HID Global has announced the 2022 State of Access Control Report, which describes the current state of the market, the technology being used, and trends that security and IT professionals are witnessing and foreseeing in the years to come.
Produced by IFSEC Global in partnership with HID Global, the report surveyed just over 1,000 respondents from across North America (56%), EMEA (29%), and Asia Pacific (15%) to detail trends in the procurement, installation, specification and operation of physical access control solutions.
The new report reveals ease of use as the most crucial reason to upgrade to a new access control system, according to 60% of the respondents. It means that, in addition to securing premises, a new system must provide a smooth and straightforward process for both users and administrators.
Demand for mobile access is also showing an uptick, with 42% of respondents planning to upgrade to mobile-ready systems. While security system administrators benefit from increased operational efficiency, employees and visitors may find mobile access more convenient and secure since they are more likely to have their mobile devices at hand than their access cards.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in the demand for touchless physical access control. About 32% of respondents cited that they would upgrade systems to introduce touchless solutions in response to the pandemic, with contactless biometrics also being considered among them.
The report added that future-proof support is a growing concern as users push for long-term convenience while achieving cost savings. In fact, almost half of the respondents (49%) selected the ability to support new tech in the future as one of the top three features in a new access control solution, and 33% considered the importance of integration with existing security platforms.
As a result, consultants and integrators are moving away from proprietary models and embracing open standards-based technology, where software upgrades can be done through the cloud. One in five respondents added that interoperability and open standards will be one of the top trends set to shape the industry in the future.
Organizations across all regions are also trying to understand how new purchases and upgrades in access control technology can affect sustainable practices, with about 28% of respondents having consulted their sustainability departments about their buying decisions. For example, access control readers with Environmental Product Declarations and intelligent power management support green building ratings such as LEED.
Additionally, deploying mobile access and virtual credentials removes the need for plastic cards and spares the carbon footprint associated with their lifecycle. When integrated with a building management platform, it is possible to maintain for continuous adjustment of building resources based on occupancy.
For a more in-depth analysis and on what is driving the physical access control industry now and into the future, the full version of the 2022 State of Access Control Report is available on the HID Global website.
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