Aplusid

The role of identification in highly congested areas simply cannot be understated, especially in places where a formidable security presence would be inappropriate.

In some areas, a distinct type of uniform can be used to differentiate between visitors and members of staff. This is a viable system for helping teachers identify pupils, shop managers spot their employees and policemen pick out their colleagues whilst out on patrol. Although in places where people are permitted to wear what they like, it’s much harder to spot certain individuals. These are the situations where ID badges will often be sought.

As a team of security guards would find it hard to blend into a primary school or workplace, ID badges prove integral to a different type of security – of the visual kind. Having a system where any person can spot an intruder is perhaps the most convenient way of ensuring that every person on the grounds has permission to be there.

It’s much less intimidating than a team of security guards and one of the most cost-effective ways of protecting the well-being of individuals.

These are just two of the reasons why so many businesses, organisations and establishments have implemented visual security systems around their areas.

Schools

ID badges are of the utmost importance in educational facilities as they help to reassure all those on site. It’s unlikely that pupils will need clarification on who their form tutors and course leaders are, so badges on these sites are most often used to identify guests. These will often display the heading of ‘visitor’ and be handed out to supply teachers, guest speakers, workshop tutors or anyone else taking a short stay.

A name and company will often be given, while some of the more advanced products feature fully integrated visually expiring technology to notify regular staff when the person has outstayed their welcome. That way no former-guest can attempt to gain entry to the facility by using an old badge. Primary schools right up to universities can benefit from using these products, as every student and member of staff should value the luxury of reassurance.

Shops

Though the well-being of employees is paramount in retail outlets too, there’s perhaps less of a need for badges to protect staff in these businesses. Visual security in this case is used to protect the thousands of pounds worth of stock that can be freely plucked off the rails.

Now, ordering staff to wear uniforms is one way of determining who’s allowed access to the backroom, but some companies allow their staff to dress in a way that matches the brand’s values and target audience. In jewellers and suit makers, for example, every member of staff will be dressed smartly yet in a different way to one another. Store managers, who may be looking after hundreds of staff, use special ID badges to identify official employees.

Having this visual security system in place can go some way to preventing regular members of the public from waltzing into stock rooms and taking goods outside of the store without detection. Meanwhile swapping a full uniform for a small badge allows employees to present a professional and clean cut image at all times.

Businesses

ID badges work in a similar way when used in the corporate arena. Most mid-sized companies have hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of equipment housed inside a building which doesn’t require electronic scanning for entry. Such systems are costly and tricky to maintain, making them unsuitable for companies with a low turnover. However, staff all wear their own smart clothes, which is why badges are needed to identify employees.

Typical features of an ID badge around businesses or local council offices include a name and date of birth for comparing with a different form of identification, with staff numbers providing another point of reference. Expiry dates are also crucial in this particular field, as a company’s failure to have a departing employee hand over their badge will allow the individual to enter the building if and when they wish.

Of course, visual security is hardly a replacement for security teams at music festivals and shopping centres, but they more than earn their worth in certain situations.