The Impact of Biometrics in the Philippines to Business Cultures

What does a biometrics system bring to company culture?

1. Protectiveness of a company
2. Focus on efficiency and fairness
3. A sense of accountability

A number of companies make use of biometrics in the Philippines. Most of them enjoy the safety and the security that it provides for the workplace, while others make the most of the limited access for customers and employees alike. In any case, because biometric technology is used in almost every part of the office—particularly as a security feature, it can have an effect on the overall culture of the company!

Keep in mind that the company culture is a collection of beliefs, values, and practices that are said to be true for the whole company. Just like how different countries and people have diverse cultures, every company has their own unique mission and vision.

Culture is a key component in any business because it has an influence on the strategic decision-making of the company. It will also have an impact on the employees who work in that company, as well as the many business processes within their system.

Biometrics bring about more than just security to businesses. Those who have incorporated it into their company should agree that it has impacted them in a few interesting ways. That being said, here are a few notable signs on how biometrics affects the cultures of businesses!

Protectiveness of the Company

The presence of biometric technology within the company implies many things. One of which is that businesses value the security of their assets—which include their employees, equipment, and information. This prioritization of security will not only serve as a preemptive measure but also a sign for employees to know that they are well protected and cared for.

The morale of employees can be impacted in either a positive or negative way depending on the conditions of the working environment. It also plays a major role in the performance and productivity of employees. That being said, ensuring that your working environment is secure will surely leave a positive effect on your employees. When they feel more secure, they’ll be confident that they’re protected from the potential harm of outside forces.

On the other hand, biometric technology all around the office also implies an emphasis on accountability. For companies that use biometrics as their main access control system, the identification of employees will always be recorded when they go from area to area. In most cases, the places where the important documents and equipment are located are only accessible by those with high enough authority. Whenever something bad happens to those assets, it’s very easy to identify who was the last person to access it through the biometric database linked to it!

Focus on Efficiency and Fairness

The incorporation of biometrics to not just the security protocols but the monitoring of employees and assets has created a new way of looking at work efficiency. There are many attendance monitoring systems that make use of biometrics to track down individuals on a particular level. One of the more interesting applications that they have is as the main time tracking system of companies.

Since many companies used to have time cards as their main time tracker, they sometimes have to deal with problems that revolve around fraudulent time-ins and time-outs, as well as inaccurate time devoted to work. To some extent, this is solved by biometrics through individuated timecards—requiring biodata instead of physical time cards.

No longer will delinquent employees be able to cheat the system. Something that should never be tolerated in any kind of business culture!

A Sense of Authority

The use of biometrics especially as part of a door lock system in the Philippines can introduce or reinforce the presence of a hierarchy in the company. Take into consideration that different companies operate better in different corporate hierarchical styles. A vertical hierarchy is the most common style wherein there’s a clear distinction between who’s at the top and who’s lower in the chain. A flat style would entail an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration between departments and individuals themselves.

The need for proper authentication and authorization to access areas will mean that only a handful of employees are allowed to enter select areas. That being said, it draws a clear line between the higher-ups and the rank-and-file employees. Most companies who are using a vertical hierarchical approach will greatly benefit from this! It further organizes the already specified tasks given to each level of employee. It also ensures that those none of the rank-and-file employees will be held accountable for mistakes that their higher-ups are responsible for. Again, it provides accountability— something that is incredibly important to businesses nowadays.

Key Takeaway

Though more commonly known as the latest security system, biometrics in the Philippines have done more than just keep a company secure both in and out of the establishment. They also had an influence on the business cultures of multiple companies. The very convenient access controls and door lock systems in the Philippines are not just mere security systems, they are also a means of improving the culture of a company!