Tech advancements enter the business world and change the face of things for companies of all sizes across numerous industries. We can pull out endless examples of this happening, and today’s focus is on biometric technology. It’s not the newest tech advancement out there, yet it’s something businesses are only just starting to take advantage of.
This post will explore the concept of biometrics to help you understand what this tech entails before launching into some of the revolutionary ways businesses harness this fascinating solution.
What is Biometric Technology?
Often simply referred to as “biometrics,” this technology involves measuring physical characteristics to help identify individuals. The Thales Group explains that biometrics are the most suitable way to authenticate people using their unique biological features.
Fingerprint scanning is a common example of biometric technology. Everyone has a unique fingerprint pattern, and biometric scanners analyse this to differentiate between individuals. The simplest way to think about this technology is that it’s like using different aspects of your body as a password.
Key Ways to Use Biometric Technology in Your Business
How do businesses use biometrics? For starters, all biometric systems begin with a registration process. This is when all individuals with access to the system register their specific biometric input. As demonstrated above, this could be a fingerprint – though it may also be a retina scan, facial scan, etc.
The business that collects this data and uses it for all of these concepts/ideas:
Access Control Systems
An access control system is primarily used to determine who has access to specific parts of a building. Businesses use these on the outside of their property to only allow the right people into the facility. Some will also implement access control systems for specific rooms inside an office – like meeting rooms, server rooms, etc.
Biometric technology is the safest and most effective way to determine who has access. Before entering a business, employees register their fingerprints and scan them, preventing unwanted visitors from getting inside, which creates a much more secure workplace.
Additional Workstation Security
Companies extend the benefits of biometric technology to individual workstations. Some people might have access to your office, but that doesn’t mean they gain access to computers or laptops. What if a cleaner decides to turn on a PC when nobody’s around? Who knows what kind of private and important data this might expose?
Almost all businesses now use biometrics to secure personal workstations. This ensures each employee can only access their PC, which reduces the risk of serious problems like data breaches or stolen work. It tightens business security, though it could also be used for certain tracking metrics.
For example, some companies may allow multiple employees to access different workstations. Biometric scanning shows which employee logs into which device and any given time. This allows the higher-ups to track things like the time an individual spends working at their PC every day. It also helps detect anomalies like one employee randomly logging into another person’s PC during the lunch break.
More Accurate Attendance Tracking
Speaking of tracking, you can use biometric technology for the most accurate attendance tracking system ever. It’s vital to stay on top of employee attendance so you know if people arrive or leave on time. This prevents instances when someone may always be late to work and early to leave without consulting you beforehand. Constant lateness is not a good trait and can have negative effects on the rest of your business.
However, many attendance tracking systems have a big loophole: other employees can simply log in for their friends. It’s not uncommon for people to take turns being late, and yet the attendance system shows they’re both always on time.
Biometric scanning forces the individual to physically be at work so they can clock in. There’s no way for a friend to replicate their fingerprint or facial scan, which helps businesses generate accurate attendance records. You can either identify the chronic late arrivals or the presence of your biometric system stops people from being late altogether.
Improved Workplace Safety
Using biometrics for access control systems will improve workplace safety, but there’s another layer to this that further enhances safety at work. Implement biometric scanners on machines or specific areas that may be deemed “hazardous” for most workers.
Here’s a basic example: you operate a warehouse, but only certain employees are qualified to use forklift trucks or lifts. Before someone uses either of these dangerous machines, they need to scan their fingerprint to turn on the forklift or remove a special lift from a locked enclosure. It immediately stops the wrong people from using harmful machinery and potentially causing accidents.
The same can be done with hazardous cleaning supplies: lock them in a closet and use biometric security to restrict access to the closet. It stops people from accidentally opening a door and being exposed to harmful chemicals without wearing the right protective gear. Your cleaners will have access, but they’re qualified to handle these products.
Impress Potential Clients/Investors
All of these ideas show the many uses of biometric technology in a modern business. When you look at this technology in action, it has another key benefit: it impresses people! Anyone walking into your business will be stunned by the sheer level of technology on display. Even something as simple as needing a retina scan when entering your building will blow them away.
Small things like this go a long way to making a wonderful first impression. It could be what tips the scales in your favour during initial consultations with prospective clients – or investor meetings.
To conclude, biometric technology is profoundly useful across businesses of all shapes and sizes. It may have more use in certain industries, but there are ways to take advantage of this great tech no matter what you do. There’s no denying its effectiveness in security/safety, particularly when it comes to access control, workstation security, etc. It’s definitely something to keep in mind if you’re looking to upgrade your business.