Visitor Log

How to Avoid the Problems of Using a Paper Guest Book for Visitors

Wednesday, May 2, 2012 by John Murzycki

We are frequently asked about the risks associated with using a paper guest book for visitor sign in.

Frankly, it's our opinion that guest sign in should be conducted with professional visitor management software. The reason is that paper methods of visitor registration are simply unprofessional and provide little security.

They also pose a number of other problems, such as the following.

Names written in a paper guest book are often not legible, or are false.

In an emergency such as a fire it would be impossible to quickly determine who is still in the building. It's difficult to read the names and often check out times are not required or enforced.

Information regarding who has visited the company is readily available for everyone to see, but this information should be confidential.

The paper visitor log and hand written visitor badges present a poor image of the company as unprofessional and not caring about security.

Unlike the paper methods, EasyLobby ID card software is an effective way of managing visitors in any environment.

You can create a visitor pass easily and quickly. Furthermore, you can capture accurate, detailed visitor information automatically by scanning a visitor ID such as a driver's license or business card.

Unlike a paper guest book, badge software keeps all visitor information confidential.

A variety of alerts can be created in our visitor system, allowing you to take action based on specific visitor behavior.

The creation of watch lists allow you to keep unwanted visitors out of your facilities.

The fact is, EasyLobby visitor software has a a host of features that allow you to customize it to fit your specific needs and requirements for lobby management.

Find out more by registering for a free, personalized online web demo,

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the many visitor registration software features that will allow you to create professional visitor passes for your organization.

Food Distribution Facilities Use Visitor Tracking Software

Thursday, February 16, 2012 by John Murzycki

Food distributors are required to monitor and track all visitors who enter their facilities. These requirements are the result of FDA regulations on the protection of the nation's food supply under the Bio-Terrorism Rule.

Consequently, many food distribution companies use EasyLobby visitor software to closely monitor and keep accurate records of every truck and driver entering their facilities.

At many of these organizations our visitor systems are used at both corporate and the distribution facilities. In corporate buildings our visitor registration software provides a professional approach to managing visitors. In distribution facilities, our systems monitor the arrival and departure of trucks and drivers.

By being able to control access to their facilities our ID card software plays a major role in helping food distribution companies effectively comply with these regulations. They are able to record and report on all guest sign in activity and record the individuals and vehicles that have entered and left the facility.

A visitor log in our software records all this activity, plus any additional information that may be relevant to that facility or organization.

An added benefit is a reduction in costs. By monitoring the exact arrival and departure of each truck, these organizations are able to often dramatically reduce detention fees typically charged by third-party shippers for drivers that were delayed at the facility.

By using visitor registration these facilities are able to challenge any unwarranted detention fees.

Read our case study about how EasyLobby visitor management has helped a national food distributor.

Discover more about using a visitor system in your environment, whether a food distribution environment or another industry. Register for a free, customized web demo.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the badge software features that are most pertinent to your specific requirements.

Visitor Software Helps Your Organization Comply With Various State and Federal Regulations

Thursday, February 9, 2012 by John Murzycki

Complying with Regulartions and Monitoring Visitor ID

One of the many benefits of using a visitor system is that it allows you to comply with various state and federal regulations. This is something that is often overlooked when considering the use of visitor registration software at facilities.

Keep in mind that using badge software to create professional visitor badges is an important element of managing visitors and enhancing overall security. It goes to the heart of properly identifying and tracking every individual who enters a building.

But let's primarily address the specific issue of using it to comply with state and federal regulations.

When discussing the issue of compliance and the use of visitor systems, we first need to understand that organizations must often comply with regulations that are specific to their industry. So the type of industry makes a difference.

For example, organizations in the food and beverage industry must comply with regulations under the Bio Terrorism Act, requiring them to know about and record every visitor who comes in and out of their facilities. A paper guest book for visitor sign in is an inadequate way to comply with such a regulation.

A visitor registration system allows organizations in this environment to monitor and track all their guests and to make a visitor log readily available to proper authorities if necessary. Read about the use of EasyLobby visitor tracking software used at a National Food Distributor.

Electric utilities are another industry that must comply with specific regulations for heightened visitor security at their generating facilities. Some of the largest utilities in this country use EasyLobby to help them improve visitor registration and monitoring at their facilities.

