TALKING BUSINESS: Craig Sandness, Managing Director of HID Global's Asia-Pacific Region, introduces the company's products to a visitor at the 2010 China International Exhibition on Public Safety and Security (COURTESY OF HID)

A lot of money was spent on security for the Olympic Games, and the budget for the access control system alone was approximately 414 million yuan ($60.88 million). The China Police Daily says the market for security applications in financial institutions alone (not including projects) has reached more than 1 billion yuan ($147 million) each year.

Greater opportunities

"Chinese people are more willing to spend money on security products as well as research and development on their technologies. Along with the economic and social progress of each passing day and the greater emphasis on security issues in China, we now have greater opportunities," said Craig Sandness, Managing Director of HID Global's Asia-Pacific Region.

HID Global was established in 1991. Its Asia-Pacific regional office was founded in Hong Kong in 2003, with representative offices throughout the Chinese mainland. HID was recently selected by the prestigious magazine A&S as one of the top 10 security brands (access control category). It's the seventh year in a row that HID has been so honored.

A large number of capital infrastructure projects, office buildings and residential communities in China are introducing the most advanced security equipment manufactured by HID. China Unicom, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and the Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital International Airport have become clients of HID.

HID also offers multi-level authorized solutions for Postal Savings Bank of China's Beijing building, which has nearly 300 access control zones and occupies a total area of 110,000 square meters. Staff access cards may also be used for dining, exercise and parking areas, and attendance checks. The card is also connected to the building's fire facilities, and can be used to activate the alarm system and open emergency doors if necessary.

The company has also developed the "HID on the Desktop" program. By using the access cards together with a secure pin, staff can securely log onto their computers and encrypt computers (avoiding the password process). When a worker leaves his or her seat, by taking away the card, the computer automatically turns off and other cards are not able to turn it on again. This guarantees personal as well as corporation privacy and the danger of being hacked is eliminated.

"'HID on the Desktop' maintains the characteristics of our products: great adaptability to users' needs, flexible application and easy management," said Sandness. "Security enterprises should provide the best products while saving costs. Also, they should guarantee lifetime warranty service. HID has managed to accomplish those tasks by combining years of research and development and progressively improving technological support.

"Success starts with listening," Sandness said. Maintaining good communication with clients has become a corporate culture for HID. Its agents in China are responsible for collecting feedback from clients. "Most of our products are developed in response to the demands of Chinese clients. By further improving or expanding the functions of existing products, we can satisfy their needs better or even think ahead of their needs."