Identity and access control business HID has released its 2024 State of Physical Access Control Report, produced in partnership with IFSEC Global, which identifies the key trends shaping the future of access control.
The market for access control technologies in Australia should grow by more than 8% between 2024 and 2032, according to IMARC, making it a pivotal time for the industry and making the report’s release timely. The report surveyed over 1,200 security professionals worldwide to get a picture of an industry going through considerable transformation.
“Like so many other aspects of technology, access control is evolving to meet the changing needs of the market,” said HID’s Steven Katanas. “As AI, automation and smart, interconnected technology become the new standard for buildings and facilities, it is rational that secure and convenient access control technologies become smarter in tandem.”
Conducted between November 2023 and January 2024, the survey reveals five trends, including;
- Mobile access and digital ID is set to become ubiquitous: While physical ID is still prevalent within the access control industry, there is no doubt that mobile access credentials and digital IDs are quickly gaining ground. According to this report, 39% of organisations now actively use mobile identities, with respondents naming touchless/contactless solutions (48%) and mobile access (44%) as the two largest trends shaping the wider access control industry.
- Open standards are driving the smart buildings phenomenon: Open standards have become key drivers for more converged security solutions, where physical access control data is helping not just to decide who should be allowed into the building but also how that building can best be used. As the report shows, almost half of organisations (48%) already have access control/badge scanning systems in place to monitor building usage throughout the day, at least to some extent. Additionally, 43% of respondents cited smart buildings and flexible workspaces being among the top three trends shaping the wider access control industry. Integration with other business functions was also listed by one in three respondents (32%) as another top trend.
- Sustainability is becoming a greater influence on business decisions: Sustainability is playing a significant role in access control with 63% of respondents citing that those responsible for sustainability have either some influence or are fully consulted when it comes to upgrading physical access control systems.
- The rise of artificial intelligence for analytics use cases: The use of artificial intelligence capabilities in physical access control is becoming more common as AI technologies and expertise are developed. Asked if they are looking to incorporate AI/machine learning into their access control solutions, 38% of stated they were (although the same percentage said they were unsure of the benefits). Only 23% said they didn’t have any plans to incorporate AI technologies.
- Growing role of biometrics, especially contactless solutions: The biometrics market is growing at rapidly. By 2031 the worldwide market for biometrics is expected to reach USD136.18 billion while the global facial recognition market alone is predicted to grow to USD16.74 billion by 2030, up from USD3.83 billion in 2020. That’s a CAGR of 16% from 2021 to 2030.
You can read the full report here.