Read our success story of a large electric utility using EasyLobby visitor systems.

"Red Flags Rule" is yet another regulation that's part of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003. It requires businesses to be on the lookout for signs that someone is using another person's identity to get products or services with no intention of paying.

Businesses can verify the identity of visitors by using ID card software to scan the driver's license of all guests. Read more about Red Flags Rule.

Although not a specific state or federal regulation, many schools, hospitals and government agencies have internal or local requirements to guard against visitors who are on each states' sex offender database or the government denied parties database. EasyLobby's visitor management screens against individuals on these specific lists.

Our software also allows organizations to create their own internal watch lists to screen against individuals that they do not want entering their facilities.

Read how EasyLobby's school visitor software helps educational institutions and how EasyLobby helps government agencies identify visitors on terrorist watch lists and other government watch lists.

Discover how EasyLobby visitor management software can be used in your environment by registering for a free, customized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the features of our system that are most applicable to your specific requirements.

A Visitor System to use at Remote Locations

Friday, January 20, 2012 by John Murzycki

Visitor Tracking Software at Remote Locations

When using visitor registration software, you may have the requirement to use it at locations such as guard shacks, loading docks, gate entrances, or other remote locations away from the main lobby. Some of these locations may not have power while others may be outside and are not suitable for computers.

You probably want to provide the same visitor badges and manage visitors at these locations like you do at the main entrance.

A good solution is EasyLobby's mobile wireless solutions for visitor registration. These devices can be used outside and at locations that are not suitable for computers.

Mobile solutions can be used at multiple locations around your facility and the visitor log can share a common database so that you are able to analyze and report on guest sign in across the enterprise. Visitor data is sent from the wireless devices over a network to the main EasyLobby visitor management database.

Using an EasyLobby mobile device, you can scan a visitor ID such as a driver's license and you can check in the visitor at that location. Or you can scan a barcode on an existing visitor pass to determine if they have already been checked in at the main entrance.

So make the most of your visitor software by using it all all entry points at your facilities, including remote locations.

Jump here to read more information about EasyLobby Mobile badge software solutions.

For more information about creating professional visitor passes using ID card software from EasyLobby, register for a free, personalized online web demo.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the capabilities of our software most applicable to your needs.

How to Create A Positive Impression Using Visitor Systems

Friday, January 6, 2012 by John Murzycki

When visitors enter your lobby for the first time, the old adage holds true, "There's no second chance to form a positive first impression."

A visitor system gives you the ability to greet guests and visitors with a positive, professional approach.

Unlike a paper guest book for visitor sign in, badge software allows you alleviate any concerns about lax security or about an unprofessional approach to managing visitors at your facilities.

It stands to reason that the old approach of being asked to scribble your name in a paper visitor log and then being handed a handwritten sticker does not create a positive image of the organization as professionally managed.

Of course there a lot of other benefits of using visitor software, such as being able to easily identify visitors in the building and knowing if they are in the correct place; or receiving alerts when something out of the norm takes place, such as knowing when a visitor badge has expired but that guest has not yet checked out of the building; or being able to provide temporary proximity cards to guests and contractors so that they can have access to doors, elevators or turnstiles controlled by your access system; or having the ability of employees to pre-register guests that they know will be arriving; or creating watch lists to screen against unwanted visitors.

There are many more benefits.

But there's a great way to find out more about how to use visitor registration in your facilities and its benefits. That's by registering for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate ways to use a professional lobby system and the features that might be most useful in your specific environment.

In the 12 years that we have been in business, EasyLobby has helped thousands of organization across every type of industry discover the many benefits of replacing their paper guest sign procedures with professional visitor registration software.

After all, safeguarding both guests and employees is a primary reason to implement secure visitor management.

So register today for the free web demo, and discover how more professional your organization will become and how you'll form a great first impression with all guests.

The Value of Visitor Tracking Software During an Emergency Evacuation

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 by John Murzycki

The benefit of a lobby system during an emergency

One of the often overlooked benefits of using visitor software is the value it provides during an emergency evacuation of a facility.

During an emergency such as a fire or evacuation of the building, it's valuable to know the visitors that had entered the building. By using a visitor system rather than a paper guest book for visitor sign in, with one click of the mouse you are able to call up a current visitor report and either print it or send it to others such as emergency responders.

