Visitor Sign In

Identifying exactly who is in your facilities and the reason why is one of the important functions of a professional visitor registration system.

Visitor software helps you better manage the flow of visitors who enter your buildings, it improves visitor security and improves lobby management.

With EasyLobby badge software you can create professional visitor passes for all guests.

ID card software allows you to quickly scan a visitor ID such as a driver's license of a guest and electronically capture the information without typing.

You can also monitor the reason for the visit, employee being visited, category of visitor, or any other information that is important to your organization.

Keeping unwanted visitors out of your facilities is also an important function of visitor registration software. You can create internal watch lists of individuals you want to flag as not being welcomed in your building. These might include disgruntled former employees, competitors, or other malicious individuals. You can also screen visitors against external databases such as each state's sex offender database or the government denied parties list.

With EasyLobby's integration to over 45 access control systems, it is easy to provide proximity card access to temporary visitors using the lobby system. During guest sign in you can allow their visitor badges to open doors, turnstiles or elevators controlled by your access system.

EasyLobby has many visitor management solutions that can be tailored to your specific requirements. 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 pertinent to your particular environment.

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.

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.

If you want to improve the security of your facilities, as well as the professionalism of your organization (and who doesn't), now is the time to review how you are managing visitors that enter your building.

Clearly, organizations that use professional visitor software are able to better safeguard their facilities and people, as well as maintain the image of a professional and well-run organization.

The reason is simple. A visitor registration system allows you to understand who is entering your buildings and the reasons for their visit.

Organizations of any size can apply basic visitor registration procedures to ensure they are able to identify and track every visitor to their facilities. Here are a few suggestions:

Use color coded visitor badges to quickly identify the type of visitor (such as contractor, intern, day visitor, etc,) and decide whether the visitor needs to be escorted by an employee.

Use your visitor system to print barcodes on visitor passes. This greatly speeds visitor check out. It also allows the guest to re-use that visitor pass the next time they visit. They can be checked in with a simple scan of the badge because the system will have the record of their previous guest sign in.

Decide if you want a photo of the visitor, either scanned from a visitor ID such as a driver's license or taken by a web camera during visitor sign in. You can also place this photo on badge templates so that it is included with each visitor badge.

Use watch lists to screen against unwanted visitors, and screen visitors against each states' sex offender database or Government Denied Parties database.

Use alerts as part of your badge software so that you can take action when a specific event has occurred. This allows you to better manage visitor action. For example, you may want a contractor to take a safety test after their third visit, or a potential partner to sign a non-disclosure agreement after their second visit. You can set those parameters on your visitor tracking software to easily accomplish this.

Periodically review the information that you capture from guests with your visitor management software. Is it the type of information that is most useful to you?

Finally, use reports to analyze visitor activity and fine-tune your system.

EasyLobby Secure Visitor Management (SVM) allows you to use all of the above solutions, plus many others.

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

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

The September 2011 EasyLobby newsletter has been published.

Read about an new visitor management product that we just released. It provides an option for visitors to self-register when they arrive for guest sign in. Visitors can use an Apple iPad, tablet, or smart phone to complete their visitor registration rather than having a lobby attendant do it.

Our newsletter is published regularly and contains an assortment of articles about visitor badges and different techniques that you can use with your lobby system and how you can improve managing visitors in your facilities.

So keep up to date with the latest trends and techniques using visitor software. Sign up to receive our newsletter.

In case you didn't receive it, here's the latest issue of our badge software newsletter.

For more information about using an EasyLobby visitor system in your environment, register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the visitor registration software features that are best for your particular requirements.

If you are looking for an opportunity to meet and talk with EasyLobby personnel about using visitor management software, we will be displaying it at an industry event next week.

EasyLobby will be exhibiting at the ASIS 2011 Seminar and Exhibits in Orlando, FL. on September 19, 20, 21. We'll be in booth #2157.

This event is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the leading solutions in the security industry. You can see demonstrations of our visitor system and learn more about improving visitor security and lobby management at your organization.

EasyLobby will be demonstrating how to scan a visitor ID such as a driver's license and create a professional visitor pass for all guests.

ASIS International is the preeminent organization for security professionals. The organization is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests.

There are more than 180 educational sessions at this event and over 700 companies demonstrating security products and services.

Because more and more organizations put a high priority on the need for a visitor registration system, we normally receive a high level of interests from attendees.

