What Makes an Excellent Employee ID Card?

An excellent employee ID card is one that meets your organization's needs. First, know what's most important for your operations:

• Security
• Identification
• Access control
• Smart features like payment
• A combination of the above

Do you need a badge so customers can easily spot employees when they need help? Or maybe you need to track student attendance and access to facilities. Perhaps security of proprietary information, products, etc. is an issue and you need to restrict access to your offices and factories. Each of these work environments call for a different type of employee ID card.

Most corporate employee ID cards are bland. They have a picture, name, and sometimes the employee's department or title. You may need an ID card with advanced security in mind. For example, government facilities have elaborate security features like an UV overlay that needs special equipment to verify, making it impossible to counterfeit.

Here are 7 elements to consider adding to your employee ID cards, depending on your organization's needs.

1. Your company logo

Not only does this identify your organization, but unless a forger has access to your corporate logo, it's difficult to copy. Your logo is also a branding opportunity. Incorporate your organization's logo to make your ID cards highly recognizable by security people, customers, and others.

2. Design

Your employee ID cards' design depends on the ID card software you choose. Find one with the security features you need as well as any additional functionality. If you need access cards, rewards cards, payment cards, etc., call one of our reps to help you find software that lets you put that information into the card's design.

Design is important to meet your security, information, and branding needs. You can use the card's design to signify access to floors or departments by incorporating different colors or other identifying information.

3. Employee picture

Most employee ID cards today include the employee's picture. If you're on the fence about including a photo, consider how unique each ID card will be with it. Employee pictures are an easily visible way of identifying cardholders. It's also an easy way to increase security and authenticity of an employee ID card.

4. Encoded information

Encoded information on an employee ID card adds functionality beyond security measures. You can use bar codes, magnetic stripes, RFID tags, and smart chips for a variety of purposes. Provide access to your facilities or building, track attendance to programs, offer payment options, and more. In addition, employee cards combined with a card reader either approves or denies cardholders' access. You'll need fewer security personnel to process more people.

5. Enhanced security features

Depending on your organization, you may need more advanced security measures. Consider adding biometric information like a fingerprint, watermark, fluorescent images, or a tamper-proof holographic overlay. Highly secure facilities need an extra layer you can add to your employee ID cards that's impossible to duplicate, copy, or forge.

6. Dual-sided cards

Another option organizations might not consider is the real estate on the back side of employee ID cards. This space is perfect for other personal information to help identify cardholders and other features like magnetic stripes to add functionality. If you want a clean, minimalist design on the front of your ID cards, use the back side to add any important information your organization needs.

7. Card durability

Last, but not least, is your employee cards' durability. If you have hundreds or thousands of employees or students swiping their cards for access, attendance, or other functions, you need something that will handle the wear and tear. Long-lasting materials like PVC cards combined with lamination will last several years. You won't need to reissue employee ID cards as often, saving you money and time over the long haul.

Final thoughts

More information, data, or content on your employee ID cards doesn't make them better. It's hard to authenticate a cluttered ID card. If you're trying to fill space on your ID cards, consider its purpose and determine if you really need it.

A final thought for security: If your employees lose their ID cards or someone steals them, is there information on the card that could jeopardize your organization's security? Consider carefully every element you add to your card with this thought in mind.

To help you create the best employee ID cards for your organization's needs, contact one of Idesco's ID Experts. We'll spend time to understand your security, business, and financial needs to help you make the best choice. Our ID Experts have years of experience and expertise with ID cards to guide you to the option that makes sense for your business and your budget.

If you still have questions, call one of the Idesco ID Experts at 212-889-2530 and they’d be happy to answer them.