Multi-site organizations generally have to choose between two equally unattractive alternatives:

1. Install multiple card production systems in regional or local offices
This entails the high capital cost of acquiring numerous card production systems, as well as the cost of training local staff. Generally, headquarters control and visibility is significantly reduced.

2. Operate a single centralized production facility at headquarters
This involves the allocation of dedicated staff, with the incumbent overhead costs. Card production requires carefully structured operations, communications, and logistics. Often, the service provided to local offices is slow, inconsistent, and error-prone.

A better way: outsource your card production with the InstantCard system

The advantages of this approach include:

• A fully variable cost – no up-front investment. You pay only for cards as they are produced. No staff costs, no capital investment, no equipment obsolescence . . . no hassles!

• All logistics (employee data entry, photos, printing, mailing, etc.) are professionally handled by InstantCard’s automated system. Since this is our only business, we do it more efficiently than any internal organization can.

• Local offices get consistent, rapid service, and they remain in full control of their cards for new hires.

• Headquarters retains full visibility and control over the process, without being involved in day-to-day operations.

The InstantCard software has two versions: one for headquarters, including card design and corporate-wide visibility, and a simplified version for local offices, which are only able to enter personnel data and order cards for their local facility.

Click here for more information on whether outsourcing is right for your organization.

An important consideration for any organization is its expected volume of card production over time. To learn more about the production profiles which best fit the outsourcing model, click here.


We have developed a sophisticated financial model to help you “run the numbers”. The model allows you to input your own unique parameters to evaluate which approach makes the most financial sense for your organization. If you’d like a copy of this excel model, so that you can enter your data to compare in-house production vs. outsourcing, just send us an email request.


Would you like to offer Card production services directly from your website? If so, InstantCard offers a Web Services capability to link your Intranet to our servers. Click here for more information on web services.