Datacard Group Releases Datacard® Meritas™ Digital Asset Management Software

Business Wire, July 11, 2007

Flexible, intuitive application designed for card production

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Datacard Group, the world leader in secure ID and card personalization solutions, today introduced Datacard([R]) Meritas([TM]) digital asset management software -- a secure, user-friendly solution for managing thousands of images and assets that issuers use to produce cards, secure IDs, passports, tokens and other materials.

"Issuers are approaching a tipping point in terms of the number and size of digital assets required to produce a single card, secure ID or passport," said Bonnie Lervik, vice president central issuance marketing for Datacard Group. "In the past, relevant information could be embedded in the production data stream. Today, issuers are handling full-color background images that are at least 10 megabytes, as well as cardholder photos, logos, card carrier templates, biometric data and setup files. Meritas software makes it easy to store and manage these assets, so the right files get to the right system quickly. This enhances productivity and reduces the risk of errors."

To help ensure consistent process control, Meritas software automates the steps necessary to push assets from development to test to approval to production to archiving. Users can customize enforceable workflow procedures, so every asset is handled the same way and complies with production rules. The software also helps eliminate manual file searching and automates version control.

Because the application is web-based, Meritas software facilitates routing and approval of assets among internal and external departments, no matter the location. Examples include marketing agencies, graphic designers and other vendors, as well as legal teams, executive decision-makers and affinity partners. Automated asset approval removes the time-consuming process of consolidating input from multiple approvers and helps increase productivity.

"Unlike many other tools, Meritas software is tailored for card issuers," Lervik said. "It supports the workflows that issuers use to produce financial cards, gift cards, other cards and secure IDs. Plus, the software interfaces with many production systems, so it can manage assets for issuing passports, tokens and other materials."

Datacard Group offers the world's best-selling secure ID and card personalization solutions. The company's portfolio includes systems for high-volume card issuance, card delivery and fulfillment, secure ID issuance and passport production, plus extensive service and supply offerings. Datacard Group serves customers in more than 120 countries (www.datacard.com).