Whether you’re issuing your first badge or migrating a 5,000-employee campus from legacy prox to an encrypted, mobile-ready platform, ADVANTIDGE sources, programs and ships the access control cards your sites need. We work with municipal government agencies, healthcare systems, manufacturing and corporate facilities, and multi-site enterprise organizations — recommending the right card technology for your readers, your security requirements and your budget, not just the newest option.
Compare Card Technologies
| Technology | How It Works | Security Level | Typical Lead Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Branded Prox | Unencrypted proximity card read at low frequency | Basic — card numbers can be duplicated | Next day, 2-3 days max | Sites prioritizing low cost and fast, automated badge issuance over high security |
| HID Prox | Unencrypted proximity card read at low frequency, HID-branded | Basic — card numbers can be duplicated | About a week, 1-2 weeks max | Sites standardized on HID readers that still prioritize cost and speed over high security |
| HID iCLASS (13.56MHz) | Encrypted contactless smart card | Higher — encrypted data exchange resists cloning | About a week, 1-2 weeks max | Organizations upgrading legacy prox systems that need stronger credential security |
| HID iCLASS Seos | Next-generation encrypted credential, mobile-compatible | Highest — supports mutual authentication and secure mobile provisioning | About a week, 1-2 weeks max | Enterprises planning for mobile credentials or regulatory/compliance requirements |
| Dual & Multi-Technology | Single card encodes two or more technologies (e.g., prox + iCLASS) | Matches your highest-security reader while remaining compatible with legacy readers | About a week, 1-2 weeks max | Multi-site or phased migrations where some buildings still run older readers |
Not sure which HID part number your system needs? Consult HID’s How to Order Guides (filter by “How To Order Guide” and your card technology), or just tell us your reader model and we’ll confirm the correct part number for you.
Who Needs Which Card?
Most customers have an existing application and need to get access control cards that are programmed for use at their facility so it’s important that we verify those details first.
Municipal government agencies typically require encrypted iCLASS or iCLASS Seos credentials to meet compliance and chain-of-custody expectations, often programmed under HID’s Corporate 1000 format for controlled reordering.
Healthcare providers with multiple buildings or campuses often standardize on dual-technology cards during a phased migration, so new iCLASS readers and legacy prox readers can both stay in service while the upgrade rolls out.
Manufacturing and corporate facilities with 50 or more employees onsite commonly start with prox for cost and speed, then move to iCLASS or Seos as access control requirements, insurance, or compliance mandates increase.
Multi-site enterprise organizations with hundreds or thousands of badge holders typically standardize on Seos, both for encryption strength and to keep a mobile credential option open without reissuing cards later.
Not sure which fits your sites? Learn more about HID’s Corporate 1000 program for chain-of-custody card ordering, or talk to our team below.
Ordering, Pricing & Lead Times
We don’t publish list pricing on access control cards — every order gets a competitive quote tailored to your card technology, quantity, and any custom printing or encoding you need. Non-branded prox cards typically ship next day, 2-3 days max. HID prox, iCLASS, and iCLASS Seos cards typically ship in about a week, 1-2 weeks max. The minimum order is 100 cards across all of these card types.
Considering ADVANTIDGE for the first time? Once your quote is confirmed, we’ll send a free programmed sample card so you can verify it works with your system before your full order ships.
Order Cards, Printing Supplies & Shipping — to Any Location
ADVANTIDGE handles the full card order for you: credential stock, printer ribbons and consumables, and shipment — to a single office or coordinated across every site in a multi-location organization. Whether you’re reordering a format you already use or starting a new encrypted or multi-technology program, our team manages sourcing and logistics so your facilities team doesn’t have to.
Add Mobile Credentials to Your Card Program
HID iClass & Seos cards can be paired with HID Mobile Access so employees can use their phone to badge in alongside — or instead of — a physical card. Mobile is best positioned as an add-on to your card program rather than a replacement for it: most organizations keep physical cards as the primary credential and offer mobile for convenience, visitor use, or as a backup in a hybrid environment.
Looking for card printers, ID software or other ID badge system components? Visit our full Card Solutions hub for printers, ribbons and ID card systems.
Get a Tailored Recommendation
Tell us about your current setup — we’ll recommend the right fit for your organization and security requirements.
Tell us about your current setup — we’ll recommend the right fit for your organization and security requirements.
25+ Years Serving the Security ID Market • Registered Vendor on SAP Ariba • Cloud-Based Solutions with Open API Integrations