Including barcodes on visitor badges offer a number of advantages.

Because each visitor has a unique identification number, each barcode printed on a badge is also unique, identifying that particular visitor. A scanner or access control reader is therefore able to identify that visitor, which allows you to perform a number of tasks quickly and easily. Here are a few:

• During visitor check out, a barcode on the visitor badge allows the lobby attendant to quickly scan the badge and automatically check out the visitor. This is especially beneficial in a busy lobby or when you have large groups of visitors exiting at the same time.

• Guests who frequently visit an organization can be provided with a permanent badge that can be scanned in when the person enters the lobby each time, saving time for the normal license scan and printing of a new badge each time. This process is often used at hospitals for relatives who might be visiting a patient on a regular basis.

• Used in conjunction with EasyLobby Satellite™, bar-coded visitor badges allow you to restrict visitor entry to more secure, or restricted areas of your facilities. At the time of check in, visitors can be assigned a particular clearance level, which will either allow or deny their entry past EasyLobby Satellite™ stations. Upon arrival at a checkpoint, the visitor's bar-coded badge is scanned and the Satellite™ station displays the visitor record with an 'entry approved' or 'entry denied' message.

EasyLobby's badge designer easily allows you to customize badges to include barcodes.

For more assistance, contact our customer support team.

What's the most important part of your visitor badges? Is it the barcode, a photo of the visitor, or something else?

Take a poll and find out what others say.

In this tech tip we will set up the barcode reader, make the barcode show up on the badges, make the visitors' Valid To time far in the future, and view the check-ins and check-outs on the Entry tab (Entry Log tab.).

1. How do I set up the barcode reader?

First plug the EasyLobby barcode reader into the usb port of the computer. Follow these instructions for our COM port emulator style barcode scanner or these instructions for one of our keyboard wedge style barcode scanners.Any further questions, contact us in EasyLobby tech support.

2. How do I make the barcode show up on the badge?

First, you'll have to make sure a barcode representing your visitor's custom id gets printed on the visitor badge.   Log into EasyLobby as an EasyLobby admin user, go into "Edit -> Badge options..." in the top menu.Set your site and station correctly, and either set the other dropdown boxes correctly or leave them untouched. Then, from the Products dropdown, choose "Dymo LabelWriter w/BarCode"(or Avery if you have Avery style badges). Then, you'll see that in the Badge dropdown box you'll have one or more templates available that have the barcode showing on them. Choose one of these from the "Products" dropdown, and click Apply and OK. Now when you print your next badge you'll be using a template that has the barcode on it.

3. How do I set the Valid To time far in the future?

Bring up the Visitor form for any visitor.Click on the Badge tab.You'll see fields such as Custom Id, Prox Card, etc, etc. There is a field called "Valid To". Use the dropdown selector or the arrows, or the keyboard, to enter a Valid To date in the future for the visitor. Now they will be able to scan in and out without error until that date and time arrives.

4. Where on the screen do I view the check-ins and check-outs on the visitor entry tab?

Next to the Badge tab on any visitor's visitor record, there is an "Entry" tab (or Entry Log). Click on it. You will see a growing list of dates and times when the visitor checked in or out. If the visitor holds onto their original badge, the list will grow, recording the check-ins and check-outs.

For additional assistance using Barcodes, email EasyLobby support, or call 781-455-8558.