Fingerprinting is a crucial process in various scenes like in the security ministry, immigration center, employment and background checking sector. In the past, the fingerprints were taken using ink methods. But with the more recent inventions of the complex technologies, developers came up with digital fingerprinting which has gained more acceptance because of its efficiency as well as accuracy.
In this blog, we’ll discover why digital fingerprinting is the best option, which indicates many advantages, unlike ink-based prints.
What is Digital Fingerprinting?
Digital fingerprinting is the process whereby fingerprints are taken electronically using digital scanners for high resolution images. This method gets rid of the use of ink and paper thus making it faster and cleaner.
However, ink based fingerprinting entails use of ink which is applied on the fingers, and then rolled on papers to form prints. Although it is efficient, it is more likely to commit mistakes, and submission and storage entails extra procedures.
The Advantage of Using Digital Fingerprinting
Digital fingerprinting has several highly advantageous features that give it a much stronger position in comparison with ink-based methods. Let’s dive into the key benefits:
1. Higher Accuracy
Advanced technology of digital fingerprint scanners incorporates the capturing of fingerprints in great detail, and with clarity. It also helps in eliminating the probabilities of stains, semi-developed prints or distortions, which are often associated with ink practices.
2. Faster Processing
While using the digital fingerprinting, the determination process is nearly instantaneous. They are electronically captured and can be sent directly to law enforcement or other bureaus, databases and this reduces turnaround time. Ink based method, they entail drying process followed by manual checking of the fingerprint cards then the fingerprint cards have to be posted and this may take days up to weeks.
3. Environmentally Friendly
Digital fingerprinting does not require the use of ink and paper, and in principle reduces the consumption of essential materials. This is because writing mistakes which could lead to a revisit to the printing center are limited.
4. Cleaner and More Hygienic
The first drawback of ink-based fingerprinting is a mess that is usually left behind after the process is over. They are sticky and can cause discoloration of fingers or any cloth that comes into contact with them as well as any surface with which they come into contact. Digital fingerprinting is very clean and devoid of contact with body fluids or substances hence it is less hygienically messy compared to ink fingerprinting.
5. Real-Time Quality Checks
Fingerprint scanners that are digital explicate how quality checks can be done in real time. If a fingerprint is smudged, not clear, or partially taken, they are informed by the system and they can take another print. It also reduces the possibility of having our papers rejected or delayed.
6. Easier Storage and Retrieval
At the core, a digital fingerprint is a collection of fingerprints that have been stored in electronic format, this makes it easier to sort through them, store them and least but not the last, forward them. Ink-based fingerprints are retained on paper cards and therefore they are subject to physical destruction, loss or deterioration. Digital records are also easier to feed into other automated sys-tems so that they can be processed efficiently.
7. Enhanced Security
Many digital fingerprinting systems include encryption and secure transmission features meaning private information will not be breached. This level of security is hard to come by for traditional ink and roll, fingerprint cards which are easier to forge or accessed by unauthorized personnel.
8. Widely Accepted Globally
Various agencies around the world, including FBI, RCMP and other departments, have switched to use or recommended digital fingerprints because of their reliability and effectiveness. This makes digital fingerprinting more flexible in its application around the world.
9. Reduced Error Rate
In traditional fingerprinting, there is likely to be blurs, different pressure, or incomplete forms compared to the electronic method. Touch by touch, digital systems reduce a lot of aspects that might be prone to unreasonable mistakes, hence bringing a lot of reliability.
10. Easy for Remote Areas
Transportable entities in fingerprinting make it possible for service providers to perform fingerprint scans on site, including in the rural areas. While this is possible with ink-based methods, which are more rigid since they need specific equipment and material to operate on.
Use of Digital Fingerprinting
Digital fingerprinting is used in various fields, such as:
Law Enforcement: To conduct criminal record checks and for collection of evidence.
Immigration: For tourist visa, work permit and other immigration law cases.
Employment Verification: Where the employer needs to run a background check on the prospective employee due to the nature of their job in the company such as health care or the finance sector in particular.
Security Clearance: As it applies to government or military occupation.
Conclusion
Digital fingerprinting has completely changed the method of fingerprint capture ensuring high quality, fast and efficient in its task. They are less messy, less erroneous, less time consuming as compared with ink based methods and secure way of doing things while being friendly to the environment.
With the progressive existence of digital world approaches, going for digital fingerprinting is not simply a luxury, but a need for a better and correct fingerprint based identification. In its modern applications, be they used for personal or business purposes, digital fingerprinting therefore emerges the winner.
