Your cardholder database is where all your information is stored. This may include cardholder names, job titles, security clearances, and more. The database may range from simple to complex, but is designed for you to easily enter information and find it again later.

The alternative to using a cardholder database is one-off printing, where you design a new card for each card you print. This may work for very small organizations, or card programs that need each card to be so customized for the cardholder that using a standard template would not work, but the majority of all ID card programs would benefit from using a database.

There are three important advantages to using a database:

• Any changes you make to the card design, such as adding a new logo, can be done once to the card template; if you use one-off printing, you would need to update each card individually
• Your cardholder record is in one database, as opposed to needing to review each card template in your software to see all your information
• Reprinting a card is easier and faster because you do not need to redesign it

In addition to storing the information you print on the card, your database can store other useful information. This is useful for storing contact information, including email and physical address or phone numbers, which you may need to keep on record but do not necessarily want as public information.

Advanced database options can include:

• Search filters
• Multiple databases
• Database connectivity across a shared network

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