When looking for a visitor identification system, make sure to select one that provides a record of all visitors. A good system should equip your organization with a working knowledge of who is currently in the building and who has previously visited. This information is crucial in case of an emergency at your facility.

An effective visitor identification system will also require the visitor to wear visual identification. An ID card or adhesive name badge communicates with the staff that the visitor has business in the building. Without a standard visual identification, unwanted visitors could be in your building without anyone's knowledge.

To secure your building with a visitor identification system, follow these steps:

• Decide where the system will be located and which staff member will be responsible for it. The individual should be familiar with the system so that they can clearly explain how it works.
• Communicate with all staff informing them of the new system. Make sure they are familiar with the look of the badge and the information it includes. They should know the difference between an authentic and false visitor badge.
• Explain to frequent visitors why a new visitor system has been implemented. Reassure visitors that the security system carries out your organization's priority to provide a safe environment for the staff and is not a reflection upon the visitors.

• Keeps a discreet record of visitor traffic.
• Creates an adhesive nametag.
• Easy to implement, low-cost security.
• Bright nametags are easily identifiable.
• Quick sign-in only requires most relevant information from visitors.

Tips & Tricks

"Our district is governed by the Los Angeles County Office of Education which has operated on an antiquated payroll system. There were no IDs or employee numbers," explains PSD Information Technology Director Jim Smith.

As a result, the schools created their own identification systems. Jim recently took on PSD's identification responsibilities – a challenge with 3,000 employees!

"I inherited the project of creating employee badges from another department," said Jim. "They had purchased an identification system and equipment from a different vendor, but the software didn't support our needs and the new ID system never got off the ground."

Jim purchased a copy of ID Maker from IDville. With the new software program, he designed his own ID badges for all PSD employees, assigned them a unique badge number and added a magnetic strip. He was thrilled when ID Maker 2.0 was released in January 2008 and found the upgraded version to be a perfect fit for his district's needs.

"The Human Resources staff will be running the identification program, so I wanted to make sure the software program was simple, reliable and easy to use," he said. "ID Maker 2.0 is very easy to use. I know that the HR department will be able to use the software, train other employees, and do valuable reporting."