Campus ID News
Card, mobile credential, payment and security
FEATURED
PARTNERS
slider ISG logo 1

We’ll come to you

The benefits of on-site service for your ID system

Contributor   ||   Apr 16, 2015  ||   ,

Tom Stiles, executive director, Identification Systems Group

When it comes to the maintenance and support of your ID card system, you have a couple of choices. You can have the system maintained by your local expert dealer or do it yourself using the manufacturer’s 800-number and depot maintenance program.

Over the years, ID card printers have become more reliable with a lower average cost. This commoditization is typical in the lifecycle of product technology and offers an advantage when it comes to choice and cost savings. These choices include the purchase of a backup card printer and service of the printer using a depot program.

Your ID card system is an investment and is an important part of a university’s overall identification and security program. It’s much more than just a card printer; it’s a system of many components that need to work together, as well as with other campus systems. In addition, a campus card administrator and their staff’s time is valuable, and working on a down card printer may not the best use of resources.

Questions You Should Be Asking

Several factors should be considered when making a decision on how to support a university ID card system. A card administrator should ask the following key questions:

Your Staff

Do you or your staff have the time to stay on top of all of the details required to keep the system in peak condition? Are you or your staff technically able to handle the ongoing updates, upgrades, cleaning and changes? What is that internal cost, and how much productivity is lost?

IT Department

I occasionally hear that the IT department handles maintenance and service. The “mysterious” IT department can be a catch-all for support, and they are generally overburdened. It is rare that IT staff has the knowledge to work on a device that has mechanical operations. If they do, will they have the time to perform scheduled routine maintenance? If responsibility is transferred to campus IT, are there internal charges for the service?

Costs

Do you have the time to wait for a replacement printer to arrive? If not, do you have a backup printer or two? What is the cost of an on-site service agreement that includes all preventative maintenance, and how does this compare to a depot agreement? If you obtain an on-site agreement, could you leverage that to negotiate a lower price on cards and printer supplies?

Real Life Scenarios

Let’s walk through two possible scenarios to show the differences between on-site service and a depot arrangement.

Scenario #1 – Depot Service

There’s a problem with your printer, you call the 800-number and spend some time troubleshooting the issue.

It may not be apparent if the issue is with the card printer, software, camera or printer supplies. In this scenario, you would need to retrieve the original packing box – that you would have had to save –  unload the printer of its cards and ribbon because the ribbon may have personal data on it, pack the printer in the box and arrange to ship it.

|| TAGS:
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

RECENT POSTS

NACCU Annual Conference Call for Speakers
Dec 06, 23 /

Last chance for NACCU conference speaker proposals is Monday Dec. 11

In April the campus card, mobile credential, and transaction system world will converge on Covington, Kentucky for NACCU’s 2024 Annual Conference. Last year’s event included more than 550 attendees and this year that number is expected to grow. The highlight of the event is always the 70-plus outstanding educational sessions, and members are the key […]
CBORD HID video with Amy Surprenant
Dec 05, 23 / ,

CBORD and HID Global share combined approach to mobile ID

  Prior to her role with HID Global, Amy Surprenant helped lead two of the most innovative card programs in the country – the University of Vermont and Vanderbilt. At Vandy, she was instrumental in the launch of their mobile credential program. Now as HID’s End User Business Development Rep for Higher Ed, she is […]
Genetec stats
Dec 01, 23 /

Hybrid cloud, cyber fears, supply chain hangovers lead trends in physical security

In its annual “State of the Physical Security 2024” study, Genetec surveyed more than 5,500 end users and channel partners to get their perspectives on the market in 2023. Of the respondents, 32% were from North America and the remaining 68% were split between other regions across the globe. Key findings saw cloud-based access control […]
CIDN logo reversed
The only publication dedicated to the use of campus cards, mobile credentials, identity and security technology in the education market. CampusIDNews – formerly CR80News – has served more than 6,500 subscribers for more than two decades.
Twitter

Join us, @NACCUorg, and @TouchNet to explore how campus card programs can successfully navigate the sales and procurement process. Join the webinar on June 6, 2 pm EDT. https://go.touchnet.com/l/652093/2022-05-18/lsndq

Webinar: Learn how the University of Arizona uses campus cards, mobile ordering, kiosks, lockers, and robots to revolutionize campus dining. April 7, 2-2:30 EDT. Register Now at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7821245544009488910?source=campus-id

Load More...
Contact
CampusIDNews is published by AVISIAN Publishing
315 E. Georgia St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
www.AVISIAN.com[email protected]
Use our contact form to submit tips, corrections, or questions to our team.
©2023 CampusIDNews. All rights reserved.