What to Know About Employee ID Cards?

Updated On September 9, 2021 | by Alex Smith

Employee ID Cards

Businesses rely heavily on their reputation for steady growth. Employee ID cards can play a significant role in building a company’s brand name. They give legitimacy to employees, creating an easy, approachable bridge between them and new customers.

Almost every major company invests in a high-end ID badge that employees can wear at all times. It offers them several conveniences, besides giving the employees a sense of belonging.

What are the Primary Purposes of an ID Card?

An effective ID card can serve multiple purposes with ease. Listed below are the top ones.

Easy Access

Employees can enter any part of their building by swiping their ID at scanners that restrict access to outsiders. It saves them the time of having to undergo security checks at every other corner.

Authentic Identification

When issued by legitimate bodies such as federal agencies or the state government, ID cards prove that the persons wearing them are who they claim to be.  A driver’s license, passports, or military ID cards are good examples of this. Businesses provide this authenticity to their workers with employee ID cards.

Security 

Among other things, these badges play a pivotal role in company security. It enables security personnel to filter and separate actual employees from others and avoid unauthorized entry. In fact, several schools are introducing ID cards as a tighter security measure as well.

Brand Awareness

When employees are out on a break, one of the first things outsiders notice is the ID attached to the lanyard around their neck. This helps them associate the person with the ID to the company mentioned on the card, creating a type of brand awareness. Thereby, it is critical to note that ID cards can be practical marketing tools to promote a business.

What Constitutes a Competent ID Card for Employees?

If a business wants to have an efficient employee ID badge, they must incorporate the following in it.

Unique Design

No two businesses should have the same type of ID card. There must be a unique design that sets the badges apart from others. Sometimes, even the same business can have slightly different cards, signifying various departments. For instance, a hospital can assign a color to a particular department or floor to easily identify where the employee works.

Also, a business must decide if they want one or both sides of the ID card printed.

Durable Material

Strong materials like plastic or PVC can ensure an ID card has a long shelf life. There are waterproof materials as well that can help employees who work in moisture-prone environments. Also, badges like these are difficult to copy and misuse.

Encoded with Data

Several companies use RFID tags, magnetic strips, barcodes, and smart chips, among other things, to encode employee data onto the ID card. This enables them to sync employee identification with attendance records, building access times, and various crucial information.

Company Logo and Employee Picture

Every company has a unique logo that helps people instantly recognize it anywhere. It is essential to print this on an employee ID badge as well.  It allows employees to project a professional image and bolster the company’s brand. Also, adding a picture of the employee to the front along with the logo makes the card unique to that individual.

Employee Authentication

To heighten security, several companies add the authentic signature of employees to their ID cards. This makes it difficult for trespassers to copy the employee’s signature and access restricted office space. Also, another option is to include a non-replicable holographic overlay or employee fingerprint over the card.

Essentially, the employee badge system is another crucial layer of office automation. It is an effective framework for easy workplace navigation, task management, security measures, and access tracking, among other vital things.