Organizations use our software to automate the guest sign in process and enhance their reputation as a professional organization concerned about visitor security.

EasyLobby's ID card software allows you to customize visitor badges so the information printed on them is most pertinent to your requirements.

These and many more features of our visitor software will be on display at the ASIS Conference in Orlando.

So we hope to see you at the show. But if you are unable to attend, you can still view a demonstration of our software by registering for a personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the software features that are most appropriate to your particular requirements.

Although government facilities are unique from other types of buildings they also share many of the same concerns as commercial buildings when it comes to professionally and securely managing visitors.

Today's article will examine some of the issues that government facilities have when using visitor software for guest sign in.

Problem: What do government facilities need to consider when dealing with visitors and using a lobby system to electronically check in guests.

Solution:  In today's world, lobby security is obviously a concern at any government building. That's why government organizations frequently require that all visitors to their facilities be identified with visitor badges.

But there's a lot more to visitor management in government facilities than simply providing a visitor badge for all guests.

As a leading choice for government organizations, EasyLobby is used at many Federal, State and Local government agencies, including many military and defense installations around the world, to improve security and enhance the professionalism of the facility.

Our badge ID software is able to report exactly who is in the facility, what their purpose is and who they visited.

Most importantly, our visitor system supports a number of important government standards, including the ability to:

• Provide real-time, online screening of the Government Denied Party Databases which consists of over 50 databases.
• Read and process Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Cards in support of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12).
• Scan and process the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) cards with an optical scan.
• Read and process CAC cards which contain a 2D bar code.

With the addition of internal watch lists that any government organization can include in their visitor tracking software, guarding against unwanted visitors becomes an automatic part of the visitor registration process.

If you are responsible for security or facility management at a government or military installation, and want to learn more about our visitor management software, register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the features of our system that are most pertinent to your government facility.

If you are not a government organization, you can still learn how EasyLobby can protect your commercial or nonprofit organization with more professional visitor registration software. Register today for the free demo to learn more.

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.

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.

Although most customers are aware that they can purchase their replacement badge stock from EasyLobby, it never hurts to remind people.

The fact is, we support our visitor software customers with services in a variety of areas, and replacement stock is one of them. We offer our customers the lowest prices available on replacing their supply of visitor passes.

Convenient terms, fast delivery, and our knowledgeable staff are just of the few benefits you receive when ordering replacement stock.

We have a wide range of visitor ID badges available, depending on your specific requirements. Choices include color or black & white visitor badges, self-expiring badges, fold and clip, self-laminating,and and range of adhesive badges.

Pictured here is a DYMO black and white badge printer and a roll of self-expiring badges. These badges bleed through a red stop sign after 12 hours, highlighting that the badge has expired.

Our color badge options can be viewed here.

Our black & white visitor badge options can be viewed here.

Our badge ID software has hundreds of templates to choose from when creating a particular ID badge template. You can design badges to distinguish different categories of visitors, such as a temporary employee or a contractor or a day visitor, or any other category that is appropriate to your environment.

Remember, EasyLobby is now selling the EL2941 Self Adhesive Badge, which is a replacement for the discontinued Avery #2941 badges. It can be ordered from us with 500 badges to a package and can be used in any Microsoft-compatible printer.

Contact us by email at sales@easylobby.com or call 781-455-8558 for a price quote.

And if you need more information about the many features of EasyLobby's visitor management system, register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we can demonstrate how easy it is to use visitor registration in your environment.

Some environments such as college and university campuses have unique challenges when using visitor software. So let's deal with the feasibility of using it in a campus environment.

Problem:  With a campus environment that encompasses many different buildings, open areas, and different school facilities, how realistic is it to consider using visitor registration software?

Solution:  The way you use a visitor system will depend greatly on the type of environment. But managing visitors professionally and securely in an open campus environment is just as important as a single-entry office.

It's important to know what you are trying to accomplish in an open campus environment and what is practical. The buildings that are more prone to theft, vandalism, or other problems from unknown guests are the locations to assign a priority to the use of badge software.

Protecting campus dormitories from unknown or unwanted guests are probably one of the highest priority areas for any college.
 
Enhancing visitor security at college and university campuses begins with knowing who is visiting buildings on campus.

By installing visitor systems in campus dormitories and other high risk buildings you have the ability to monitor and control all guests who are entering those buildings.

