The Evolution of ID Card Printing: Customer Challenges and Solutions

• By Steven Swenson
• Jan 12, 2026

The landscape of ID card printing is evolving to meet changing customer needs, transitioning from slow, manual processes to smart, on-demand printing solutions that address increasingly complex enrollment workflows.

As IDs advance from plain plastic to intelligent smart cards, their capabilities expand, including parking access, control systems, cafe payments and print release. All of which calls for organizations to broaden security features and undertake more frequent updates to address evolving needs.

These are just a few of the trends in ID card issuance that contribute to increased awareness of both their usefulness and associated challenges, prompting manufacturers to adjust their approaches to meet customer needs.

User Trends, Priorities and Challenges
While more digital options are emerging, physical cards remain on top. Two-thirds of organizations participating in a recent Frost & Sullivan-HID survey said they expect physical credentials to either maintain or grow in usage. In contrast, nearly 60% said they are already deploying or plan to deploy digital/mobile issuance in the next one to two years.

Companies are seeking ID card solutions that integrate easily with legacy systems, support middleware and API-based integrations, provide best-practice card design guidance and issuance program analytics, and automate processes to reduce manual errors, according to the survey. When selecting ID card personalization, surveyed companies stated ease of use as the top priority, followed by an extended warranty period, the manufacturer's reputation, overall capabilities, and compatibility with existing systems.

Companies also want software that streamlines issuance processes, reduces redundancies and connects multiple systems (e.g., printers, cameras, data integration) more efficiently. This is key, as many companies struggle to integrate new issuance systems with legacy infrastructure, requiring middleware and API-based solutions to bridge technological gaps. The involvement of multiple systems has also increased enrollment complexity.

Another challenge involves connecting various systems—human resources databases, access control solutions and card printing platforms, for example—without creating data redundancies or security risks. Further, because physical cards and card issuance technology continue to grow more sophisticated, the resources and management required to keep them secure must evolve accordingly.

In terms of printers, survey respondents prioritized reliability, intuitiveness and seamless integration with their current infrastructure. They also want solutions that are easy to set up, maintain and operate without specialized training.

As card issuance evolves, it exacerbates workflow management challenges, forcing organizations to balance creating secure, functional cards with maintaining efficient processes and minimizing additional training or operational disruptions. All of this can increase costs and constrain resources.

Looking ahead, survey responses showed strong interest in future-proofing ID cards. Companies indicated a need for printers that support remote printing and solutions with embedded smart card capabilities. They also prioritized flexibility and adaptability in printing technologies.

Meeting Demands and Expectations
Based on these trends, the marching orders for manufacturers are clear: simplify ID card issuance and integration while providing customers with robust, adaptable solutions.

Manufacturers are focused on designing products that emphasize simplicity and intuitiveness, without compromising security. They are also providing “smart” diagnostics and making it easy to replace associated consumables (e.g., card materials, printer ribbons, retransfer film, laminates, encoding supplies, etc.).

They are also focused on developing open application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow developers to integrate, customize and manage card issuance functions directly within their own systems. These APIs improved integration capabilities, which is crucial, as two-thirds of survey respondents cited system compatibility as a barrier to adopting new brands.

The APIs are designed to be flexible, secure and scalable, enabling organizations to build tailored card programs without relying solely on proprietary platforms. APIs often include built-in encryption, tokenization and compliance features (e.g., PCI DSS, GDPR) to protect sensitive data.

Manufacturers are also:

• Creating software development kits
• Enabling seamless integration across control and identity management systems
• Supporting cloud connectivity and printing
• Enabling remote printer management
• Building flexibility for future technological upgrades
• Accommodating evolving security requirements

Beyond high print quality, reliable performance and comprehensive warranties, manufacturers are adding advanced features such as UV printing, lamination, future-proof design and modular upgrade capabilities to their product features.

Throughout the transition, manufacturers have not lost sight of the importance of customer experience. They are looking for ways to reduce friction in card issuance processes, minimize special training requirements as well as support customer needs such as shifting from low- to high-volume printing.

ID Issuance Best Practices
It is important to note that before proceeding with any upgrade in ID issuance, the organization’s current and future needs should be evaluated. Companies should choose solutions that are flexible and adaptable, prioritizing those that can grow with technological changes and provide support for dual issuance of both physical and mobile credentials.

But ensuring long-term readiness is just one element of optimizing ID card issuance investments. It is also essential to strategically combine physical and digital credentials—particularly given that two-thirds of companies surveyed used physical ID cards and access cards for all applications.

To effectively deploy this hybrid model of physical and digital credentials, best practices include:

• Automating as much of the ID issuance process as possible
• Reducing manual data entry to minimize human error
• Implementing smart card management systems
• Creating closed, secure ecosystems for credential management
• Respecting privacy regulations during data integration

Ultimately, while physical cards remain essential, software and integration are increasingly crucial as ID issuance and technologies evolve. Identifying solutions that are secure, adaptable, flexible and intelligent can ease the complexity while remaining consistent with the core goals of easily manageable identification systems that are highly secure and grow with the company. About the Author: Steven Swenson is the senior director of product and marketing for the FARGO Business Unit, Secure Issuance, for HID.