Mobile Credentials for Access Control System
In 2016, users of mobile access solutions downloaded almost one million mobile credentials. However, this number is project to increase rapidly over the next five years, reaching 44 million downloads by 2021. There are two reasons for this tremendous growth: the market reveals that the use of mobile credentials in Access Control System is not only a high-value proposition in its own right, but has the potential to unlock a more integrated and higher-value system for the consumer.
end user, while creating new services that can generate new revenue streams for mobile access providers. Likewise, mobile access credentials are not competing against physical cards, but are being marketed as a complement to traditional offers; so, the potential market is much larger.
The end users most likely to migrate to a comprehensive mobile credential-only system are those dealing with large numbers of temporary visitors or experiencing exceptionally high card turnover rates. For example, on construction sites, contractors need to enter multiple locations, as well as hotels and universities that have to replace huge volumes of cards each year.
The mobile reader adoption rate right now far outpaces mobile credential downloads. This is mainly due to two reasons. First, a significant part of the installed base of smart card readers in access controls has mobile functions, by default. And second, many end users are choosing to install readers with mobile functions even though they do not intend to adopt mobile access in the medium term. They are doing it just so their systems are future proof.
The installed base remains in the process of implementing readers with mobile functions
In 2016, just 7 percent of non-residential access controls had mobile features. However, global sales are estimated to grow by 20 percent by 2021.
Readers with mobile functions are access control readers that have Near-Field Communication (NFC) or have Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) data transfer capabilities. As defined by IHS Markit, a reader with mobile functions must be able to interact with a smartphone in such a way that it directly replaces a key or other physical credential.
The Americas region is the most established market in terms of the adoption of readers with mobile functions. In 2016, more than 17 percent of access control readers in the region had mobile functions.
Mobile reader sales are on the rise for the following reasons:
- A growing number of smart card readers are acquiring mobile functions by default, as manufacturers are adding the NFC mobile communication function, usually at no additional cost to the end user.
- Access control manufacturers are adding readers to their Bluetooth module offerings that can be used for mobile communication, or are selling Bluetooth add-on modules separately.
Smart card readers are the most common type of reader with mobile functions, with 98.5 percent of sales in 2016.
iOS 11 could fuel the resurgence of readers with mobile NFC functions
The vast majority of mobile credential providers are accepting that BLE is their preferred format. Although the industry originally chose NFC as their favorite data interface, a lack of support from Apple led vendors to switch to the much more common Bluetooth format. The launch of Bluetooth Low Energy v4.0 by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group in 2013 also had an important impact on the consolidation of the positioning of Bluetooth as the main communication technology.
However, with the release of iOS 11 in September, Apple opened access to the NFC chip in its iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, as well as future generations of iPhones. This has enormous potential to reinvigorate the interest of mobile access providers in NFC-enabled smartphone communication. Historically, using the example of the payments market, the use of mobile payments began to penetrate the market only after Apple launched Apple Pay. A similar scenario could occur in the field of access controls for the following reasons:
- End users, having experienced the migration of transportation payments and tickets, are now very familiar with the NFC process and could quickly learn about its use in the field of access controls.
- Many of the mobile access providers on the market today are control equipment manufacturers who have extensive experience working with similar technologies for the production of MIFARE smart card readers.
Growing adoption is only half the battle for vendors
Despite the sale of credentials for almost three years, providers have yet to agree on the use of a certain business model. Some providers are choosing to charge the end user directly for the cost of credentials (as with physical credentials), others are testing pricing models based on paid subscriptions, while a third group is simply providing them for free.
Providers that do not charge for mobile credentials hope this strategy will help them win big projects or increase their market share of readers (hardware).
IHS anticipates that as the number of providers issuing free mobile credentials grows, the average sale price of credentials will decrease as other providers will have to lower their prices to remain competitive.
What’s new in access control System portfolio
Our Head of the Access Control System Unit at Manusa, spoke with TECNO Seguro about the new features in access control. In addition, he referrer to cybersecurity, which is an aspect that must also be seriously consider by the integrators of the sector and took the opportunity to advance some launches planned for 2018.
We took the opportunity to talk about the products launched this year by Manusa, among which the motorized corridor with panels that are hidden Express Gate stood out, which will improve its benefits both in terms of performance and safety and comfort for the user. “The Express Gate is a high-end product, capable of meeting the most demanding expectations in terms of safety and that can be adapted to any architectural project with total harmony,” he said.
Company Access Control System Solution
An access solution that the company has also launched this year is that of the Toran non-return corridors, with ’tilt and turn’ doors to separate the ‘air zone’ from the ‘ground zone’ at airports. “It is a very robust product that meets all the safety requirements for this type of facility. We have already installed some units at the airports of El Prat, in Barcelona, and Gatwick, in London, and we are currently developing a project, commented Redondo.
Manusa has also integrated into its solutions the automatic opening of doors through mobile phones. “We believe that the different access systems should not pose any barrier for the user, beyond mere control, and that they can use their daily tools to make life easier,” said the executive.
He also announced that for next year the company specializing in access control plans to launch more products aimed at security and airport management and transport facilities, “where we have projects and solutions that will help the company continue with its progression in the sector and consolidate its growth and breadth of markets”, he said.
“More than talking about new product launches, at Manusa we like to talk about improvement, adaptation to the market and customer service that accumulated experience brings us,” he observed.
Cybersecurity, also a responsibility of access control system installers and integrators
One of the challenges for companies offering access control products and services, as well as users, is keeping cybercriminals at bay.
The Internet of Things, that is, the connection and communication of various devices with each other using the network, is vulnerable to hackers, which represents a great threat to users.
In this regard, the executive stress the responsibility that integrators must now assume: “They must be aware that, like a computer, mobile or tablet, many of the new elements to be integrate in security installations may also represent a cyber-threat. Hence, cybersecurity becomes so important in current and future times, in the same way that traditional security is. Security systems must adapt to new trends and if we now find cyber-threats, we will need cybersecurity to be able to face them”.
