Gulf Construction Online - Going keyless points way to secure future

Hotels & Palaces

Keyless systems with remote access feature is a growing segment of the security market. Solutions are being developed to create seamless access.

Hotels & Palaces

Going keyless points way to secure future

JEFF BENNETT, commercial director at Allegion* Middle East Africa and Turkey, explains how keyless technologies are all set to become the future standard for seamless mobility.

01 November 2019

Safety and security challenges rank high among the most pressing issues of the modern world which is becoming increasingly urbanised. These challenges can be faced in all locations – be it hotels, palaces, hospitals, schools, residential and commercial facilities.

That is why it has become far more important to adopt a protocol and system to modernise existing facilities to achieve maximum security as well as stay relevant in this ever-changing environment.

Individual safety and security is also important as they can directly affect an individual’s well-being. Therefore, it is important to analyse safety risks in all situations and locations and implement appropriate preventive measures. All these concerns are leading to increased investment in the security market.

Bennett ... the UAE is adopting technologies at a fast pace.

According to Mordor Intelligence, the global electronic security market is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.98 per cent between 2019 and 2024.

Advances in building access automation have revolutionised the overall approach towards physical security. Electronic keyless entry systems such as remote-control locks, electric door strikes and keyless locks enable users to secure their residential or commercial buildings remotely, thereby providing enhanced flexibility and convenience.

A study by Persistence Market Research states the global keyless entry system market is projected to witness a growth rate of 10.2 per cent during the eight-year period from 2018 to 2026.

The rise in living standards of the global population is one of the reasons attributed to the growth in the global keyless entry market. Technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cloud, artificial intelligence, machine learning and miniaturisation are supporting enhanced security and seamless mobility.

Being a global business focused on security and seamless access, Allegion is witnessing the fast adoption of these trends.

Due to the rapid advancement in technologies, the industry today is seeing an increased convergence of mechanical and electronic solutions. This convergence offers several advantages, such as an enhanced experience for the end-user, keyless convenience and ease of installation.

Allegion’s Briton 571 EL is an example of a solution that combines the mechanical features and benefits of touch bar panic exit hardware with electronic motorised control, transforming emergency exit doors into effective smart entrances – ideal for high footfall buildings like hotels, schools, offices, and hospitals.

As a seamless access provider, Allegion is also witnessing the fastest adoption in residential properties, where integration with Apple Homekit, Amazon Alexa and other platforms allow products such as Schlage residential entrance locks to be controlled through the platform.

In such a scenario, a homeowner, while at his workplace could say, for example, ‘Siri, unlock my door’ or ‘Alexa, unlock my door’, and the door to his residence would unlock, allowing an electrician to enter and complete his job while the homeowner is away.

When it comes to adopting technology, the UAE – driven by the government’s vision – is doing this at a fast pace and it is expected that keyless technologies will eventually become standard rather than the exception.

At a regional level, reports state that the homeland and commercial security market in the Middle East, estimated at $12.2 billion, will more than double in four years to hit $25.3 billion.

In all of this, big data is critical to developing solutions that really impact security and the way a building functions. To gather this data, intelligent connected devices are needed which talk to each other, learn and predict. Solutions are then developed to create seamless access.

This is a shift from traditional thinking, which focuses on locking people in, or out. Allegion prefers to talk about letting people in, in a seamless way: Being able to move through a building in an unobtrusive way, not having to touch or unlock anything – as the building already knows that you are authorised and allowed to enter and move through that building.

A good example of security management solutions, which ensure usability, flexibility as well as agility are SimonsVoss digital locking access control solutions. As a pioneer in the keyless access market for over 20 years since its inception, SimonsVoss sets the trend with its latest newly developed product, the MobileKey, a digital access control system based on radio-controlled, cable-free locking.

Designed for security and facilities managers in medium-sized buildings, MobileKey provides access control for up to 20 doors and can manage up to 100 users at a time. Users gain access to doors through the use of either a pin code, transponder or remotely via the MobileKey app.

* Allegion is a global pioneer in seamless access, with leading brands like CISA, Interflex, LCN, Schlage, SimonsVoss and Von Duprin. Focusing on security around the door and adjacent areas, Allegion secures people and assets with a range of solutions for homes, businesses, schools and institutions. Allegion earned $2.7 billion in revenue in 2018, and sells products in almost 130 countries.