Some of the advantages of using a smart card:

      is more reliable than a magnetic stripe card
      currently can store a hundred times more information than a magnetic stripe card
      is more difficult to tamper with than magnetic stripes
      can be disposable or reusable
      can perform multiple functions in a wide range of industries
      is compatible with portable electronic devices such as phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and PCs
      is constantly evolving (after all, it incorporates a computer chip)