Visitor tracking software allows you to track students who are visiting another student's residence hall and track and provide a visitor ID badge to all non-student visitors.

Screening of visitors on each states' registered sex offender database can also be used. During a guest sign in, the lobby attendant will be notified if someone on a list tries to check in. Automatic email alerts can also be sent to security personnel.

You can also decide if you want visitors to wear a school visitor badge before entering certain other facilities such as a library or administration buildings.

Protecting students, administrators and faculty require that educational institutions develop specific processes for the use of visitor management software. As a result, you will have an environment that is secure, yet the visitor management system will not be a burden or a hardship for administrators or guests.

EasyLobby school visitor software is currently used a many leading educational facilities across the country.

For more information about using visitor management in your college or university campus, or at your specific environment, register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the features of the EasyLobby system that are best for your particular requirements.

People often think that it is costly and time consuming to use visitor software as a way of managing visitors in their facilities.

But it is not. A visitor registration system will enhance lobby management and improve overall security at a surprisingly low cost.

EasyLobby has thousands of installations around the world in most every type of industry and market. These organizations use our visitor management software to enhance security and safeguard their facilities from unwanted visitors.

If you haven't yet used EasyLobby's visitor system, you might not realize how inexpensive and easy it is to install and to use. The basic features of our badge software are designed to be used with minimal instructions or guidance.

Although easy to use, our system also has a great deal of flexibility to allow customization to your specific requirements. Because each organization is unique, with its own set of requirements, it's important to use a system that can be adapted to address your concerns.

Keep in mind that an organization using an ID badge system to create professional visitor badges is considered more professional and has a better image than one that does not. Being able to produce high-quality visitor passes and efficiently dealing with guests is an important first impression to leave with visitors.

So the next time you are visiting an organization that's using an ineffective paper guest book for visitor sign in, consider telling them about professional visitor management from EasyLobby.

Find out how easy it is to use our visitor tracking software and how inexpensive it is by registering for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the primary features such as how to check in a guest, capture vital information about the visitor, and produce a professional visitor badge.

EasyLobby ID card software can provide you with numerous options when considering the use of visitor badges at your facilities.

Visitor badges worn by all guests who enter your facilities are the most visible aspect of visitor registration and guest sign in. So it's imperative that you make these badges look professional but also contain the information that will be most helpful to you and your security team.

EasyLobby's badge maker software lets you print a visitor ID badge with color coding so that you can easily tell the category of the visitor by the color coded badge. You can even change the color every day so that you are able to easily identify an expired badge.

Barcodes printed on visitor badges let you scan the badge for rapid check out. For frequent visitors, you can provide a permanent badge that has a barcode so that you can scan it in, and automatically check in the visitor without any other steps when they re-enter the facility.

Some organizations put visitor sign in information on one area of the badge - information such as visitor name, title, company, etc.

Placing the visitor's photo on the badge is also a good option. You can capture the visitor's photo during check-in by scanning their license, passport, or by taking a photo with a webcam.

Whatever your choice of badge templates, EasyLobby visitor management software allows you to design badges that are unique to your organization.

Find out more how EasyLobby visitor registration software can help improve visitor security at your organization. Register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the badge software features that are most significant for your particular requirements.

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.

Healthcare facilities have their own unique set of challenges when using visitor software. In today's problems and solutions article we review ways to improve visitor security in a healthcare and hospital environment.

Problem:  Is visitor badge software really practical for hospitals and healthcare facilities? We have always considered ourselves to be an open facility that does not lend itself to this type of application.

Solution:  It's easy to understand why some people may feel that hospitals and healthcare environments are not a good fit for visitor registration software. But the truth is that most every organization today needs to monitor who is entering their buildings and the reason why.

Healthcare facilities are no exception, in spite of many of them having a high volume of visitors.

Some of the country's largest and most prominent healthcare facilities currently use EasyLobby visitor management to secure their facilities and screen, badge and track every visitor and vendor entering the building.

These organizations can process visitors in and out of the facilities quickly, screen against unwanted visitors, manage the maximum number of visitors to specific patients at any one time, and monitor all guest sign in.

A lobby attendant can scan a visitor ID such as a driver's license, capture all necessary information on the visitor, and create a professional visitor badge in less than 20 seconds per visitor.

Kiosk mode stations can also be located in a lobby so that guests can self-register.

