Introduction
Physical access control through biometrics is becoming popular for businesses modernizing their systems. This technology makes identity verification and access granting faster, more convenient, more accurate, and more secure than other methods.
Of course, your organization can only get the most out of these biometric systems once you partner with a reputable supplier in the Philippines. By working with the best, you can also ensure efficient deployment and expert troubleshooting by IT experts. Read this article by Internet of Things Philippines, Inc. to learn how to identify the best supplier for your business biometric system needs.
What Are Common Uses of Biometric Systems in Businesses?
Organizations using biometric systems can use the technology to control access, monitor attendance, and onboard new clients and employees. This technology’s appeal lies in its easy data enrollment and swift, accurate data matching, which eliminates time-consuming manual identity verification.
Access Control
Biometric systems can help businesses enhance and systematize access control to restricted physical space and protected digital assets. Only authorized people are enrolled in a dedicated biometric machine that allows entry to a business property that minimizes unauthorized entry and security breaches.
Time and Attendance Tracking
Businesses can use biometrics to efficiently and accurately monitor their employees’ work attendance. Each employee’s data is enrolled in an attendance biometric system installed by the organization’s partner tech supplier. The machine then uses the stored information to validate and data-match users when they sign in and out of the office.
Onboarding of Customers
Some customers will provide trusted institutions with biometric information to access their products and services more quickly and efficiently. Instead of manually typing a password or code, the customer can press a thumb or scan their face to log into their accounts. Online banks and e-wallets are great examples of onboarding clients through biometrics.
Ways To Identify Which Biometric Systems Supplier Is Best for Your Business
The biometric system you choose for your business in the Philippines is only as good as the supplier you partner with to deploy the technology. Unless you’re a team of IT experts, you’d need all the help you can get from a third-party vendor that understands and prioritizes high-standard products and services. Below are ways to ensure you’ll be working with the best supplier for your organization:
Check the Biometric Systems They Offer
You should partner with a vendor that offers the exact technology you need for your business. For instance, it’s best to hire a biometric attendance machine supplier if you’re looking to streamline your organization’s time and attendance tracking. Look for companies that focus on this type of management and are likely experts on how to best utilize and integrate the system into your existing infrastructure.
Another factor you should consider is the range of modalities the supplier offers and what brands they carry. Questions you may ask include:
- Do they sell only fingerprint scanners, or are they more focused on contactless solutions such as iris and face recognition technologies?
- What biometric technology brands do they carry?
- Are the brands they carry reputable and reliable?
Ask Them To Recommend a Modality
To test your supplier’s expertise, ask them what biometric modality they’d recommend for your specific business needs. Note that a reliable vendor will not answer your question right away; they will sit down with you to learn more about your needs, pain points, and goals for finally deciding to purchase a biometric machine. They might also inquire about your business size, current network infrastructure, and other information that will allow them to get an exact picture of operations.
Only after learning all about your needs will they recommend a modality. Some vendors suggest you use a single modality, such as a fingerprint scanner, to test the waters first (especially if you’re a small business). In other situations, your supplier may suggest combining modalities, such as using both iris recognition and palm scanners, to strengthen your organization’s security.
Inquire About Their Security Measures
Trusted biometric device suppliers have earned their reputation because they respect data subjects’ privacy and continuously improve their processes to secure information. Third-party vendors only deploy systems robust enough to safely store sensitive biometric data. Moreover, trustworthy suppliers don’t claim access to end-user data, assuring you that no private information is used for any purpose without consent.
They also have a team of IT experts on standby if problems arise as you use your biometric system. Ask about their contingency measures should an unauthorized person attempt to tamper with the machine or someone successfully “fools” the system. Also, ask them if they can recommend (or even install) anti-threat software to prevent online threat actors from successfully hacking the database.
Confirm How They Address Privacy Concerns
Entrusting your organization’s biometric data to a machine is becoming more of an issue as news of data breaches arises. As such, you should ensure that your biometric system supplier is aware of your privacy concerns and has a clear plan to address them. Ask if they’re aware of your local privacy law and inquire about how they can assure you that the regulations therein are respected.
You can also check the written agreement with your supplier to ensure all privacy concerns are properly addressed. Remember that the vendor doesn’t need full access to data you enroll into the system as they contain private information — check that stipulation in your contract. Moreover, make your supplier promise in writing that they wouldn’t use your information without consent.
Narrow Your List and Compare Costs
To narrow your list, consider only suppliers that meet the first four criteria we mentioned. Your shortlist should include vendors that offer the exact biometric system you need, are knowledgeable about modalities, offer sound recommendations, and have a clear data privacy and security policy.
After that, compare the costs each vendor charges for their products and services. Choose providers that offer price tiers so you have several options that will fit your budget. Also, don’t forget to ask about the inclusions of each package — some vendors will include cloud hosting fees in the offer, while some don’t. Inquire about additional fees as well; you don’t want to be surprised by additional payments!
Ask About Each System’s Accuracy and Performance
This additional step will enable you to test your vendor’s knowledge and expertise regarding the systems they deploy. Ask them about the accuracy rate of the biometric technology they offer and how many attempts users usually take when the first reading fails. Be sure to get an exact figure and inquire about how they arrived at such numbers.
The ideal for businesses is for the biometric system to be accurate most of the time. When it fails to verify the first time, the reader should at least get it right on the second or third try. Any verification attempts higher than that may result in users’ frustration, which may affect smooth business operations.
Conclusion
Businesses looking to improve their attendance and access control systems can rely on biometrics system suppliers in the Philippines, provided they hire the right one. To choose a reputable vendor, business owners should ask about the supplier’s system offers, recommended modalities, security measures, privacy protection, package costs, and system performance. Companies should only choose suppliers that can satisfy their queries to ensure successful deployment and implementation.
Internet of Things Philippines, Inc. is a reliable supplier of biometric systems. Contact our experts today to learn more about our products and services.