Having a manifest of all visitors and being able to transmit that information immediately is vital.

By using visitor registration software you are able to verify and authenticate the visitors at your facility by scanning a visitor ID such as a driver's license during check in. This avoids the problems associated with paper sign in such as intelligible names or false names.

Also, because sign out is not often enforced with a paper visitor log it's often difficult to know who has left the building.

An EasyLobby visitor registration system permits you to comply with emergency evacuation plans.

In addition to emergency evacuations, visitor systems allow you to be managing visitors more professionally and to improve lobby security. By providing a professional visitor badge to each guest, you are able to identify visitors in your building and determine if they are in an authorized location.

Find out more about using EasyLobby visitor registration to improve how you manage visitors at your facilities. Register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the badge software features that are most pertinent to your specific environment.

A Lobby System That Permits Employees to Pre-Register Visitors

Friday, December 9, 2011 by John Murzycki

A nice feature with any visitor registration system is the ability of employees to pre-register guests that they are expecting.

This alleviates the workload on a lobby attendant from collecting all the necessary information from an arriving visitor. By having an employee complete many of the required fields of information, that data is already loaded into the system when the guest arrives.

In some cases this even eliminates the need for a lobby attendant to gather any additional information. They can simply have visitor badges pre-printed and waiting for pick-up by the arriving visitors.

In busy lobbies this option can greatly simplify and streamline guest sign in.

eAdvance is the EasyLobby web-based product that allows employees to pre-register guests. Authorized employees can access it over the Internet or through an organization's local area network.

Because eAdvance is tightly integrated with our visitor software, any information completed by an employee is available at the EasyLobby visitor system in the lobby.

eAdvance is easy to use, no understanding of EasyLobby badge software is necessary nor training required by the employees using it. All they do is simply log into the eAdvance screen and complete a form.

Then, when a pre-registered guest arrives for their appointment they can quickly be provided with a visitor pass because most of the information is already in the system.

eAdvance is one of the many ways that EasyLobby allows you to customize visitor registration software for your particular needs.

Find out more by registering for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the visitor registration features that are most appropriate to your particular environment.

Why You Should Use Visitor Registration Software Rather Than A Paper Guest Book

Thursday, December 1, 2011 by John Murzycki

Most of our customers using badge software had previously used a paper guest book for visitor sign in.

So it's only natural for those organizations who have yet to adopt an electronic visitor management system to ask why it's better than their paper method.

We normally start our explanation by telling them that visitor software is much better because it improves the professionalism of your organization and it enhances the security of your environment.

Paper sign in books have glaring problems and in today's world are not a realistic approach for professionally managing visitors to your buildings.

Among the many problems with paper guest sign in books are illegible or false names, inability to determine who is in your building in the event of an emergency, and the guest sign in information is readily available for anyone to see even though it should be confidential.

But more than anything, a paper visitor log presents an image of lax security to other visitors and employees, thereby hurting the image of your organization.

Using visitor registration software is a modern, effective approach to lobby management and visitor security.

A visitor system will allow you to authenticate the identities of all visitors by scanning a visitor ID such as a driver's license.

You are able to capture relevant information from the scan, but you can also capture additional information that is relevant to your specific environment.

You are then able to print a professional visitor badge in a matter of seconds using the information captured, including the photo from the driver's license. The visitor pass is an important way to identify visitors and to ensure that they are where they should be in the facility. You can include information such as "escort required" or "first floor entry" or other important criteria on the visitor passes.

Visitor badges can also be formatted differently for different categories of visitors, such as contractors, day visitors, volunteers, temporary employees, etc. This also allows your staff to easily identify who that visitor is and what their purpose is in your building.

Visitor systems also allow you to screen unwanted guests from your facilities by creating watch lists. This allows you to identify people such as disgruntled former employees, competitors, or malicious people from entering your facilities. You can also use external screening services to alert you to people on each states' sex offender database or Government Denied Parties databases.

There are many additional features and capabilities of using a visitor registration system. Find out more by signing up for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the visitor tracking software features that are most appropriate for your particular environment.

How to Improve Visitor Registration at College Campuses - A Case Study

Monday, October 24, 2011 by John Murzycki

Visitor Systems at College and University Campuses

Colleges and University campuses are an area where improved visitor management can be effective at enhancing security and improving the image of the college.

