In this blog, Product Marketing Manager at HID Global APAC, Nelson Fung brings together a “quick-hitting” list of some of the key takeaways from a recent webinar where a team of experts, in a lively and illuminating discussion, debated the key reasons why more than two million people prefer mobile for door access.
Mobile credentials are more secure. We take all of the security of traditional plastic credentials (for instance, that of our flagship Seos technology) and add it to a device that is much less likely to be lost, stolen or forgotten — and with its own set of on-device security features.
“Going mobile” doesn’t have to mean new hardware. According to our experts, the likelihood that you can keep your existing readers when upgrading to mobile access is very high. The entire Signo line is mobile-friendly, as well as iCLASS SE readers that have the Bluetooth® Low Energy module installed.
Mobile means multipurpose. A card credential has one job, whereas a mobile phone is like a Swiss army knife — with nearly limitless functionality and use cases supported. With the average user spending 3 hours and 15 minutes a day on smartphone, they love doing more with what they already have.
Mobile access has distinct advantages over QR codes. Although QR codes are handy and ubiquitous, they have their limitations, and are more susceptible to sharing or stealing when used for credentials. Even dynamic QR codes have been known to be copied using a video call.
Smart buildings and workspaces are even smarter with mobile. Mobile access goes way beyond opening doors. Want to book a conference room? Get notified when there’s an emergency? Release secured print jobs, unlock workstations, access secure areas, lockers and bike storage? All that is also possible — in the very same app that stores your digital credential. Users love the enhanced experience supported by mobile, and building owners love the sticky engagement.
Nobody is tracking your location details based on your mobile credential. Although location sharing does need to be turned on for an optimal user experience, mobile providers and administrators have no need or ability to track your location beyond alerting the reader when a credential is near, so that authentication information can be transmitted.
Mobile is often less costly than card-based access. In addition to the physical material cost of traditional plastic cards, there are many hidden costs that can be eliminated with a switch to mobile. No more waiting for the security office or office manager to issue (or re-issue). Instead, administrators can provision digital IDs via a simple email, and revoke/change/amend credentials over the cloud.
It’s easy to customize and scale with mobile. For some readers, you might want a longer read range for your mobile credentials, and for others — depending on location/traffic/intent — you want a shorter range. All of this can be controlled and customized to fit your needs. As far as pricing, mobile access uses a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) subscription model, meaning you only pay for what you use.
Mobile is sustainable. With many governments passing strict laws calling for a drastic reduction of carbon emissions in the coming years, mobile access is one avenue companies are using to meet those requirements. In addition, sustainability scores high for the next generations of workplace talent, who are looking to work for employers that attain recognized environmental certification such as LEED and WiredScore.
Hopefully this has given you a taste of the power that mobile access has to offer, and why 2 million people around the world — including 400,000 to 500,000 in Asia alone — are already using it.
A huge thanks to our mobile experts, Leslie Wong, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Mobile (APAC) and Phil Coppola, Director of Business Development, Mobile Business Unit (PACS North America), for bringing so many insights to light.
Watch the full webinar replay, here
Or get The Truth Behind 5 Mobile Access Myths in HID’s new eBook, here
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