Dedicated specialists offer support for complex and large-scale card identity programs
Fargo Electronics, Inc., a global leader in secure technologies for card identity systems, announced the introduction of Fargo Professional Services, a team of experienced, dedicated specialists who work in conjunction with Fargo integrators to develop innovative and comprehensive solutions for large card programs.
"Implementing a large-scale card identity program can be a complex, time-consuming process," said Joe Wright, director of Fargo Professional Services. "With Fargo Professional Services, card program managers can leverage Fargo's extensive, global experience to accelerate program implementation and reduce costs of integration, interoperability and technical support." Wright has been with the company for 10 years in various sales and marketing positions, and was recently assigned to direct the Professional Services group.
Fargo Professional Services efforts are tailored to the specific needs of individual card programs and can include:
Planning: Setting project goals; technology assessments; proposals and production schedules; ROI analyses.
Deployment: Project management; system integration; custom development of printer/encoders, drivers, secure materials and software.
Optimization: System qualification; cost performance evaluations; card security and functionality assessments; physical and logical security assessments; pilot programs for evaluating new card identity technology.
Installation and Support: Technical and engineering support; online and on-site training; employee certification programs.
Fargo's work with the US Department of Defence (DoD) in the development of its Common Access Card program provides an example of the customized solutions available to Professional Services clients. The Common Access Card is the standard identification card for approximately 4,000,000 active duty uniformed service personnel, selected reserves, DoD civilians and eligible contractor personnel. To ensure its part of the program was a success, Fargo custom-engineered a third-generation HDP® card printing platform to meet the DoD's specifications, tailored its manufacturing process to deliver "DoD-ready" printers out of the box, developed custom UV-inhibiting secure materials and customized a printer driver.
"Fargo has experience in the world's most challenging and high-profile environments," continued Wright. "When necessary, we have provided extensive customization of drivers, hardware, Visual SecurityTM elements and packaging to provide the most successful solutions. We are dedicated to delivering what it takes to ensure long-term program success."
Fargo's Professional Services are available throughout the world. A recent drivers' license project in Latin America required special controls to support variable text and imaging on their cards. They had also chosen an uncommon card stock with a unique composition, all of which required customized programming to complete. Fargo delivered to their specifications, and the program expects to produce one million cards this year, with a 10% increase each of the next six years.
"With project work of this magnitude, nothing is really plug-and-play," said Ricardo Trespalacios of Latin ID, a systems integrator in Latin America. "Fargo stepped up to the plate with their commitment and support for both Latin ID and ultimately the customer."
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