Case in point, Loyola University Chicago. The visitor registration system used by Loyola is one of many EasyLobby installations at college and university campuses throughout the country.

Loyola University Chicago is the nation's largest Jesuit Catholic University. It is an urban campus that has a large number of non students, especially the school libraries that are often visited by students from other nearby institutions.

"How to manage our libraries was a concern that drove our initial interest in visitor management software," said Frank Dale, Manager of Physical Security for Loyola. "We were having some petty thefts and we simply wanted to know who was in our facilities, which we were not able to do without a professional visitor system in place."

Prior to the EasyLobby visitor software deployment, each visitor log was kept by hand and on a building-by-building basis. There was no automation.

As overall security and visitor security became more of a concern it became obvious that a 'by hand' system wasn't feasible and would not be able to scale as the campus expanded. Loyola officials wanted a better system to be managing visitors and they decided that EasyLobby was the answer.

The use of school visitor software at Loyola has grown significantly since the initial implementation at the school libraries.

The school is currently using EasyLobby visitor registration software at 3 libraries, 7 residence halls and 4 administrative buildings. All systems are networked to the same central database where data is integrated, analyzed and reported on.

EasyLobby badge software is used for reconciliation at the end of visiting hours so that campus administrators know which guests are still on-campus and which have checked out.

"EasyLobby has helped make our campuses safer" said Dale. "Especially since we are located in an urban setting, we place a high premium on keeping out unwanted visitors, and on keeping our students, faculty and staff safe."

Another benefit of using visitor badge software is that petty thefts in the libraries, which was difficult to manage with so many visitors plus students from other campuses, has been dramatically reduced.

"As a result of EasyLobby's responsiveness and proactive assistance," said Dale, "we plan to grow the use of EasyLobby as the campus grows."

For more information about the use of a school visitor badge at your campus environment, or the use of visitor badges in other types of organizations, register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the visitor tracking software features that are most effective for your specific environment.

EasyLobby to Demonstrate Visitor Registration Software at ISC Solutions

Thursday, October 20, 2011 by John Murzycki

EasyLobby will be exhibiting our visitor software for the first time at the ISC Solutions event on November 2 -3, 2011 at the Javits Center in NYC.

We'll be in booth #1739 and we hope to see you.

We'll be demonstrating our badge software at the event by scanning a visitor ID such as a driver's license and creating a visitor badge.

Because it's quick and easy to register guests with the EasyLobby visitor system it only takes a few seconds to check in a visitor, capture the necessary information and create a visitor pass.

To capture additional information about the visitor we can also scan the person's business card. That additional information can be added to the visitor log and can be included in the visitor badges.

Our badge maker software makes it easy to create a badge template or to customize a badge with our badge designer tool.

With a click of the mouse we can then check in the guest. We demonstrate this check in process to each person that visits our booth. Those who are unfamiliar with our visitor control software are surprised at how easy it is to operate.

We can explain the custom reports that can be generate using our visitor management for those attendees who are interested in that aspect of our system. Or we may provide more information about creating alerts or using the watch list feature of our visitor registration system.

So if you are in the NYC area please come by to see our software in action. But if you can't make it to the show you can still see how our lobby system operates by registering for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we'll demonstrate the features of our system that are most appropriate to your particular requirements.

How to Manage Assets With Your Visitor System

Thursday, October 6, 2011 by John Murzycki

Asset management for some organizations consists of a hand-written paper log.

Many people who learn about the capabilities of EasyLobby visitor systems are surprised to discover that it can be used to track assets in their organization as well as visitors.

An asset management capability is included with each copy of EasyLobby badge ID software. So customers can use the same visitor management system to track equipment taken out of their facility or moved within their building.

The front desk attendant can add assets to the visitor software and create an asset loan record to identify and track when an asset is loaned out. The lobby attendant can set a due date when the asset should be returned. A signature can also be captured and associated with each loan record.

EasyLobby's form view and grid view on the lobby system make it easy to enter new asset loan information and to check the status of items on loan.

EasyLobby ID card software also includes a lost and found management system that allows lobby security to enter found items, look up current lost records and to check a lost item out when it is claimed by its owner.

So whether an organization is managing visitors more effectively, providing professional lobby management, or tracking assets, you can do it all with your EasyLobby visitor registration system.

Discover more about EasyLobby visitor tracking software by registering for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the visitor registration features that are most appropriate for your particular organization.

