Formerly primarily intended to protect very sensitive areas, access control solutions are now more essential than ever in public and private buildings, in particular to maximize the protection of property and people. And the pandemic has only accelerated their implementation in establishments open to the public (ERP).
The rise of access control supported by the wireless network
In recent years, access control solutions have experienced a marked acceleration. This growth can be explained in particular by technological advances and the transition to a wireless network system. Thereby, Global Access Control Market Expected To Hit $ 12,8 Billion By 2025 According To MarketsandMarkets.
In fact, more and more sectors - health, education, the tertiary sector and many others ... - are equipping themselves with systems using technologies with or without contact. They have a great need for security and therefore for adapted solutions with more dynamic, more flexible and above all more secure management. On the other hand, the pandemic, which marked a turning point in the acceleration of digital transformation and which brought teleworking to the fore, also encouraged the tertiary sector to equip itself with wireless solutions allowing control of remote access.
To control these accesses in real time, companies are turning more to solutions operating on an online network. Thus, it is possible to grant and manage access rights with one click and in real time.
This is why the sale of wireless solutions is skyrocketing and the use of the smartphone as an identifier is becoming more and more common. Indeed, the development of new technologies such as Bluetooth low consumption (BLE Low Energy), 5G or even Wi-Fi 6 promote the digitization of access systems and meet the need for connectivity of communities, hospitals and other sectors. .
Safety at the heart of the decision
The access control market in France is on the rise. According to an IHS study, it should reach 176,5 million euros in 2022. If these solutions are so successful it is because companies feel the need to secure themselves. Indeed, the latter want to protect themselves more against potential intrusions, malicious people wanting to enter a prohibited area, or in the case of the medical sector, to minimize the health risk and prevent any contamination.
From now on, by simply installing a reader limiting access to rights holders, it is possible to effectively guarantee the security of areas reserved for a certain number of people.
Depending on the needs and objectives, access control solutions offer a wide range of possibilities. The possibility of protecting only a few doors by setting up an autonomous offline network, or of equipping all of one or more sites with an online network and managing everything from a centralized remote station.
It is also mainly in terms of security that the wireless system brings its advantages. Indeed, it gives the possibility to update the access rights instantly but also to update the software, which makes it possible to maintain an optimal level of security.
The need for access control is accelerating in the post-Covid-19 era
The Covid epidemic has played a huge role in the interest that establishments have in this type of solution, in particular health organizations which have become aware of the importance of digital tools, such electronic locks, to guarantee access while respecting barrier measures.
Indeed, a good number of companies have accelerated the change of practices and turned to wireless solutions in their choice of access control system. Moreover, the decision-making timeframe of the latter is relatively shorter and shorter. Until recently, companies took several years to make a choice about the implementation of this type of solution. Now, only a few months are enough for them to assess the functionalities of an access control system before deciding to implement it.
This craze for digital cylinders and dematerialization of access is also part of a trend towards sustainability. Gone are the days when access cards had to be reprinted! Granting access and updating them by simply swiping a badge on a wall reader is a guarantee of cost reduction and time savings.
Tribune by Jean-Philippe Vuylsteke, President of SimonsVoss Technologies France (LinkedIn).