When it comes to commercial premises, keys are fast becoming a relic.

You see, the problem with keys is you lose them; anyone can use them; you have no record of who has used them.

Access control systems, on the other hand, do a much better job of controlling access to your building. They allow you to accurately manage, monitor and maintain who has access to your building through the various gates and doors.

Examples of access control methods/devices include:

• Swipe cards and tags
• Biometric scans of thumbprints or eyes
• Phone apps and nearfield devices.

These access control devices have some serious benefits when it comes to the safety and security of your buildings and staff.

Keen to find out how access control could help your business?

Advantages of access control

Improved security

Because access control is programmed from a central point you can specify who has access to which areas of your building, and at what times. This gives you much better control over staff and visitor movements, especially where there is sensitive or valuable items and information.

One of the biggest problems with keys is when they are lost or stolen. Anyone can use them and changing locks is expensive. With access control, as soon as a device is compromised it can be disabled. You have total control over who has access at all times.

Increased efficiency

A quick swipe of a card or scan of a thumbprint grants (or denies) access. This can save significant time, especially if we’re talking about gate control and vehicles. And if roles and responsibilities change, you can quickly and easily update access. Try doing that with keys!

There are serious efficiencies to be gained using access control. It can be integrated with timesheets, saving on admin time and improving accuracy. It can be used to automate some processes. For example, the first person in activates lights and air conditioning, and last out deactivates.

Better health and safety practices

Because access control devices are electronic you have a record of exactly who is on site and where. This can save valuable time in the event of an emergency, especially if you integrate visitor logs into your system too.

Biometric access control is becoming mainstream

Access control using swipe cards and tags is significantly better than the old-fashioned key, but biometric access control takes it next level and is now very affordable.

Using someone’s fingerprint or eye as the ‘key’ means you know its always them gaining access. And that’s the crux of biometrics. The accuracy. Which brings other advantages including:

• No stopping to enter codes or fish around for your key or tag, with biometrics it’s a quick scan and go
• No sharing of keys, tags or pin codes. There’s no cheating the system
• No lost cards or tags

Biometrics is no longer just the stuff of sci-fi and spy movies. It’s a very viable option for the average Kiwi business.

Are you insured?

There’s no doubt that efficiency and accuracy can be improved by integrating access control into your premises, but the other factor worth considering is your insurance cover. Without access control, there are grey areas — who has keys and alarm codes, and therefore was your building effectively secured (and covered) at the time of the theft or break-in?

It could be that insurance companies drive a change towards access control as they continue to tighten up on claims.

Time to kiss keys goodbye

When you boil it down, the purpose of access control is to provide quick, convenient access for authorised people, while at the same time, restricting access for unauthorised people.

Yes, a simple key can do that, but modern access control methods trump keys any day.

Interested to find out more? Give me (Gavin) a call on 027 578 1298 or request a quote