An important aspect of EasyLobby visitor systems is that they are able to integrate with other hospital information systems. Some of the more significant integrations include:

HL7 for real-time patient feeds:  Lobby attendants are able to view real-time patient admissions and discharges, allowing them to match the patient that the visitor is seeing and include that on a visitor pass.

Status Blue:  This includes a list of the approved vendors for the healthcare facility. The lobby attendant will be ale to access this information and know whether an arriving vendor has been pre-approved by the facility.

Access Control Integration:  Contractors can be provided with access to locked doors controlled by the facility's access control system, allowing them to enter areas without the need of being escorted by an employee.

Also, with the option of sex offender screening, the healthcare facility can screen against individuals on each states' sex offender database, and to take appropriate action if an individual tries to enter the facility.

One of the visitor management techniques that healthcare facilities can use is the maximum visitor alert feature, allowing the facility to limit the number of guests to specific patients, such as those in intensive care.

Our badge ID software can be used to provide extended visitor badges for family members who may be visiting patients frequently over a long period of time. Whenever that guest arrives a simple scan of a barcode on the badge will check them in.

For more information about using visitor management software in a healthcare facility, register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the features that are most helpful to a healthcare facility, or for your particular environment.

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.

Some organizations want to capture a visitor's signature when they enter a building. But how can it be accomplished easily while also linking the signature to your visitor registration software?

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

Problem:  We need to verify that certain guests entering our facilities have read and agreed to specific rules and regulations. How can we record their signature as part of the guest sign in process?

Solution:  A number of EasyLobby customers capture guest signatures when they check in at a visitor system.

This is a good option at organizations that require visitors to acknowledge or assent to something and to record their agreement with a signature.

Our visitor software includes the ability to scan a visitor ID such as a driver's license, business card, or passport, and create a professional visitor pass. This allows you to identify and monitor who is entering your facilities.

Beyond the basic visitor registration, you can perform a number of other tasks when managing visitors, such as signature capture.

When capturing visitor signatures, EasyLobby customers have the option of recording multiple signatures from a single visitor, which is helpful when designating a signature for multiple documents. You can include a copy of the documents in our visitor registration system and match the documents with the signatures.

EasyLobby uses the Topaz Signature Capture Pad, which uses electromagnetic technology with an active pen. An electronic copy of the visitor's signature is recorded in the badge ID software as part of the visitor record.

So if you want to augment your ID badge system with signature capture, be sure to investigate EasyLobby visitor management software.

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

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

You may not realize that one of the many benefits of visitor software is the ability to receive alerts on a number of specific visitor actions. We'll describe that function in today's problems and solutions article.

Problem:  How can email alerts be used to highlight specific visitor activity?

Solution:  A wide range of alerts can easily be programmed into an EasyLobby visitor management system. Here are some of the most common.

Visitor Check In Alert:  This alert automatically notifies an employee that a visitor has arrived and is waiting for them in the lobby. An alert such as this alleviates the tasks that a lobby attendant has to perform, such as calling employees when visitors arrive. It can thus speed the guest sign in process.

Maximum Visitor Alert:  This is an alert that lets the lobby attendant know when a maximum number of visitors to a particular person or location has been reached. This is frequently used in hospitals that use a visitor system to restrict the number of visitors to particular patients, such as those in intensive care.

Frequent Visitor Alert:  One of the visitor management software features in our system is the ability to flag selected individuals that return a certain number of times, or within a specified time. This might be helpful in the case of contractors who may be required to be re-certified or take additional training after a specified time-frame or after so many visits.

New Visitor Alert:  When someone is checking in for the first time you may want them to follow a different procedures or complete certain forms. An ID badge system such as the one from EasyLobby allows you to accomplish this.

New Package Alert:  Because you can use our lobby system to manage packages as well as visitors, this alert can be used to notify an employee, or tenant that a package has arrived and is waiting to be picked up.

Expired Badge Alert:  ID card software can be used to notify security staff that a visitor badge has expired but that visitor has not yet checked out. The security staff can then ascertain if a meeting took longer than expected or if there is some other reason why the visitor hasn't left.

Watch List Alerts:  When a guest tries to check in and that person is listed on either your internal watch list or an external list such as a sex offender database or Government Denied Parties List, you or any other security staff, can automatically be notified.

