5 Million Membership Cards

Client: National HMO

Project

The client needed an improved method of getting membership cards with member specific information printed on each card.

Solution

We designed and developed software that links the client’s IBM RS/6000 computer with a Datacard 9000 Embosser. When a new member joins or changes groups, a new card is flagged to print during the “nightly card run,” a batch process that is run at the end of each day. The nightly card run is a three step labor process. First, the operator loads blank plastic cards and card holders and envelopes into the Datacard machine, second, the operator starts the program, and third, the operator takes the finished cards in their sealed envelopes (with correct postage applied) and puts them in the outgoing mail bin at the end of the run; that is all an employee needs to do. The Datacard 900 Embosser handles everything else from printing and embossing the card to “licking” the envelope and dropping the mailer into the “out” bin with correct postage applied. When the operator starts the process, the members who are flagged to have cards printed are selected and sorted in zip-code order and the required data is fed to the Datacard 9000 Embosser. The card starts off as a white plastic blank. Graphics are printed on the front and back of the card, and then the card is embossed and tipped (meaning the embossment was painted just like a credit card). The member’s mailing address controls which graphic is printed on the back of the card and the member’s membership type controls which graphic is printed on the front of the card. Once the card is printed, the card is inserted into a card holder which has been printed with the member’s name and address. The card holder is folded and inserted into an envelope, sealed, and the correct amount of postage is applied. All the relevant data comes from the pi/Open database and the graphic images are stored on a Windows Server.

Results

Professional reward cards are created for pennies apiece with minimal human interaction. This saved our client a lot of money in labor costs. It was important that each HMO member be given their own membership card to present to their primary doctor when receiving service.