Posted By
Harvey Wallis
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Published 03 February 2023
Last Updated 12 June 2025
Hybrid Staff ID & Discount Cards | Superstore Case Study
ID Card Centre recently tailored a employee ID and staff discount, access control and identity card solution for a UK retail chain with more than 200 superstores. ID Card Centre examined the existing door entry systems and staff discount scheme then were able to simplify the ID card supply chain, making it more cost-effective and secure.
Overview and Implementation:
• Branded staff discount and access control cards with a durable, high-quality finish.
• Economies of scale.
• Data security measures exceed GDPR compliance.
• Replacement or additional personalised photo ID cards and branded accessories can be delivered within days.
• Supply chain has been simplified, improving personal data security.
• System is fast and simple for staff to administer.
• Everything is printed in the UK.
• Stock levels and quality control are managed by ID Card Centre.
The Challenge
Printing photo ID cards for retail staff involves complex factors – from data security and visual branding to integration with till and access control systems.
When a seemingly simple order arrived at ID Card Centre, requesting staff discount cards for thousands of employees, the Account Manager sensed that this might only solve a small part of a more complex problem.
He called the customer to see if he could provide better value by looking at the wider picture, which incorporated the following needs:
• Photo ID card printing that could be linked with the employee’s reference number.
• A barcode on each card so tills link staff discounts with employee numbers.
• Some of the cards also had to be read by a Paxton access control system.
• The cards needed to be protected by a card holder and worn by each employee.
• Personalised ID cards had to be delivered to the right store.
Our Solution
After reviewing the client’s broader needs, we developed a fully scalable ID and staff discount card solution that reduced multiple requirements into one simple process.
Building trust and understanding is at the heart of ID Card Centre’s working ethos. We provided employee discount card samples including lanyards, card holders and various different types of cards designs, following the customer’s brand guidelines. We provided samples for each part of the solution, so the customer could assess quality at different price points. This is vital when printing staff discount and photo ID cards for busy retailers , because they need to be durable enough to withstand being knocked around throughout the day, without compromising appearance or the data held within each card.
This enabled the client’s project team to have absolute confidence when placing the final order, which included:
- Personal data processing and management for thousands of cards.
- Personalised ID card printing including, names, photos and more.
- Shipping the right employee cards, with their branded lanyards and card holders, to the right stores.
- Compatibility with existing access control within the supermarket.
Today, ID Card Centre stocks cards printed with the fixed elements of the client’s design, along with matching lanyards and card holders. These are called off and personalised as staff change or move sites.
Often data card suppliers stipulate the data file formats they will accept. This can inconvenience the customer. ID Card Centre wrote software so that its production system could receive clients’ data packs, in their original state, without any reformatting.
ID Card Centre processes and stores personal data in a high-security environment. Cards are printed onsite and personal data is deleted after identity cards are delivered. This avoids the inherent security risks of moving data between different parties, and their systems, in a supply chain.
Key Results
ID Card Centre removed all the security weaknesses and customer pain points that you might find in other supply chains.
The personalised ID cards, with built-in discount barcode and access control technology, are fast and simple for store managers to administer – without compromising economies of scale. Furthermore, nobody at head office has to manage stock levels, quality control or the associated lead times because ID Card Centre has taken care of it all.
