| Metalink and BioLink have integrated biometric identification technologies into the Metalink Fitness Manager management accounting system used in fitness clubs in Russia and the CIS. Fingerprint identification has been implemented into this system using the BioLink SDK biometric application development kit, which supports Win32, WinCE and Linux, a significant number of programming languages and platforms.
The integrated system is used by both fitness club staff and their visitors. Employees check in and out of work by touching a fingerprint scanner, which is supplied as a USB device or built into the BioLink FingerPass biometric access control terminals.
The terminals control the operation of actuators (locks, turnstiles, gateways), giving a command to open them upon presentation of a registered identifier — a fingerprint and (or) a contactless card (bracelet). Visitors to fitness clubs are given a choice of recognition «scenarios» — biometric or combined, when the results of fingerprint scanning confirm the authority of the owner of the material identifier.
Biometric technologies provide a new level of security and comfort. A fingerprint cannot be forgotten or “borrowed”, it does not interfere with sunbathing in a solarium, swimming in a pool or working out in a gym. Fitness club owners do not spend money on making new cards and issuing cards to replace lost ones and can be absolutely sure that clients do not exchange material identifiers.
The «biometric» version of «Metalink Fitness Manager» is gaining popularity. For several months, it has been successfully used in the network of women's health and wellness centers «TONUS-CLUB» in St. Petersburg. The general director of the network, Elena Alekseevna Korostyleva, highlights two areas of this activity: «The first is monitoring the working hours of all employees. Now they have become much more responsible about their working hours, which is important for me as a manager. The second area is the use of biometric technologies for working with clients. It has become easier for them to go through the registration procedure at the entrance, they do not need to carry a membership card with them or be afraid of losing it. Out of several thousand of our clients, only 3 people refused to scan their fingerprints, for the rest it is interesting and corresponds to the image of a modern fitness club.»
Biometric technologies will also be used at the entrance to the new sports club of the OLYMPIC chain — the largest sports club in St. Petersburg, opening in the Northern capital this spring. The club's general director, Alexander Anatolyevich Trusov, states that automatic biometric identification will provide significant savings, reduce costs for service personnel and eliminate errors that previously occurred quite often at receptions due to the «human factor». Biometric access control is also convenient for visitors: «We are speeding up the process of control at the entrance to and exit from the club as much as possible and at the same time increasing the level of security, completely eliminating the possibility of unauthorized entry into the club's territory,» says the director of the OLYMPIC club.
Konstantin Sorokin, CEO of BioLink: «Visitors to fitness centers pay special attention to safety and are interested in ensuring that it does not affect the quality of services provided and comfort. These requirements are effectively implemented by biometric technologies, and it is no coincidence that they have become widespread in the global beauty and health industry. With the release of the new version of the Metalink Fitness Manager system, the listed advantages have become available to Russian fitness clubs that are actively mastering innovative biometric identification technologies,»
About the Metalink Fitness Manager system.
An effective tool for automating fitness clubs, covering all areas of their work. Implements the functions required by a fitness club of any size — from a small studio (yoga studio, gym, spa center, etc.) to large multifunctional fitness centers. Supports a significant number of different types of equipment: magnetic, proximity-Mifare card readers, bracelets, turnstiles, web cameras, biometric fingerprint scanners, etc.
Additional modules automate the work of a beauty salon, swimming pool, children's fitness, sports bar, medical office, playgrounds (tennis, basketball, etc.).
About the company «Metalink».
Has been working in the software development industry since 2002. Has significant experience in implementing complex projects for Russian and foreign companies. Implements a comprehensive approach to implementing IT projects — from consulting and developing specifications to implementation, staff training and support. Metalink software is used by more than 150 fitness clubs, beauty salons and other beauty and health businesses in Russia and neighboring countries.
About BioLink. BioLink Solutions (BioLink) is a Russian developer and supplier of scalable and productive applied biometric solutions actively used by government agencies and commercial structures in Russia and abroad to ensure state and public security, in new generation passport and visa document systems, for information security, physical access control, working time tracking, in financial, payment, transport, medical, production and other information systems.
BioLink operates in accordance with the licenses:
FSB of Russia — for the development, production, distribution, assembly, installation, adjustment of encryption (cryptographic) tools and their maintenance;
FSTEC of Russia — for the development and production of means of protecting confidential information, implementing measures and providing services to protect confidential information.
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