Smart cards versus vouchers for sanctuary and shop security

Information Technology: Smart Card vs. Voucher

Long and Short-Term Costs

Over the long-term smart cards are more affordable than vouchers for customers, sanctuaries and shops because they retain their value over time and continue working without further investment. Vouchers however while perhaps more affordable for customers initially, require pre-payment and additional payments once a voucher is used.

They may prove more expensive in the long-term if lost or stolen, at least to customers. While the sanctuary or shop may invest more money in the short-term to utilize smart cards, over time the investment will actually pay for itself and then some with respect to the added security benefits smart cards offer and the long-term benefits use of these cards offer compared with vouchers (Clark, 1990).

Technical or Practical Implications

Smart cards offer many technical applications. They can allow shops owners and sanctuary owners and employers physical access to buildings and outlying structures using computer systems control access (Clark, 1990). Smart cards offer much security and prevent "fraudulent use" of materials or access to in this case the animals and their sanctuary (Clark, 1990). Users would only need a password to gain access when needed.

A voucher offers some similar benefits but doesn't provide the security that smart cards do. While a voucher may provide the same benefits to shop customers as a smart card, it will not provide the security sanctuary and shop owners need to ensure the security of the business. Vouchers must also be pre-paid for, which may be beneficial in some cases, but if the voucher is lost the customer has no way of recovering their funds and the shop owner or sanctuary no method for verifying the customers ownership of the card.

Smart cards can also store information regarding animals in the shelter, owner information and other vital factors important to an animal's care or well-being. Complete medical histories of animals for example can be stored on smart cards, making them an even more sensible investment than vouchers at least for shops and sanctuaries (Clark, 1990).

Information Needed Before Final Recommendation

Before a final recommendation can be made the shops and sanctuaries would have to list the practical uses they would take advantage of if smart cards were invested in. They will also have to determine the total costs associated with the initial investment to determine if smart cards are economically feasible. Lastly they would have to assess consumer preferences for smart cards vs. vouchers to ensure they invest in a technology customers want and are willing to invest in.

References:

Clark, A. (1990-Dec). "Smart Cards." Secure Systems Group. Available:

http://www.primarykey.co.uk/Andy/Papers/smartc02.pdf