The vinyl covering is stronger than the plastic used by many access card companies, which reduces the chances of loss when the strap slot wears through. Many access card users keep their cards in their wallets, which is convenient, but slowly warps and destroys the card. A card holder resists this wear to preserve functionality. Companies know that the complex technology inside a proximity badge is expensive to invest in, so every business should protect itself with an initial purchase of badge sleeves for every card. It may not seem like a business-critical issue, but just wait until it comes to crunch time and a working access card is the only thing that separates you from your goal.