What’s the return on investment? The long-term value of Fastlane turnstiles
Operational efficiency and security are essential for business success, and organisations are always seeking ways to optimise. When considering any investment, assessing long-term value is key.
While turnstiles are often associated with managing and controlling the flow of people into and out of a building, their value extends far beyond that. Whether a public venue or private building, organisations across all sectors see significant returns from upgrading their entrance control.
This article explores how tailored entrance control solutions can deliver long-term value through improved user experience, enhanced protection of people and assets, and by optimising productivity.
Tailored entrance control solutions drive operational efficiency and cost savings
Implementing turnstiles as part of a business’s security system offers numerous benefits, from improving efficiency and reducing costs to enhancing visitor experience. Here’s how Fastlane turnstiles – manufactured by Integrated Design Limited (IDL) – add value by contributing to these key operational goals:
Automation improves efficiency
When integrated with access control systems, turnstiles streamline entry by automating entrance decisions quickly and accurately, reducing the reliance on manual checkpoints. This results in a smoother flow of people, fewer delays, and more effective crowd management— crucial elements for maintaining smooth operations.
Reduce staffing costs and eliminate human error
This automation enables businesses to operate with fewer resources and to optimise productivity. By automating entrance control, organisations can reallocate staff to more critical tasks, cutting labour costs while minimising errors related to manual oversight or social engineering risks. You can learn more about the risks associated with social engineering here.
Enhance first impressions and increase return visitors
An efficient entrance control system creates a positive first impression, reducing long queues and delays that can negatively impact staff and visitors, and deter customers. This improved user experience encourages repeat visits and potentially increased business, by fostering better customer relationships from the outset.
Strengthen security and prevent losses
Turnstiles enhance safety by deterring and detecting unauthorised entry, reducing the potentially costly risk of damage to property, disruption to business operations or threat to people. With advanced features like Tailgate and Sidegate detection, turnstiles like those in the Fastlane range help to enforce security protocols by ensuring that only authorised individuals gain entry, safeguarding both physical and digital assets.
Integration with smart technologies for enhanced protection
Depending on the organisation’s needs, Fastlane turnstiles can integrate with advanced access control systems like touchless sensors, biometric authentication, and role-based controls. This allows businesses to bolster security and protect critical data, helping them avoid legal, financial, and reputational risks from security breaches and asset loss.
Wow factor: Touchless turnstiles reduce losses and improve experience at university
High-traffic locations like leisure centres, gyms, educational facilities, and hospitals benefit from investing in advanced entrance control systems by improving visitor flow and reducing malicious activity.
A prime example of these benefits is seen at the University of St Thomas, Minnesota, which faced challenges such as increasing meal plan theft and excessive waiting times in their dining halls.
Through Smarter Security, our exclusive Fastlane distributor in North America, Fastlane Glassgate 150s were installed, offering fast touchless credentialing to enter the dining halls. This not only reduced wait times but also led to a 50% reduction in meal theft and a 70% decrease in queue times.
The turnstiles quickly became a profit-generating solution by ensuring accurate meal plan use and boosting overall satisfaction among students. Steve Griffin, executive director of dining services at the university, highlighted the success of the system: “The university’s goals and objectives for the installation were to find something simple, unique to the student, easy to maintain, streamline processes, and achieve cost savings. The technology felt high-tech and had a wow factor that impressed students and staff alike”.
262% ROI: Understanding total cost of ownership for long-term value
While the initial cost of entrance control solutions is often a primary concern for businesses, it is important to consider the total cost of ownership (TCO), which includes ongoing expenses like energy use, maintenance, repairs, and warranty coverage. Factoring in these costs offers a more accurate understanding of the system’s long-term value.
We help clients evaluate the TCO of their turnstile systems and often find that Fastlane turnstiles offer an exceptional ROI. For example, a class-A high-rise building in downtown Chicago sought to improve security and streamline entry for its 2,500 tenants and over 200 daily visitors. Previously, the building relied on a security team of seven people to manually check credentials during peak hours, which was not only costly but also allowed for lapses in security.
The Fastlane Glassgate 200 model, with its slim design and customisable features, complemented the building’s aesthetic and seamlessly integrated with the existing access control system, allowing tenants to enter quickly and securely. This decision resulted not only in a faster throughput, but by calculating the savings from removing security officers alone, there has been a 262% return on their investment after only 5 years.
Maximising security and reducing costs with Fastlane
Whether securing office buildings, a university campus, leisure centre facilities, a stadium or in hospital and healthcare settings, Fastlane turnstiles have proven to be a valuable asset for organisations across various sectors, providing enhanced security, operational efficiency, and substantial cost savings.
Through advanced smart technology integrations, sleek design options, and measurable financial returns, Fastlane turnstiles are an essential tool for any organisation looking to secure its premises efficiently and effectively, all the while delivering long-term value and ROI.
We understand that decision-makers have to consider the cost of replacing outdated systems versus the potential benefits. We can help you evaluate the challenges you face, and identify which system is right for your business and how it will add value.
To learn more about how Fastlane products can benefit your organisation, or to schedule a demonstration, please contact our team, call +44 (0)208 890 5550 or email info@fastlane-turnstiles.com.
