Rugged Surface Pro xCase with Badge Readers Elevates Workforce Safety & Mustering for Umicore

When global materials technology and recycling leader Umicore set out to modernize employee tracking and emergency mustering processes, they turned to Savance Workplace for a customized digital workforce management solution. To bring that vision to life, Savance worked with Microsoft to supply Surface Pro tablets - and partnered with MobileDemand to deliver the rugged hardware and badge reader integration that would ensure reliability in demanding environments. 

The Challenge: 

Umicore needed a more efficient way to track facility traffic and ensure accurate emergency mustering.  Their previous manual process made it difficult to quickly identify who was onsite - posing a risk during evacuations and slowing down productivity. The new solution had to be mobile, rugged and capable of scanning badges quickly and accurately in a high-traffic setting. 

At the time, rugged cases were supplied off the shelf, paired with RF IDeas® multi-frequency badge readers. Savance Workplace affixed these readers to the case with industrial-strength velcro and connected via USB. While this method provided the needed badge scanning capability, it added bulk and complexity to the solution. 

The Solution: 

Savance Workplace provided its electronic in/out board, visitor management, and emergency mustering software, hosted on Microsoft Surface Pro tablets. The tablet’s large screen size enables fast check-in/check-out and easy visibility of mustering lists in high-stress environments. 

Building on the original setup, MobileDemand now supplies the Surface Pro rugged xCase with fully integrated badge readers. This modern design eliminates the need for external mounting, increases durability, and delivers a true all-in-one mobile accountability solution for secure badge scanning, visitor and contractor compliance, and digital evacuation management. 

The MobileDemand xCase added critical functionality: 

• Drop protection for frontline durability. 
  In busy facilities, devices are constantly moved between stations and carried into production or warehouse areas. The xCase’s military-grade drop protection ensures tablets can withstand accidental drops, reducing downtime and avoiding costly replacements. This durability allows Umicore staff to confidently bring devices into rugged environments without worrying about equipment failure. 

• Built-in kickstand for desktop use during visitor check-in and contractor conformance tracking. 
  The integrated kickstand allows the Surface Pro to be quickly deployed as a self-service kiosk for visitor or contrator check-in. This setup reduces bottlenecks in high-traffic lobbies, while also ensuring contractors meet safety requirements before entering restricted areas. By eliminating the need for additional mounting hardware, Umicore benefits from both convenience and cost efficiency. 

• Hand strap for secure, one-handed mobility. 
  During facility walkthroughs or in emergency situations, staff need to move quickly while still maintaining access to their devices. The hand strap makes it possible to securely carry the tablet in one hand, freeing the other for additional tasks. This design helps safety personnel maintain mobility without sacrificing access to critical data. 

• Grab-and-go flexibility, allowing the Surface Pro to double as a life safety mustering device in the event of an evacuation. 
  In an emergency, seconds matter. The xCase enables the Surface Pro to be easily removed from its station and taken outdoors during evacuations. Once outside, staff can instantly pull up real-time mustering lists through Savance’s software, ensuring all employees and visitors are accounted for quickly and accurately.  

"We wanted something that was easy to use with the functionality we required," stated Kelsey Banks, QEH&S Specialist for Umicore. 

The Results: 

With Savance’s software running on Microsoft Surface Pro tablets protected by MobileDemand rugged xCases and equipped with securely mounted badge readers, Umicore now benefits from: 

• Improved visitor, contractor, and staff check-in workflows. 
  What was once a manual and time-consuming process is now streamlined through badge scanning and digital recordkeeping. Visitors and contractors check in within seconds, while staff movements are automatically logged. This reduces lobby congestion, increases efficiency, and provides security teams with accurate, real-time traffic data.  

• Real-time emergency mustering with accurate accountability lists. 
  Instead of relying on paper lists or manual roll calls, safety leaders now have digital access to up-to-the-minute occupancy records. In the event of an evacuation, accountability lists are instantly available, dramatically reducing the time required to ensure everyone has exited safely. This not only improves compliance but also enhances overall emergency preparedness.  

• Better contractor conformance and safety/security compliance. 
  Contactors must often complete safety checks, watch training videos, or sign compliance documents before being granted facility access. Savance’s visitor management software ensures all requirements are met during check-in, while the rugged hardware guarantees the process is reliable. For Umicore, this means a higher standard of security and regulatory accountability.  

• Enhanced life safety and emergency preparedness. 
  The combination of mobile tablets, rugged protection, and integrated badge scanning ensures safety personnel can respond immediately in crisis situations. Having a device that can move with staff into muster points provides peace of mind that no individual will be overlooked in an emergency.  
  
  
• Consistent performance in busy, high-traffic environments. 
  Facilities like Umicore's experience constant traffic from employees, contractors, and visitors. The rugged xCase with built-in reader allows the Surface Pro to handle this volume reliably, day after day. This dependability minimizes downtime and reinforces Umicore’s commitment to safety and efficiency. 

"Increased security, both for employees and visitors, has been our most important outcome," added Banks.

This successful deployment highlights the value of combining Savance Workplace’s visitor management and emergency mustering software with MobileDemand’s rugged hardware solutions. Together, the companies delivered a multi-purpose, durable, and flexible workforce safety system that improves day-to-day efficiency, ensures regulatory accountability, and provides peace of mind when safety matters most.