Do you know your microprocessor from your magnetic stripe? Don’t fear if you don’t. If you’re thinking of incorporating smart cards into your business here is a handy guide to help you. We break down every smart card and their uses to find the type that suits your business’s needs.
Memory Cards
An upgrade from magnetic stripe cards, memory cards are the popular choice due to its high security and significantly lower price, especially when bought in bulk. They can be used in applications such as school meals, e-purse schemes, laundry, loyalty cards, car parking, and cashless vending. They can have a variety of different features: no security, protected memory, or crypto-memory.
Microprocessor Cards
Microprocessors are exactly what they say on the tin: a tiny processing chip. It has its own processing system that can store and process thousands of bits of data, which sets it apart from the memory cards by having the ability to react to given situations. They are very secure and therefore mostly used in access control and security.
Contactless Smart Cards
Contactless smart cards are seen all over the high street. Wave this in front of a smart card reader and watch her work. Coming from a variety of brands, the contactless card allows for interaction with the reader without physical contact, creating the opportunity for many shapes for hands-free use. The contactless cards’ uses are almost limitless but often used for payment in retail and transport, access control, parking, loyalty cards and ID cards.
Dual Interface Cards
The best of both worlds, the dual interface cards are microprocessor cards fitted with a contactless interface, making for a powerful card without the need for physical interaction. Not to be confused with a hybrid/twin card (separate chips), the dual or ‘combi card’ is a single chip with both interfaces. It is commonly used in government, ID and banking where a larger memory is required.
iCLASS cards
The iCLASS by HID card is designed to make access control more secure and more flexible. It also has, for contactless smart card capabilities, encrypted data transfer and 64-bit diversified keys . Mostly used in security, the iCLASS card can be applied to access control, network security and cashless vending.
Magnetic Stripe Cards
Magnetic stripes are what the store clerk asks you to swipe when your chip isn’t working. The oldest but most stable option, it hasn’t let us down so far. Low in security and data, the magnetic stripe is a simple solution to a simple problem and can be added to most other cards.
With this guide hopefully you can decide what smart card is best for you and you can take your business into the future. They are a growing trend for management, logistical, and business strategies, which means that they’re becoming normal and will very soon be normal. It’s best to understand and begin to implement them now to reap the many benefits. Allow access to facilities, use as identification, or create your own loyalty card with smart cards.