Why Use a Visitor System?

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 by John Murzycki

In many organizations, visitors entering a secure building are able to gain entry by simply writing their name in a paper guest book.

Not only is this procedure not a secure way to be managing visitors, but the data is usually incomplete, often difficult to read, and always impossible to analyze.

Perhaps more significant, confidential information concerning guest sign in names listing who has visited the organization is out in the open and readily available to anyone who wants to flip through the book's pages.

We believe that organizations can do much better. In the process they will enhance their image as a professional organization concerned about visitor security and the safety of all guests and employees.

With EasyLobby visitor registration software you can electronically scan a visitor ID such as a driver's license or business card and print a professional-looking visitor pass. All relevant information about the visitor is captured in a secure visitor log file.

In 20 seconds or less the visitor is professionally checked in and you have a record of who has visited your facilities, the purpose of their visit, the host employee, and other information that is relevant to your particular environment.

Our badge ID software also allows you to use a variety of alerts so that you can take certain actions based on visitor behavior. For instance, you may want contractors to take a safety exam after their second visit, or have prospective partners sign a non-disclosure agreement after their third visit.

You can screen unwanted visitors using a watch list feature. These are individuals or companies that you place on the list - those who you do not want entering your facilities. An example may be a disgruntled ex-employee, a known malicious person or an unscrupulous contractor.

You can also screen against external databases such as each state's sex offender database. A match of someone trying to enter your building will alert you within seconds of visitor sign in.

Our badge software also integrates with over 40 of the leading access control systems. This allows you to provide security visitor badges, or proximity cards, to allow guests or contractors the ability to enter locked doors controlled by your access system. This avoids the necessity of having an employee always escort the visitor. This integration also allows you to easily provide a temporary access card to an employee who has forgotten their employee badge.

To find out more how EasyLobby visitor management software can improve your organization, register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will guide you through the features of visitor software that are most pertinent to your particular requirements.

EasyLobby eKiosk™ Software for Visitor Registration

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 by John Murzycki

Our newest visitor management software product has just been introduced. It's called EasyLobby eKiosk™.

This new lobby system allows visitors to self-register on an Apple iPad or any Andriod or Windows based tablet computer.

Visitor self-registration is becoming more and more popular in nearly every market segment. Because many customer sites don't have the space in a lobby for a traditional self-standing Kiosk, we developed this application as a smaller, more intimate visitor system alternative.

With a built-in touch screen and very intuitive ease of use, an iPad or other tablet computer can be handed to the visitor when they arrive, allowing the guest to fill out the registration form and print their visitor badge.

When used in combination with EasyLobby's eAdvance web pre-registration software, the new EasyLobby eKiosk software makes it fast and easy for visitors to register themselves upon arrival, and is an effective way for organizations to be managing visitors, especially in a busy lobby.

The host employee can pre-register the visitor in eAdvance from their own computer; eAdvance then sends the visitor a confirmation email with their registration number. When the visitor arrives and is handed an eKiosk-enabled device, they simply enter their name or the registration number, and their record will automatically come up.

EasyLobby customers can configure the guest sign in form on any eKiosk device to include whatever fields they want.

Customers can also display a PDF or HTML file with eKiosk for visitors to review and acknowledge or agree to.

eKiosk also has the ability to screen visitors against a pre-registered visitor list and/or internal watch list to keep unwanted or unauthorized people out.

When a visitor completes the self registration and checks in using eKiosk, an email or SMS text is automatically sent to the employee being visited.

Visitor passes can be printed upon check in, and all visitor log data is stored in a central database.

The EasyLobby eKiosk visitor software is available immediately and can be purchased directly from EasyLobby or any authorized reseller of EasyLobby visitor management products.

For more information about EasyLobby eKiosk, or any badge software products, register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the visitor management solutions that are most appropriate for your particular requirements.

Problems and Solutions of Visitor Management Software: Using it in a Food Distribution Environment

Friday, September 2, 2011 by John Murzycki

Electronic Visitor Management System for Food Distribution

Food distribution is an important but very specialized market. Like many other specialized markets, we are often asked about the appropriateness of using a visitor system in that particular environment.

While the requirements of each type of organization will vary, we thought that a good topic of today's article would be to discuss the use of visitor registration in a very focused field such as food distribution.

