Access Control: A Checklist for Selling New Systems

• Aesthetics: Many high-profile building owners use architectural design to make their facilities stand apart. This extends to the interior space as well. So, is a black wall reader the right choice? Or will an elegant lock with integrated card reader and designer lever be a better option?
• Infectious Disease Control: Some locks and doors are available with an anti-microbial finish designed to inhibit the growth of bacteria.
• Turnover: What kind of turnover does the facility experience? Heavy turnover would be difficult to manage with a PDA-programmable offline lock; however, one-card systems actually program access privileges onto the card, virtually eliminating the need to tour the doors to reprogram them. Of course, online solutions could address this as well.
• Applications: It is inevitable that a variety of applications will converge into a single system. That’s why it is important to select an access control system that can grow by providing application support for parking access, visitor badging, integrated video and other needs as required.
• System Management: It is important to determine who, how and where the end-user will manage the new access control system. For enterprise-class systems, it might mean multiple departments will manage their own people, while a system administrator will maintain and manage the main, centralized system.
• Budget: You ultimately need to know your customer’s budget; however, with all the upfront research, your findings might be beyond their initial scope. This is how long-term planning comes into play so you can develop a priority list over several phases to ensure the end-user gets the access control system that fully meets their requirements.

Lester LaPierre is Director of Business Development, Electronic Access Control for ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions.