HID Global’s OEM-embedded modules are now expanding their footprints into various new applications; amongst them, multifunction printers, the healthcare sector, and time attendance solutions.
HID Global's OEM-embedded modules are now expanding their footprints into various new applications; amongst them, multifunction printers, the healthcare sector, and time attendance solutions.
HID Global's offerings of OEM-embedded modules continue to expand and consolidate into an extremely precise subsystem catered towards rewriting subsystems specifically designed for HID's own in-house designed modules. Expanding beyond access control and card readers, HID's modules are specifically catered being utilized in the healthcare sector, and for time attendance and secure printing. In addition, another of HID's goals for their embedded solutions is to bring added value to their end customers. By working with partner companies to extend the capabilities of their customers' existing HID credentials beyond just opening doors, HID is able to create solutions more specifically catered towards customer needs. As Jack Cheung, Director of Sales for Embedded Solutions in Asia Pacific at HID Global put it, “We offer our technology in big varieties. The subsystem can really speed up time to market, and can construct customers' target applications from scratch. It's proven in quality, and can greatly speed up development time.
One of the biggest applications currently utilizing HID's modules is secure printing. One is a module that can integrate into multifunction printers (MFP). Another is a USB reader with an embedded reader that can connect to printers. One of the trending drivers for this right now is the ability for companies to control printing usage. “Because a lot of companies are using employee cards, they would like to use those credentials to manage printing usage,” Cheung said. One big-name MFP provider currently utilizing HID's OEM modules is Konica Minolta.
HID Providing Smooth Migration Options to iCLASS SE Platforms
According to Cheung, there are 4 million HID cards actively in use right now. That means that HID has established a large installed customer base, with well-established brand awareness. As they continue to expand their ecosystem, HID's OEM modules will continue to establish themselves in future applications, pushing them further into the time attendance, healthcare, and secure printing sector. One of the notable trends in this direction is the beginning of phase-outs of old 125 KHz modules in favor of HID's own iCLASS SE platform. “The trend is moving towards higher frequencies. The important thing for modules is security. As far as basic principles, higher frequency modules should host a variety of better security features, so the market is heading to this direction.”
This is not to say that older frequency modules are no longer productive or useful anymore though. Adapting to the current trends, HID also produces modules called multiclass SE that is two-way adaptable for both the old 125 KHz standard as well as the new iCLASS SE. That, according to Cheung, is to continue to support legacy products, including solutions like older access control and time attendance systems, as well as older MFPs. For companies looking to move up from the old standard, multiCLASS SE supports various card technologies that capaciates a transition period to migrate from 125KHZ to high-frequency solutions, instead of swapping out all the cards at once.
HID Modules Prove its Worth by Shortening Time-to-Market
HID's Modules have helped companies shorten the time-to-market for their products because of less-needed investments in R&D, as well as better, and more adaptable smart card readers that are adjustable for a host of different solutions. Keep an eye out for the aforementioned migration to iCLASS SE platforms, especially in regards to mobile applications. An example of this usage would be using mobile phones for payments at electric vehicle charging stations (with iCLASS SE modules embedded in the charging terminals).
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