How entrance control can improve visitor experience
Being able to monitor and control who can enter and access your building is a fundamental element of physical security. Successful security systems should provide users with confidence that a threat will be thwarted, but shouldn’t prohibit the free movement of authorised individuals around a building.
But as well as providing security for the building, entrance control can actually be used to improve and enhance the overall experience for visitors too. Here we take a look at some key ways that it can be used to good effect:
Minimising inconvenience
When it comes to pedestrian entrance control, the security process needs to be as easy and simple to use as possible. But another consideration is how integrating access control turnstiles with other technologies can heighten the user experience.
For example, integration with biometric and analytical technologies – including facial recognition and body behaviour analytics – can provide high security access control without users having to look for misplaced ID cards and tokens. It would be their retina, fingerprint, or even their gait that would grant them access.
Another integration which improves traffic flow and helps users, is pairing the individual’s profile with the floor they work or live on. When an individual presents their card or biometric credentials to the turnstile, a lift is automatically called from the bank and the individual is guided to the car which is going to deliver the quickest journey. Read more about delivering time and space efficiencies with integrated lift destination controls here.
Providing 24/7 security
For some facilities, such as university campuses and gyms, there maybe a requirement for ‘out of hours’ access whereby members or students can enter the premises after the reception has officially closed.
It is vital then that for these buildings, the entrance control system allows ease of access at any time of day, whilst continuing to provide a safe environment, with security managers confident that it isn’t going to fail when there are limited security staff on-site.
Fastlane turnstiles can be integrated seamlessly with every known access control system and CCTV, to provide surveillance of turnstile use and allow an ‘eyes-on’ response to be deployed to any security events.
If integrated with an access control and CCTV system in the event of a breach, the cameras will capture images of the situation, which can be reviewed by security personnel remotely to identify the people involved.
Member Benefits
Entrance control systems can do more than just let someone into a building. When integrated with a visitor management system, they can allow access at a specific time, or indicate where the user needs to go once they have gained entry.
For example, across 23 of Edinburgh Leisure’s sites, Fastlane’s Glassgate 150 turnstiles worked alongside a leisure management software system from Gladstone Software as part of a install project that aimed to improve the overall user experience at each site.
Each of the turnstiles were custom fitted by with RFID readers and touchscreens that would allow members to pass through the turnstiles by scanning their membership wristbands or access token. Centre members could also book activities remotely via the website or app and then gain easy access to the centre when their membership credentials were presented.
The RFID technology used by Gladstone Software also integrated with other systems around the leisure centre including gym equipment, which created a contactless membership experience for users.
Safety Considerations
It is a sad reality of today’s world that terror threats, knife and gun crimes are fast-moving incidents that every security or facilities manager needs to give high priority in their building security plans.
For visitors, knowing that the building they are entering can adapt quickly to allow quick and safe egress in the event of an emergency might not be a determining factor whether they enter or not, but it is an inherent benefit that entrance control can bring.
In the event that a hostile individual has already gained access to the building, one way to minimise the threat and the damage caused is to isolate that individual. This not only helps to prevent the threat from moving through a building or the perpetrator hiding, it also makes it easier to direct the police or other first responders to the area where that person is located.
For example, when connected to an access control system, Fastlane’s Door Detective solution can be controlled remotely from a central location, enabling administrators to lock internal, access-controlled doors to prevent free movement, even if a user had the right access permissions. This allows for the immediate securing of a building using the product’s web pages, preventing the threat from leaving the building or from accessing other areas of it.
As well as preventing unauthorised pedestrian access, Fastlane turnstiles (and Door Detective Plus) can provide real-time monitoring of your entrance control, with entry and exit count data provided to administrators via Fastlane Connect.
Authorised personnel can view the traffic flow of each set of turnstiles and keep track of how many people are in which areas of a building. Should an emergency situation arise, building counts could be generated from a data file for specific regions of a facility, providing crucial information to help direct the first responders to the most critical areas.
If you’d like to discuss your entrance control requirements or arrange a visit to our demo suite at our head office in west London for a live demonstration of our range of entrance control products, please contact our team on +44 (0)20 8890 5550 or email info@fastlane-turnstiles.com
