Today, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) cards have been an essential tool in our everyday existence. Used for identification, membership, promotions, gifts or access control among countless other uses, these tough and flexible plastic cards are ideal for almost any application. Here are the top 10 popular uses of PVC cards in business and daily life:Here are the top 10 popular uses of PVC cards in business and daily life:
1. Identification Cards
Another utility of the PVC cards is in issuing of ID numbers for schools, companies, and any organization that needs one. ID cards mostly bear the name of the person holding the card, their photograph, ID number, organization that they belong to and so on. These type of cards can be easily used to recognize and authenticate individuals such as employees, students, members etc These ID cards are made up of PVC and are very strong and difficult to forge and the information to be imprinted on them can be very detailed.
2. Membership Cards
It is common to use PVC cards to embed membership cards of gyms, clubs, associations, and other institutions. These cards exhibit authority, proving membership and providing members with access or even discounts to services. Easy to carry as a result of using membership cards that are made of lightweight PVC. Some of them also act as identification cards to the respective organization or place where they are issued.
3. Credit and Debit Cards
Credit and debit cards produced and given to consumers through banks are made from PVC due to the strength of the material that can undergo the process of embossing, thermal printing and even engraving. This also offers additional choices for including magnetic strips/RID chips, which hold/transfer payment data during transactions in a safe manner. The durability of the cards makes them withstand average wear that is likely to be inflicted on them when in use throughout the day.
4. Business Cards
Contemporary business cards are often created with a thin, foldable PVC material instead of paper. PVC business cards do not soak in water, are not easily torn apart, and are much thicker than ordinary paper business cards. They can come with style designs and full vibrant colored prints. Also they can be used as loyalty cards when designed with stamp or punchholes to show the customer’s loyalty. As a flexible and easy-to-process material, PVC is also a good choice for making business cards.
5. Gift Certificates and Customer Loyalty Cards
Business entities such as retail chains, restaurants, and other merchants use PVC gift cards and PVC loyalty cards during their promotional activities. These Cards can be used to make a purchase by the consumers. Gift and loyalty cards are also quite useful in advertising as they are for the business that issues them. They are available in convenient sizes and can be imprinted with company and fashion logos and unique themes. It is quite customary for each major chain to have their distinctive gift cards that represent a company’s specific look and feel.
6. Electronic Keys, Magnetic Stripe Card, Electronic Access Card, Smart Card, Electronic/Plastic Card.
PVC access cards and key cards can be used for security access control of offices, hotels, university dorms, gyms and other secured zones. Card readers read the authorized card and the door will open or remain closed depending on the decision. These access cards offer the clients an easy way to gain entry to the venues without having to physically touch any door handles or keys while at the same time promoting the security of the area. These cards are very rugged to be able to handle the everyday use such as swiping, inserting and even the wear and tear of its users.
7. Public Transportation Cards
Most cities employ contact smart cards in PVC for use in public means of transport. These smart cards can be swiped to pay for fares when in need of buses, trains, ferries and trams for transport. Smart cards used in public transport carrying system is provided with programmable microchips or magnetic strips containing monetary value or passenger information. These cards can be reloaded as is convenient for users.
8. Campus Cards
Campus cards act as a single-ID card for students and employees to access and receive services and amenities within campuses owned by universities. With campus cards, the holders can use it to pay for their meals in canteens; open hostel/dorm rooms; photocopying machines; books from the library; etc. They are PVC cards that have magnetic strips and can be updated on the fly with monetary transactions.
9. Telephone Calling Cards
Prepaid telephone calling cards that are commonly used at the public phone well are produced from tear-proof and flexible PVC. These cards contain a PIN number and a magnetic strip or scratch part that gives calling credits. With the help of this program activated, users can dial calls at pay phone booths by keying in a certain code. The convenience of calling cards is further than having to handle coins with the pay phones.
10. Scratch Cards
This is most widely used in lottery and gaming companies where scratch cards are printed on the PVC cards with money rewards, prizes or special offers hidden beneath them. Consumers uncover with the help of a scratch off layer different outcomes and codes. The fact that PVC cards are durable, secure, and can be easily customized makes them ideal for bright secure scratch cards. It has also been seen that companies come up with special collectible game cards and these cards are made from PVC.
Conclusion
PVC cards have now been adopted in all forms of identification, memberships, access control as well as for business promotions and uses in day-to-day life. The convenience, sturdiness and safety that PVC offer can help to install from magnetic strips, RFID chips, QR codes, to scratch-off coatings on relatively small cards that can easily fit wallets. Due to their flexibility, they replace paper cards, reduce their use of paper, and encourage their integration across industries and into new contexts.
