Digitalisation is reshaping the way we live and work. Buildings should be at the centre of this change, streamlining daily interactions with homes, offices and other workplaces, making movement into and around them seamless. Everyone who uses a site also needs confidence in its security and safety, not just its efficiency and usability.
In addition, connected digital access is a fundamental block in constructing more intelligent buildings. As analysts Omdia note in a recent report on the subject, “access control equipment continues to play a crucial role in leading end users to consider a transition to interconnected smart building system architectures”.
Switching mechanical for digital access, then, can be essential to a future-oriented strategy. It can help organisations of every size and type to work smarter, collaborate better and maximise the productivity of their existing assets. “The building has an increasingly digital future,” says David Moser, SVP and Head of Digital Access Solutions at Assa Abloy Opening Solutions EMEIA. ”So it’s crucial for all kinds of organisations to make their access ready for what’s ahead.”
But which major factors should be incorporated into the decision-making process for a switch to digital? The following five, according to Assa Abloy, are critical to ensure an organisation lands on the best solution for them.
Strategic factors in the switch to digital access
● Security is sometimes considered a given. But in a world of emerging and evolving physical security threats, it should never be taken for granted. Building users and managers need the reassurance of a secure access system to go about their working day productively and with peace of mind. As security converges, moving beyond traditional physical access and cyber ‘siloes’, the right digital access solution enables building management teams to define exactly who goes where, and when, across their site or sites.
● Reliability of any digital solution has both financial and security implications. Robust hardware and secure software ensure that access solutions require minimal maintenance, for example. At specification stage, purchasers should also inquire about third-party certifications, including for green building schemes, whether for digital locks, electronic door closing solutions or for access provision compliance at sensitive locations where additional national and supra-national regulations may apply.
● Innovation in the choice of solution does not simply mean picking the access system with the widest range of features and functions. Choosing a digital solution manufacturer with a track record of innovation, however, gives organisations the confidence that their solution will always prepare them for what’s ahead – not just the ‘now’. Systems should embrace digital openness and customisability – which in turn provide the flexibility which genuinely future-proofs access management.
● Convenience is about much more than just small-scale savings in time and effort. When employees, contractors and temporary visitors can come-and-go with ease, operations for building and security managers are streamlined. Digitalising access provides a concrete ROI that a business can turn into a competitive advantage. For this reason, the most recent Assa Abloy Wireless Access Control Report found the #1 factor driving the switch to mobile digital access was convenience.
● Sustainability as an ethos should be embedded within any future-proof digital solution. Motives go beyond just altruism and corporate responsibility – though of course, these are important. Incorporating sustainability into an access strategy can also directly benefit the bottom line. Both the business and the environment benefit from reducing power consumption by using innovations such as energy-harvesting technology, for example.
“At a new corporate headquarters for Canal+ near Paris, midsized Clockwise co-working spaces in the UK and northern Europe, and medical facilities in Dubai and Turkey, digitalisation of access has brought tangible everyday benefits,” adds David Moser. “There’s a proven digital solution suited to historic buildings, brand-new hotels, and education facilities of every size and type. Digital access comes with a real operations management ROI.”
“Physical key management for any large development puts severe pressure on operational costs,” explains Becorp’s project engineer, Xavier Casals. “Choosing wireless locks and mobile management helps us to minimise them.”
“Assa Abloy can help you digitalise and truly future-proof access at almost any kind of site or building,” adds David Moser. “Our vast range of innovative, reliable, convenient solutions showcase the value of the digital transition and can be tailored to meet individual business needs and goals.”
“We urge anyone thinking of making the switch from mechanical to digital access to speak to us first. We are happy to share our expertise to help you continue to thrive in a changing, digitalising world.”