Problem: Can visitor tracking software be helpful to my requirements as a food distribution organization?

Solution: Industries such as food distribution companies have very specific requirements to monitor and track all visitors who enter their facilities. These requirements are the result of FDA regulations on the protection of the nation's food supply under the bio-terrorism rule.

Because of this, many food distribution companies will use EasyLobby for their badge software.

At many of these facilities visitor systems are used at both the corporate and the distribution facilities. These organizations monitor the arrival and departure of trucks and drivers in the distribution facilities.

As a result of using visitor software in their facilities, food distribution companies effectively comply with Federal regulations by recording and reporting on all guest sign in activity and tracking exactly which individuals and vehicles have entered or left a facility.

A visitor log in our software is able to track all visitors and make that data readily accessible in reports.

Food distribution companies using visitor registration software are also able to reduce costs by monitoring the exact arrival and departure of each truck. By having this exact log they are often able to dramatically reduce the detention fees typically charged by third-party shippers for drivers that were delayed at the facilities. The distribution company is able to challenge any unwarranted detention fees.

Read an EasyLobby case study about the use of visitor management at a national food distributor.

Although this article is specific to the use of visitor control software in a food distribution environment, our software can help many different types of organizations in their efforts to professionally manage visitors and improve visitor security.

Find out more by registering for a free, customized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the features of our system that are most significant to your particular requirements.

Visitor Software Problems and Solutions: How to Pre-Register Visitors

Thursday, September 1, 2011 by John Murzycki

Some organizations want to pre-register guests before they arrive. This alleviates much of the information that needs to be collected from guests when they check in and it speeds the process of visitor registration.

We'll deal with that issue in today's article.

Problem: When using a visitor system I want to have our employees pre-register guests that they know will be visiting so that our lobby attendants don't have to ask the questions that can be answered prior to the guest checking in.

Solution: EasyLobby has a web-based tool that allows your employees to pre-register guests. This is one of the many valuable features that allows users to improve how they are managing visitors at their facilities.

eAdvance is our software module that allows employees to pre-register guests they are expecting.

This option can greatly simplify and streamline guest sign in, alleviating congestion and speeding the process of providing visitor badges to guests.

Using eAdvance, authorized employees can access a web-based tool, pictured above, through the Internet or the organization's local area network.

eAdvance is tightly integrated with our visitor management software. The employee simply logs into the eAdvance screen and completes the visitor information. No knowledge of how to use our badge software is necessary and no training of employees is required.

When a pre-registered guest arrives for their appointment, they can be quickly checked in and provided a visitor pass.

One of the more powerful features of the newest version of our eAdvance software is a rules-based approval feature. This feature gives you, the administrator, a great deal of flexibility deciding the rules of approving pre-registered guests for entry. You decide if others in the organization need to approve the entry and what those rules are.

The best way to find out more about eAdvance and our rules-based approval feature is to register for a free, customized online web conference.

During this approximately 30 minute presentation we can explain the major features of our visitor registration software as well as our pre-registration module.

So register today and we can give you a complete picture of the lobby system features that you can use to professionally and securely manage visitors in your environment.

Visitor System Problems and Solutions: What about Unattended Lobbies?

Friday, August 19, 2011 by John Murzycki

Some organizations prefer to maintain an unattended lobby. Guests either have to call the person they are visiting or buzz a notification alarm to alert someone to open a door.

So how would you handle visitor registration in that type of environment? That's the subject of today's article.

Problem: How can you use a visitor registration system when there is no attendant to log in guests and create visitor badges?

Solution: Visitor registration software such as EasyLobby's can easily operate in an unattended mode as a stand alone kiosk to allow visitors to self-register.

Facility managers and security professionals understand that an unattended lobby does not negate the need for greater security and knowing who has entered the facility and the reason for their visit.

Our badge software allows visitors to scan their license at a kiosk and receive a badge before entry to a facility. Many kiosks, such as the one pictured to the left, include a touch screen monitor so visitors can easily navigate through easy step-by-step instructions.

A kiosk is a great way to allow visitors to perform all the steps necessary to identify themselves by scanning their visitor ID such as a driver's license and printing a visitor pass. In some cases those visitor passes are the only way they can enter a locked door or turnstile that is able to read the barcode on the badge. Read our case study at One Gateway Center that employs just such a lobby system.

