Plastic cards are simple tools that can propel your company into high-tech professionalism or weigh you down with unnecessary expense. But how can you tell if plastic cards are harming you or helping you? 
We have put together a few questions that might help you nail down the best plastic card solution for your project.
Are you using the right technology for your application?
There are so many technologies available. With plastic cards touching such a vast array of industries, there is standard and advanced technologies available for nearly every market. Sometimes your requirement is such that you need advanced technology found in smart cards. Sometimes, you don’t.
How do you know?
This is a difficult question to answer. After 25 years in the industry, we still learn new things. This is why we make an effort to educate anyone who is interested. We believe information is power! The more you know, the more valuable you are to your company, to the industry and to the reputation of plastic cards globally.
We try to remain transparent, and enjoy providing as much information as we can about the topics you need, from ID management to EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa Loyalty/Gift schemes) to NFC (Near Field Communication – like mobile payments, and certain types of smart cards) to even QR tags.
We offer both a Facebook platform and a Twitter stream for communication and interesting articles we come across, as well as complimentary consultations in and through our offices.
There are a couple of questions you can ask yourself too. What is the best option I can find? I’m not talking price here, although that surely factors into your concerns, but for value. An inexpensive Loyalty solution isn’t going to help you print ID cards. In the same way, a cheap, but useless solution isn’t going to help you much when what you require is a little bigger, a little bit more expensive, but will meet all of your requirements.
It’s about value. You can continue to ask yourself, is this technology offering me the value I require? Is it still meeting my changing needs? If so, great! If not, there are dozens of options for you (and it might not even cost you a cent!)
Does your printing solution suite you best?
Are you printing photos and logos on a desktop printer in batches to personalise later? Or ordering small quantities of stock to “tide you over” until you can afford a large batch of cards? These systems ratchet up your costs unnecessarily. Perhaps printing stock on a Just in Time service might be a better solution for you.
Have you purchased an exorbitant number of cards to grab a bigger discount, only to change a phone number or rebrand and have to toss them all into the recycling bin? There are other ways to grab a low-cost per card without risking all the wasted money, time and plastic.
Are you treated right?
There are a number of stressful tasks you have at the office. Purchasing plastic cards shouldn’t be one of them. If your solution is causing you more panic than peace, it may be worthwhile into grabbing an alternative solution.
If you find that your client (or your boss) often requires cards on a more urgent timeline, but you are pressured into waiting 4 weeks or even 2 weeks, you have options of speed services. If you or your designer is worried about colouration or quality, we can ensure you receive a hardcopy proof.
Do you have the right equipment?
With so many demands at the office, you need the right equipment to get the job done quickly, professionally and easily. Having the right card printer, software and cameras can turn a printing chore into a printing pleasure. Is your card printer super simple to use? Can you change out ribbons quickly, and repair card jams without calling a technician? Is the software intuitive? Does your camera integrate into your software easily? Check that your equipment is working perfectly for what you need.
Most importantly, are you receiving technical support when you encounter hiccups?
Plastic cards are great little tools to keep your company secure, to boost sales and to promote yourself. Having the correct solution for your company is critical.
CardsPlus offers comprehensive complimentary consultations for your project. Call us today for yours.
