Office ID Badge Systems HELP!

[joviroxx]

Im hoping some fellow Dis'rs can help me out. We need to get an ID Badging system. To date, we've just been making very simple crude ID's but have decided we need something a bit more substantial.

We do not need anything major, it can be on the lower end. We don't plan to make many badges often once we do the initial ones. We just need something that will take the picture, where we can design the card and print it out.

Anyone out there have any experience buying one? Any recommendations? I have no idea where to start...

Thank so much for anyone that might be able to help me!

 

[sam_gordon]

My suggestion...

Use Microsoft Word to design a template. You can even have it link to an Excel Spreadsheet or Access Database to pull whatever information (Employee name, department, etc). You can even use it to pull images (link: http://www.gmayor.com/mail_merge_graphics.htm). Then you just use any point/shoot camera, take the pictures and upload them to the PC.

Someone familiar with mail merge should be able to get this set up in a couple hours at most.

Once finished, print out the sheets you want, cut them, and take them to Staples, Kinkos, etc for lamination (if you don't have a lamination machine).

I would think you can do the first bunch for probably <$150. An ID badge printer is $850+. And you'd still need something to take the pictures with.

 

[FireDancer]

Are you talking about an ID badge for visual ID only or one that is used to access the building? We have a Honeywell system that we use to get around the building. It is the one computer-based product that I don't administer, it is handled by our Chief of Security and Honeywell, but it is reliable and provides detailed logs.

What doors you badge opens and at what time they can open them depends on your job and it is all controlled by a computer that reads the access panels and either unlocks the door or doesn't based on who you are.

 

[joviroxx]

Are you talking about an ID badge for visual ID only or one that is used to access the building? We have a Honeywell system that we use to get around the building. It is the one computer-based product that I don't administer, it is handled by our Chief of Security and Honeywell, but it is reliable and provides detailed logs.

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For now, its just visual ID. We are a mechanical contractor and our employees need to have them when entering many of our contract customers . Especially government and school building.

My suggestion...

Use Microsoft Word to design a template. You can even have it link to an Excel Spreadsheet or Access Database to pull whatever information (Employee name, department, etc). You can even use it to pull images (link: http://www.gmayor.com/mail_merge_graphics.htm). Then you just use any point/shoot camera, take the pictures and upload them to the PC.

We've been doing something similar but we are looking to upgrade.

Basically, our guys are out on the field and need sturdy cards. I guess we are looking at those PVC type cards.. We might expand it to for our office employees to swipe them instead of punching time cards.

We just don't need a 7000 system. Im just not familiar with brands, types, printers, etc...

I hate when they put me to research something I know nothing about LOL!

 

[FireDancer]

For now, its just visual ID. We are a mechanical contractor and our employees need to have them when entering many of our contract customers . Especially government and school building.

OK, you probably want something printed on a thicker card stock and then laminated. I would head up to a UPS store or Kinkos for the printing. I would just use Photoshop to make a template and then add in the individual pics and info, save the file as an image, and then head up to one of them see what they can do.