Barcoding and mobile solutions provider Harmonic Group has entered the South African biometrics space, in response to the demand for identification management across a wide range of industries.
The group has seen a growing market for biometrics-based security and access control solutions from various sectors, including security, medical, proof of delivery and people-tracking, says Barbara Cohen, technical projects director.
Initially, the company is planning to restrict its biometrics product offerings to fingerprint solutions. However, as newer technologies become more feasible, such as voice and retina recognition, the group plans to address these.
Interest in fingerprint readers has been expressed by organisations such as the South African National Roads Agency and South African Police Services (SAPS), says Cohen. SAPS, which is successfully using the biometrics-based Morpho Touch device, is also said to be exploring alternative biometrics technology.
"In today`s climate, with crime showing little signs of abating, fingerprint recognition is becoming increasingly essential across many sectors," says group MD Barry Baetu.
"For example, more companies are insisting verification that they are dealing with the right personnel on issues such as proof of delivery, that the right people are awarded subsidised home loans, or that the right person receives the proper healthcare.
"Having a mobile fingerprint recognition solution makes verification a lot easier, faster and more accurate than relying on identity documents that are prone to abuse," he says.
Biometrics is also the ideal solution for fast-tracking people at airports, stations or other venues where access control and linking assets to people is required, he adds.
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