Technology and services company Ideco states that the current economic downturn has only boosted business for the company.

CEO and executive chairperson Vhonani Mufamadi says that the downturn has increased business for the company’s biometrics systems, owing to organisational concerns regarding an increase in criminal activity, together with the potential savings that the systems are able to offer customers.

Mufamadi says that the systems from Ideco’s certified partners offer companies solutions that lead to potential savings of 15% to 20% in payroll alone.

He adds that, during a recession, employers become increasingly concerned about fraud and security, as employees’ incomes and resources are squeezed.
Further, Mufamadi says that Ideco has noticed a trend where companies are increasingly concerned about protecting organisational information.

“This leads to organisations considering more effective ways to control access to their data and systems, and Ideco’s fingerprint technology comes in handy in this regard.”

Mufamadi says that, hitherto, Ideco mainly focused on physical access control, but that the company’s hunt for future growth lies in the expansion of its logistical access control sector.

Logistical access control is concerned with the protection of data and information systems in workplaces. Logistical information, such as who is allowed to access data on particular devices, networks and applications, can assist companies in securing their data and keeping records of who had access.

Mufamadi explains that biometrics technology involves the recognition of individuals through the identification of unique aspects, such as a fingerprint or even an individual’s iris. Through digital fingerprint technology, one can access an extensive range of infor- mation beyond basic details like gender and date of birth.

The technology makes use of a fingerprint scanner to manage overall security within a com- pany, with different systems communicating with one another through a central database that stores the fingerprints. Information about people and activities within the organisation is constantly updated and stored on the database.

Systems can also ensure the accurate calculation and reporting of employee salaries and leave cycles, besides providing information about individual qualifications and accreditation.

Mufamadi emphasises that Ideco operates in a diversity of market sectors – from mining and industry to government. “In all these sectors, Ideco is the largest supplier of biometrics technology in South Africa,” he concludes.