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[Johannesburg, 15 February 2005] -
Human resources and payroll management company Accsys has launched a fingerprint-based biometrics solution that allows companies to combine various security options.The Accsys Peopleware Time Manager (APTM) solution was designed to allow access control, time and attendance management, and shop floor data collection, says Accsys MD Teryl Schroen.The cost of the biometrics unit will range from R7 500 to R10 000, depending on specific needs, plus a R300 monthly charge for the necessary software.While many companies already have clocking systems in place, biometrics provides a more secure and reliable option, says Schroen. “With a normal card or PIN-based option, employees are able to bypass the system by, say, allowing a colleague to clock in for them. With a biometrics solution, there is no way of someone getting around it.”In order for a person to be identified, the employee's fingerprint must be compared to all those on the database, which could be a time-consuming exercise in larger companies. Schroen says the company has countered this by offering a combination of security solutions.“By assigning each employee a card, chip or PIN code, the system will be able to identify the person immediately and then verify their print. We have implemented the APTM solution at Accsys, and found that a combination of a PIN code and thumbprint is the most popular. But companies can choose from any combination they wish.”Target companiesAccording to Schroen, the APTM solution is ideal for factory and ‘white-collar' environments. “We are also receiving interest from the service industry.”The APTM solution will also cater for situations where full-time supervision is not possible, for example a petrol station or other 24-hour businesses, she says.While Accsys is looking to keep its target market broad, Schroen concedes there are certain sectors where the device will prove less ideal. “There are some situations, like in the mining industry – where there are extremely high levels of dirt and dust, and where huge numbers of people are continuously coming and going – where our specific solution will probably not be in high demand.”Why fingerprint?Accsys technical manager Anthony Alcock says the company looked at various possibilities before opting for a fingerprint-based solution. Not only is it the most affordable, it also minimises the intrusion factor involved, he says.“People are used to getting their fingerprints taken for a number of things, like their driver's licence, so they tend to be comfortable with that. But with biometrics solutions that scan the eye, for example, people do not seem to like the idea of having a light scanning their eye everyday.”Such solutions can cost as much as R45 000 per unit, he says, making it unfeasible for many companies. “That said, the price could come down as technology gets better, but we will have to wait and see if people will be more open to such solutions in the future.”
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