Ensuring the security of vast areas — like rails, utilities, and venues — with limited resources can be a challenge for any leader, especially when it comes to contractor or vendor security. The rise of technological advances for contractor tracking such as digital onboarding programs and mobile identifications can help manage the quality, safety, and timeliness of your project’s employees, contractors, and subcontractors.
Security breaches or unprepared vendor personnel can wreak havoc on your job site, whether you’re dealing in the areas mentioned above or hiring temporary team members for any purpose. Read on to learn the top vendor security best practices for maintaining the highest levels of safety and security when working with a contract workforce.
#1 Demand Digital Onboarding for All Vendor Personnel
Leveraging the increase in available digital assets available for the onboarding process increases job site productivity, efficiency, and vendor security. The adoption of web-based training and certification programs for contractors/subcontractors — especially in the rail, utilities, and venues industries — provides safety and security leaders with greater assurance over risk mitigation and control during the verification process.
Digital onboarding applications provide real-time tracking of training completion for all vendor personnel and up-to-date mobile ID badges or centralized access systems.
Plus, mobile-driven training adoption is on the rise because it allows companies to scale quickly without the typically high costs associated with in-person training. Digital onboarding makes it possible to administer field training verification before the contractor is allowed to begin working for your organization, which leads to less wasted time and greater security on the job site.
#2 Leveraging Digital ID for Ease and Speed of Adoption for Vendor Security
With roughly three-quarters of Americans in total and nearly 92% of those ages 18-29 owning a smartphone, it’s clear to see that the future is based on mobile-ready technologies. As a result, the way you identify vendor personnel including contractors, subcontractors, and subs of subs, will be affected by mobile technology in the near future, if it hasn’t been already. The benefits of digital identification are vast but primarily revolve around streamlining the process for ease and speed of verification.
Digital IDs also allow for:
- Increased ease of time expiration for ID badges, allowing quick access or termination of access to the job site. For example, if the contractor hasn’t completed or failed the proper training for the job, their access can be instantly suspended or terminated.
- Hardware technologies like NFC and Bluetooth Low Energy in smartphones grants access without handing off a physical ID badge.
- Access issues can be mitigated in real-time with a phone call and an update to the user’s profile for authorized access to a specific location that is managed via their mobile device.
- Double or multi-factor authentication can be used to increase security in high-risk and sensitive areas. The technology includes tools such as:
- Fingerprint scanning (Google Pixel, Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Apple, and more)
- Facial recognition (currently, Apple iPhone X)
#3 Monitor Training and Certifications through Digital ID
As we’ve learned, digital onboarding and mobile identification can increase vendor security by offering up real-time data and access to the most up-to-date status of your contractors/subcontractors on your job sites. Take your job’s safety a step further by leveraging digital identification to monitor training and certification.
Digital training and certification programs are on the rise as more and more companies automate their onboarding processes through integrated technologies. While some organizations see a risk in eliminating human, in-person training, there are many benefits including increased productivity, decreased risk, and higher standardization.
By connecting your contractors/subcontractors training and certification status to their mobile identification applications, you can ensure that only vendor personnel with the most up-to-date qualifications are working on your job site.
#4 Establish and Maintain Positive Relationship With Your Vendor
Maintaining an open feedback loop with your vendor is critical for positive morale and efficiency on your job site. Vendor security is critical and keeps your company’s valuable data, intellectual property, and entire team safe. By taking the steps to ensure your vendor personnel are accountable through secure background checks and necessary training, you can maintain positive relationships that keep your work running smoothly and reduce the number of incidents on the job.
#5 Streamline Security Protocols for Sub-Contractors for Increased Vendor Security
Not only do digital identification and training programs create greater ease of vendor personnel management, it also increases security, especially when your team develops repeatable security protocols. When your vendors have access to standardized security protocols for contractors and subcontractors, you can streamline processes and ensure vendor security.
The standard protocol can be ingrained in your digital onboarding programs so all vendor personnel are receiving the same information from day one. This information can also be verified and confirmed before the contractors arrive at your job site.
Increased standardization in onboarding and identification helps you create greater vendor security in rails, utilities, and venue management. If you have any questions about contractor and subcontractor screening, training or badging, do not hesitate to reach out to our team by clicking here. We look forward to answering your questions!
**This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute legal advice.