EasyLobby supports seven different languages for visitor self-registration. You decide the fields that are displayed on the kiosk screen and determine which are required for guest sign in.

Our badge ID software also includes automatic email notifications that a guest has arrived and is waiting for them in the lobby.

With our web-based employee pre-registration option you can require pre-registration of guests by employees so that a visitor cannot enter a facility unless an employee has pre-registered them prior to their arrival.

One of EasyLobby's kiosk partners - Parabit Systems - has published a white paper titled "The Benefits of Visitor Management / Self-Badging Kiosks."

It's a great white paper that delves into the benefits of using visitor management software in a kiosk. Among the many benefits of using a kiosk for guest sign in are:

More accurate screening of visitors
Pre-registration of visitors to more tightly control who is authorized to enter
Detailed visitor information captured quickly and accurately
Multiple security alerts for tighter visitor security

For more information about using ID card software in either a fully staffed or an unattended lobby, register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we can demonstrate the lobby system features that are most appropriate for your particular environment.

Visitor Management Problems and Solutions: What's Wrong With Using a Paper Guest Book?

Monday, August 15, 2011 by John Murzycki

Many of our current customers are organizations that previously used pen and paper to sign in visitors. So we are frequently asked what is wrong about a paper visitor log.

That's the topic of today's problems and solutions article.

Problem: We use a paper guest book to sign in visitors. What's wrong with it?

Solution: If you are still using a pen and paper for visitor sign in, you should seriously consider the many advantages of professional visitor software.

Visitor registration software will help you provide better visitor security and protect your organization from unwanted visitors.

You can electronically scan a visitor ID such as a driver's license and capture all relevant information about the guest using a secure database file that is not accessible to other visitors.

A paper guest book is in the open and readily available to anyone who wants to look. It's a poor image to present to guests entering your facilities.

Plus, the information in a paper book is often difficult to read or verify, and almost impossible to analyze.

In an emergency such as a fire, it would be impossible to quickly determine who is still in the building and who has left, as the check out times are not always required or enforced.

Finally, a paper guest sign in and hand-written visitor passes presents an image of lax security.

A professional lobby system will allow you to validate the identity of a visitor, create high quality visitor badges for all your guests, and improve security and enhance your image as a professionally managed organization.

ID card software also allows you to professionally manage visitors by directing them to take the actions you require, such as signing certain documents, or following specific procedures.

EasyLobby allows you to create watch lists in our visitor system to guard against unwanted visitors. You can also screen against each state's sex offender database or the Government Denied Party databases.

Badge software such as EasyLobby's has many additional features that allow you to customize it to fit your specific requirements for lobby management.

Discover more by registering for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the features of our system that are most appropriate for your particular environment.

Problems and Solutions with Visitor Tracking Software: What About Tracking Assets?

Thursday, August 4, 2011 by John Murzycki

Visitor Control Software to Manage Assets

Customers and prospects often ask if they can use EasyLobby to track more than visitors. In today's article we'll deal with the issue of using EasyLobby Visitor Software to track assets.

Problem: How can EasyLobby visitor management software be used to track assets as well as mange visitors?

Solution: The truth is that many people who learn about EasyLobby's capabilities are surprised to discover that it can be used to track assets in their organization as well as visitors.

In fact, asset management as well as package management are an integral part of our visitor system, not an add-on or an extra option. So customers can use the same visitor management system to track equipment taken out of their facility or moved within their building and to log in packages that arrive.

This provides organizations with important benefits such as deterring theft and the ability to easily locate key pieces of equipment. For package deliveries, it allows organizations to easily notify the proper party of a package.

Asset management allows you to keep track of every piece of equipment that is removed from your site, or removed from a holding bin, and who has removed it.

Although our package management feature is useful for all types of organizations, it is particularly helpful in multi-tenant facilities. It allows someone at the front desk or other area with an EasyLobby ID badge system to log the package in and automatically send a message to the recipient that a package has arrived for them and is waiting for pickup.

So whether it's managing visitors more effectively, providing professional lobby management, or tracking assets and packages, you can do it all with your EasyLobby visitor registration system.

Discover more about using an EasyLobby system by registering for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the visitor registration features that are most appropriate to you, including managing packages and assets.

