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| B.C. Commissionaires Adopts A New Source of Revenue |
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By Newman Mallon
This article was first published in Security Products and Technology News |
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With over 1,450 BC Commissionaires spread across many remote areas throughout British Columbia, a computerized photo ID system was the answer to replace the Commissionaires’ old film-based system.
The Commissionaires is a Canadian-wide security organization with over 16,000 personnel in 17 divisions across the country. They employ former members of the Canadian Forces and RCMP. Recently, some divisions have authorized other police or related industry personnel.
The B.C. Corps provides by-law and parking enforcement, drivers, fleet management, clerical, computer and cash control services. They have about 750 uniformed commissionaires and 700 guards and matrons. The guards and matrons are on call to watch prisoners in small RCMP detachments so the officers can continue their police duties. Although, the Corps’ film-based Photo ID system did the job, it meant pictures had to be transported to the head office in Vancouver.
Commandant & CEO of the B.C. Commissionaires, Allen Batchelar says, “We now have a more durable ID card and we have a more flexible system. We cover the whole province, so now we can receive pictures by e-mail, as opposed to actually being there with a Polaroid camera. We also have a great database of all our employees now with their pictures and all pertinent data. And, it’s a much more professional system. We’re a professional security organization and now our security cards look professional”.
The system uses EPI Suite card design software and a FARGO 4250 printer from Identicam Systems. A picture is taken with a digital or video camera, and quickly dropped into the card design on the computer. The person’s name, employee number and other important information is entered or imported from an employee database. The card is then printed on a plastic PVC card in full colour within a minute.
Batchelar said the system was installed before it was even purchased as part of a 14-day free trial offered by Identicam. System set-up involves installing the software and connecting the camera and printer if a digital camera is being used. If a video camera is used, a video capture board is also required that fits into a slot on the computer. Wray Reiss, Identicam’s Vancouver-based Systems Integrator installed the system and spent the morning training users. Batchelar said, “He gave us a demonstration and left the equipment with us so we could experiment with it and test it. With some basic instruction, it’s an easy system to pick up on and run with. We bought it after about a week and haven’t had a problem with it”.
The EPI Suite software has a built-in, ODBC-compliant database that allows the picture and all pertinent data to be stored electronically for quick retrieval or photo verification.
Deanna Weir, Director of Human Resources and Administration at the B.C. Commissionaires says she often uses the database pictures to include in their employee newsletter with a story. “And when a client wants a short biography on a Commissionaire, we sometimes send a picture, so they know what the individual looks like when they walk in the door,” says Weir.
The digital database also allows them to quickly replace a lost card, since there is no need to take another picture. The file is brought up on the screen and another card is printed within seconds. When the cards need to be updated, the software allows you to change and resize photos, logos, type and background or foreground colours. Then using the database, all cards can be batch printed and distributed.
The system also provided a new source of revenues for the B.C. Corps. They added Photo ID and visitor passes as part of their Identification services division which also provides fingerprinting and passport photos. "We get a lot of leads from Identicam for smaller companies that can’t justify the cost of a new system. If they don’t have many employees, they’re better off outsourcing it,” says Batchelar.
Batchelar says their card design capabilities provide them with a competitive edge. "We have a catalog of ID cards so we can show customers what we’ve done for others and what we can do for them. That’s normally what wins us the business. We don’t just produce a white card with a picture on it. We go that extra step to do a good layout”, he says.
The B.C. Corps plans to expand their Photo ID business by providing back-pack or stick-on Photo ID that can be placed on a proximity card to provide Photo ID and access on one card. They can also provide magnetic-striped cards and encode them with their FARGO 4250 printer. In addition, they plan to provide fast-turnaround Photo ID for emergency or disaster situations that would require quick deployment of volunteer or emergency workers from other areas. "We have the people and Identicam has the equipment to handle almost any emergency”, says Batchelar. |
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