Smart Card interoperability is a system architecture that ensures cards and readers from one source will work with cards and reader from another source. It ensures that projects of different sizes can merge and grow without system replacement or expensive interfaces.

Interoperability, as provided only through GSA, allows systems to become modular for future expansion and it reduces over-all project cost by eliminating the need for system replacement during system enhancements. This is crucial for organizations deploying cards globally or nationally.

Interoperability also plays a direct part in making a system scalable. Interoperability by it's vary nature provides three essential components for cost savings. Projects can be modular in design allowing additional features to be added as system requirements change. Existing systems such as barcode or mag-stripe can be added to a Smart Card solution reducing the need for multiple system replacements.

Scalability allows for cost effectively starting small and growing big. Agency or Multi-Agency systems can be tied together cost-effectively. Pilot projects can be rolled into larger projects so assets are not lost.