All of these alerts, and others, are part of the EasyLobby visitor registration system, and are designed to improve lobby management and visitor security at your facilities.

Learn more about alerts as well as the many additional features of visitor management by registering for a free, personalized online web conference.

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

One of the ways we often explain a benefit of using visitor management software is to say that it will help you manage visitors more professionally?

But what exactly does this mean? We'll examine that a little more closely in today's visitor management problems and solutions.

Problem:  It's easy to say that visitor systems help you manage guests more professionally. But how?

Solution:  There are several ways that a visitor registration system helps the professionalism of your lobby management.

Firstly, it automates the entire process of guest sign in and adds another level of security to your facilities, protecting employees and other guests from unwanted visitors.

But it also ensures that your guests are adhering to your specific requirements and the needs of your organization. And you are able to do so in a structured way rather than haphazardly.

Here are a couple of examples of what I mean.

Say you want outside contractors working in your facilities to view a safety video after a certain time or after a certain number of visits. You can do this easily with our ID card software. The EasyLobby system maintains a record of how many times that particular contractor has checked in. If you determine that after the second check in they must view a safety video, that message will appear on the lobby attendants screen when that contractor checks in after the second time.

Maybe it's not a safety video, and maybe it's not a contractor. Maybe for another category of guests, say day visitors, you need them to sign a non-disclosure agreement after their third visit.

EasyLobby's capability to provide programmable alerts provides a great deal of flexibility in the way you manage visitors or to be alerted about specific activities.

Here's another example. You are using the EasyLobby integration with an access control system to provide guests with temporary proximity card access to doors, turnstiles or elevators controlled by your access system.

For those visitors who are provided with a proximity card, you want to be sure that the lobby attendant asks that visitor to return it when he or she checks out.

In the alert menu of EasyLobby badge software you can include a message that reads, "Remember to ask the visitor to return their proximity card" or something similar. Set the alert for all visitors who are provided with access to the security management system and apply to alert to check out.

Now, when visitors who are provided with security visitor badges check out, the lobby attendant will know that they should ask the guest to return the proximity card because that alert will appear on their screen.

These are specific examples that may not apply to the way you want to be managing visitors. But there are probably situations that are more appropriate to your environment.

The important point is that there are many variables that will allow you to define user actions by using a lobby system - something that you could not easily accomplish with a paper guest book.

So these are just a few examples of what we mean by professionally managing visitors.

Learn more about ways that you can use visitor registration to improve your image as a well managed organization. Register for a free, personalized online web conference.

In about 30 minutes we will demonstrate the visitor badge features that you can use in your environment.

Because visitor badges are the most visible aspect of a visitor system, customers often ask us a lot of questions about formatting badges and the information they should include on them.

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

Problem:  Is there a recommended style and information to include on visitor passes?

Solution:  Just as each organization is different with its own unique situation and requirements, so are our recommendations for different types of visitor ID badges.

Because we recognize the varied interests of different organizations, EasyLobby includes in its badge maker software a number of badge templates that you can choose from based on your individual interests in highlighting different visitor information on the badge.

We also include a custom design tool that allows you to layout and place whatever information you choose. Basically any data that you gather during visitor check in can be included on a badge.

Here are a number of primary visitor badge formatting options for you to consider.

Create different badge designs for different categories of visitors. The badges for contractors, for example, can be different from those of a day visitor, or volunteer, or parent - whatever categories of visitors that reflect your situation.

Color code your badges for different days of the week. This allows you to easily identify if a visitor pass has been issued that day.

Include a barcode on badges. Read our recent blog about using barcodes.

Include a picture of the visitor on the badge, scanned from their license during guest sign in or taken with a web camera.

Here are some common data fields that are often included in badge formats: 

• check in time and date
• expiration time of the badge
• restrictions - such as 'employee escort required'
• area of the facility the guest is expected to visit, such as second floor conference room
• category of visitor
• visitor name, title and company affiliation
• the name and photo of the employee they are visiting
• your company's name and logo - for branding purposes

It all comes down to what is most important to you in identifying visitors and being able to determine from their visitor ID badge if they are at a place in your facility that they should be.

Visitor registration helps you manage visitors more professionally and improves security by identifying who is in your buildings and the reasons why. There are a number of other features to help with this process, but knowing what information to include on a visitor badge is an important step.

For more information about using security visitor badges in your environment, register 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 and show you how to format an ID badge template.