4 Tips To Storage Data For Plastic Cards

     Whether you want to record employee attendance, or record member's personal information and purchase data, it is very important to choose a plastic card that suits you business. There are the following commonly used recording methods: Barcode Card, QR Code Card, Magnetic Card and Smart Card. Each type of plastic card has its advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a look and show you what we mean:
 

Barcode Card

     The barcode card is to print the barcode directly on the card surface, so that the card has the identification function through the barcode. At present, the commonly used barcode types are 39 barcode cards, 128 barcode cards, 13 barcode cards, EN8 barcode cards, and cross 25 barcode cards.
     Barcode cards are widely used, such as supermarkets membership cards, medical cards, library cards, etc. It is very convenient to read the information in the barcode card with only a barcode reader. Barcodes can be placed on almost any size plastic card, whether it is a concert ticket card, a membership card, or even a keychain. However, in terms of security, barcode is easy to copy and there is almost no security. In addition, Barcode has a small capacity and can only store simple data, such as membership numbers.
 

QR Code Card

     Compared with barcodes, QR Code has a larger capacity and can store more data. Whether it is a link or personal information, it can be stored in a QR code. Due to the diversification of QR Code, many companies have switched from Barcode to QR Code. For example, by adding a QR code on membership card, the customers can use their mobile phone to scan and log in your website and check their personal information. Some companies also add QR codes to employee cards for access control system, but it should be noted that QR codes are easier to copy and abuse.
 

Magnetic Card

     The magnetic card is a card-shaped magnetic recording medium that works with various card readers. Magnetic card is a card that uses magnetic carrier to record some information to identify identity or other purposes. The magnetic strip is also made of high-strength, high-temperature-resistant plastic or paper-coated plastic, which is moisture-proof, wear-resistant, has a certain degree of flexibility, is convenient to carry, and is relatively stable and reliable in use.
     Magnetic stripe cards are more complicated than QR Code and Bar Code. The size of the magnetic stripe is basically fixed to the size of a universal credit card. The magnetic stripe is divided into two different writing formats: high resistance and low resistance. If you already have card reading equipment, you must first understand whether you need high resistance or low resistance before printing, otherwise there will be a chance that it will not be available for printing.
     The durability of the magnetic card is relatively unstable. As long as the PVC magnetic stripe card is accidentally placed on a magnetic area, it will be demagnetized. The demagnetized card is useless, and the card issuing bank's helper needs to write the data before it can be used normally.
 

Smart Cards

     Smart cards are more secure than standard magnetic stripe and barcode cards, but they are more expensive. These cards are self-programmable, encrypted, and very easy to track. A chip is encapsulated inside each smart card, and the code of the chip will interact with the data of the chip reader, so you must know whether the PVC card matches your reader when you buy it.
     The most common smart card application is the bus card. When you touch the bus card to the card reader, the card reader will read the information in the card to deduct money.  In addition, the hotel key card also uses a smart card, the chip will automatically connect to the system when you swipe the card, and the system will know whether you are a hotel guest. Some hotels will only allow you to walk out of the floor where the department lives. This is also determined based on the information in the chip.

     Smart cards are very durable. The chip is hidden in the middle of the PVC card and is not easily damaged, so it is more ideal than magnetic cards. The capacity of the chip is relatively large, the information that can be recorded will be more, and the purpose is relatively wide. Most smart cards are shielded from magnetic interference, so you don't have to worry about being unusable due to magnetization.

     Which card type is best for you to use? It depends on what effect you want, and your budget. If you already have the type of software and hardware, please purchase a suitable plastic card according to your technology. If you have any questions, contact us and our team will guide you to choose the most suitable plastic card for your business.