the neck. These events include categories such as sporting events, corporate events, music festivals, and trade shows. We will see a full come back of events in 2023 which will keep the demand going for oversized ID printers. It is important for event managers to plan well in advance and anticipate their needs up front to help avoid a shortage in 2023.
New Technology - At Idesco, we like to offer customers the latest technology in the ID industry. Most of our customers like to include some type of technology on the credentials. We predict that we will see more of this in 2023 and beyond. The most common types of technology in the market are proximity cards, NFC and/or UHF. It is a much “cleaner” and safer solution if the chip can be embedded within the credential as opposed to putting a sticker on the outside of the credential. Generally, this technology is used for gaining entry to a location (access control) or it can also be used for gathering valuable information regarding the event, including attendance at seminars, crowd flow, vending and food services information among others. One issue that has affected card technology is again related to supply chain issues and the lack of availability of many of the most common chips. This will continue into 2023 and hopefully subside by the end of the year.
What will be the top industries using ID Cards in 2023?
Aside from schools, healthcare and the event industry, we predict a big push in government and law enforcement in 2023. In addition, we see more and more police & fire departments using oversized ID badges this year. It’s an easy way for first responders to be recognized quickly during an emergency, which can save lives!
Given the trend toward mobile credentials, how will this affect photo ID badges in 2023?
So far, mobile credentials have not had any type of meaningful effect on the physical ID card market. It will continue to be a concern in 2023 and sometimes these types of “disruptive” technologies can linger in the background for some time and then suddenly have a massive effect on the market. A big issue with only using mobile credentials is that you can’t just rely on your phone to get into a facility and need a back-up plan such as a physical ID badge. In addition, for mobile credentials to work, you need specialized readers which requires a large investment; which most companies are hesitant to make.
The Year in Review
We have seen a tremendous uptick in the entire industry in 2022. This has been a direct result of pent-up demand due to the pandemic as discussed above. There is reason to believe that with the return of large-scale events and in person trade shows that the high demand for cards will continue well into 2023 and beyond. There is always the possibility that there could be a negative impact on the industry if companies decide to allow employees to work from home. However, most employees are required to come to the office a few days a week and still need a way to access their workplace and require an ID card to do so. Our prediction is that ID badges are here to stay for the long haul!