Access control is fast devel-
 oping into a source of 
 intelligence for employers, as a result of the biometric analysis of fingerprints, technology and services company Ideco Biometric Security Solutions COO Marius Coetzee reports.

Biometrics has revolutionised the security industry, with 
greater improved control of who has permission to enter certain areas of an organisation than 
offered by traditional identity management systems.

“Access control in a warehousing scenario is evolving to 
encompass continuous verification of which employee is handling specific goods at any point along the order process trail,” he says.

The latest development is that biometrics is now being incorporated into the entire order process trail, using a mobile scanner that scans a fingerprint and the labels on containers 
arriving at a terminal, before the containers can be opened.

“An electronic mechanism will only open a container after it has been accepted by a central control point in the system, granting the specific person permission to unload cargo. With biometrics, it is easy to know exactly who dealt with any specific cargo in the shipping process and when they did,” he says.

Access control has changed from merely issuing passwords to employees, or using identity books. It is estimated that about 10% of South African identity 
documents are fraudulent, making accurate access control difficult.

Pin codes and passwords may be shared among employees 
committing fraudulent actions. However, biometrics can now be combined with these safety 
measures to verify the identities of people entering and 
exiting the premises. The system can also be programmed to grant access to employees only at 
appropriate times and places, thereby increasing control.

While the biometric information system is fully integratable with existing systems, it can also be integrated with systems of partner companies. 
The information is also 
reported to be accepted as evid-
ence in court proceedings of criminal activities.

Further, employers are now also better able to verify the identities of prospective employees 
through the use of biometrics. Employers, especially security companies, are using biometrics in a criminal record check by verifying data against an 
established national fingerprint database, Coetzee adds.

He cites an example of a large local company which invested 
about R12-million to implement a biometrics system. “The company has about 40 000 employees and was looking for a way to 
better verify employee attendance. 
“After implementing the bio-
metric access system, the company reported a saving in 
attendance of 15 minutes a day for every employee, resulting in a return on investment within eight months,” he notes.

However, Coetzee advises not implementing a technologically 
inferior biometric scanning system as inaccurate scans and faulty scanners can result in a significant waste of time and 
resources.

Ideco reports that it was one of the pioneers of biometric systems in the workplace with the introduction of the Morpho product range about eight years ago.

Subsequently, continuous 
research and development has 
resulted in Morpho being able to supply reliable, technologically advanced fingerprint scanners. The scanners are equipped with advanced algorithms that can even accurately detect false minutia points on a fingerprint, caused by cuts, dryness or moisture.

To subscribe to Engineering News's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.