PIN Login for Shared Workstations
Shared workstations create an authentication dilemma. If login is slow or friction-filled, operators don't log out and in between sessions — they stay logged in as the previous user, or they share credentials to avoid the overhead. If login is fast, operators actually use it.
PIN login makes authentication fast enough to use correctly.
Four Digits to In
A PIN is a 4-6 digit code set by each user from their account settings. On a shared workstation, the login screen shows a numeric keypad — the same layout as an ATM or a phone lock screen. Enter the PIN, press confirm, and you're in.
The entire process takes under five seconds. That's fast enough that operators actually do it each time they take a workstation, keeping sessions separate and actions correctly attributed.
Works With or Without a Keyboard
The numeric keypad renders in the browser as large, touch-friendly buttons. It works on touchscreen devices, on mouse-controlled computers, on keyboard-equipped terminals. Operators with gloves on can tap the numbers accurately.
For workstations with physical numeric keypads (standalone keypads or the numeric section of a full keyboard), keypad entry is natural and familiar.
Session Boundaries Are Real
When operators log out correctly, the activity timeline on every record accurately reflects who did what. Inventory changes, status updates, label prints, packing confirmations — each action is attributed to the user who was logged in when it happened.
For operations with quality oversight requirements, traceability to the individual operator matters. PIN login makes that traceability practical without making authentication a burden.
PINs Are Not Passwords
PIN authentication is appropriate for the specific context of shared internal workstations in a controlled physical environment. It's not a replacement for full password authentication — it's an additional authentication method suitable for the kiosk context.
PINs are set and managed within the platform, separate from the main account password. A compromised PIN doesn't compromise the main account, and the main account password provides a fallback login path when needed.