Visitor System Problems and How to Solve Them: Choosing the Best Software

Monday, July 25, 2011 by John Murzycki

Let's say you've already decided to make the leap to modernize your guest sign in process by installing visitor software.

The next question you probably have is: What's the best badge software for my particular environment? Let's examine that in today's article about visitor registration problems and how to solve them.

Problem: I don't want a system that can't grow as our requirements expand. What should I be most concerned about when choosing visitor management software for our needs?

Solution: Because each facility is different, and you probably have your own unique concerns and priorities, it's important to focus on a solution that has the greatest flexibility and breadth of features.

Can you customize your lobby system so that you are able to keep unwanted visitors out of your facilities and also improve the professionalism of managing visitors?

Here are a few of the checkoff items that you should inquire about when selecting a system:

Can I create watch lists?
Is it easy to install and easy to use?
Can I integrate it with our access control system?
Can I use it in a kiosk?
Am I able to customize visitor badges by category of visitor?
Can I be alerted when specific visitor behavior falls out of the norm, as I define it?
Does the vendor have thousands of installations around the world in a variety of industries at both large and small installations?
Can I automate the visitor sign in processes so that my lobby attendants do not get confused about the many different options?
Can I produce customized reports to review visitor log data?
Can employees pre-register guests they know will be arriving?
What type of visitor information will let me identify who is in our buildings and the reasons for their visit?
How good is their technical support?

Because visitor management is the sole focus of EasyLobby, we pay close attention to the needs of our customers and their requirements. The ID badge system that we provide has been used by many thousands of users, we partner with more security management systems than anyone else, and our software is easy to use yet has many capabilities that will meet most anyone's requirements.

Find out more by registering for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the features of our software that are most pertinent to your specific needs and environment.

Visitor Software Problems and How to Solve Them: The Software is Too Complex

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 by John Murzycki

There's no question that using a paper guest book for visitor sign in is a simple and easy process for managing visitors.

But is it really effective?

One reason some organizations still use paper is because they believe that an electronic visitor management system is too complex. We'll deal with that problem and solution in today's blog.

Problem: Visitor management software is too difficult to use; I'll have to spend an exorbitant amount of time training my lobby staff; and it will cost a great deal to support. I'll need to hire additional technical support people just to use it.

Solution: It's important not to confuse feature-rich with complex. EasyLobby visitor systems have many options and features that you can use, but it's not difficult to set up or for anyone to perform the basic functions of checking in a visitor.

We like to say that it is much like Microsoft Word, which many people regularly use. It has many features, but unless you want to use all of them it's pretty simple to perform the primary tasks.

EasyLobby visitor registration software minimizes complexity in a number of ways. For example, there's the log-in level. Users can be assigned different levels based on their function. You can sign in as a site administrator, which gives you access to all the features and functions of the system, while your lobby staff can be provided with "operator" log-ins, which limits what they are able to perform and also simplifies it for them.

As the administrator, you can "hide" many of the screens and menu options that the operator doesn't need. In this way the lobby attendants only see the primary screens that they would use for visitor registration and to provide guests with a visitor pass.

You, as the administrator decide what information will be on a visitor badge and what the design of it will look like. EasyLobby has hundreds of pre-defined badge templates that you can choose from, or you can design your own with a design tool. You can even use different styles of visitor passes for different categories of visitors.

When that category of visitor checks in with a lobby attendant, the look of the badge has already been established by you. The lobby attendant scans a visitor ID such as a driver's license or business card, selects the category of visitor from a drop down menu and prints a badge. It's that simple.

During guest sign in at an EasyLobby visitor system, the lobby attendant's task is simplified because they only need to scan a driver's license, and depending on the information that you choose to require, make those selections with a drop down menu. And then print the visitor ID badge.

EasyLobby also offers free technical support with an annual maintenance contract. It allows you access to our support staff to ask any questions about setting up or using the software for your needs.

We also provide free online training for anyone who requires an overview to the different functions of our visitor system. We can even provide training for your lobby attendants or support staff.

The great thing about our visitor badge software is that it's simple to use and it's much more effective at enhancing visitor security and the professionalism of managing visitors at your facilities.

Find out more about using EasyLobby ID card software by registering for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the lobby system features that are best for your environment.

So don't use the excuse that it's too complex before you see it in action.

Watch our blog posts for further information about a particular visitor management problem and our solution.