From hosting electronic boarding passes to facilitating mobile payments and even functioning as digital car keys, our smartphones continue to expand their role in our personal lives. It’s not surprising that they are also playing a greater role in our work life.
Following the pandemic, adopting digital IDs has become increasingly popular for building access management. Thanks to RFID access technology from companies such as HID, companies are creating a convenient, connected workplace experience that allows employees to use their digital IDs for building and garage access, EV charging, vending and print services, and more. When companies incorporate digital IDs into a workplace app, accessing this connected ecosystem becomes more seamless and convenient for employees.
Source: HID Global
Companies Embracing Digital IDs Over Plastic Cards
While the connected ecosystem can be accessible via traditional employee badges/cards, companies see the many benefits of digital IDs and are quickly moving to mobile credentials.
According to HID’s 2022 State of Physical Access Control Report, 66% of physical access control system users have upgraded to mobile readers or plan to do so, while 41% of respondents say that mobile access would be one of the top requirements in a new access control system. The HID survey also found that large real estate firms are outpacing other verticals using mobile access as part of their larger tenant experience apps.
The shift is happening for several reasons, including:
- Tighter Security Control: A company can have better control over access to buildings, floors, rooms, etc. This has become increasingly important with the advent of hybrid work and flexible work schedules. Digital IDs can be easily integrated with other systems, such as security cameras and access control systems, allowing building managers or IT to monitor who enters and leaves the building and to restrict access to certain areas based on each employee’s level of clearance.
- Greater Ease of Managing Employee Access: Another benefit of digital IDs is that they can be easily revoked if an employee leaves the company or their clearance level changes. This ensures that former employees cannot continue to access the building and that current employees only have access to areas necessary for their job.
- Need for Greater Efficiency: A hybrid workplace also demands that the company provide a faster and easier way to give workers access when and where they need it. This is especially helpful for employees or contractors who visit multiple locations.
- Stronger Personal Security: Employees tend to safeguard their phones better than plastic cards. Additional authentication methods, such as a challenge question, biometrics, or one-time code, further strengthen the security of digital IDs.
- Support of ESG Initiatives: While key cards are a small portion of the 37.1 billion plastic cards produced, it is still a worthwhile effort for companies to eliminate their use.
- Improve Office Space Utilization: With sensors, companies can track WiFi activity at the building, floor, and room levels and use that data to optimize their space. For example, if data shows that very few people come into the office on Fridays, specific floors could be closed to reduce heating, cooling, and lighting use.
Given that buildings are responsible for 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions, of which 27% come from energy consumption, these actions also help companies meet their sustainability goals.
- Reduce Complexity: Digital IDs reduce the need to issue multiple cards to individuals who need access to multiple locations. Instead, they can have one mobile credential on their device. In addition, when numerous workplace technologies are outfitted to accept a digital ID, employees can more easily use all the services and amenities offered.
- Address Employee Safety: Since the pandemic, many employees have adopted different tolerance levels toward touching public surfaces. Providing mobile access minimizes physical handling, keeping employees comfortable and safe.
Workplace Apps and Access Control Software Make Digital ID Use Seamless
Thanks to contactless Near Field Communication (NFC) technology on most smartphones and smartwatches, implementing digital IDs has never been easier. Housed within a digital wallet, an employee’s credentials remain private and protected by the built-in security features of Apple iOS and Android OS.
When combined with SaaS-based access control software, such as HID, companies and real estate owners can easily manage the access rights of various user profiles, from employees to building visitors.
Companies are going further and integrating digital credentials and access control into their workplace apps to provide a seamless employee experience.
Sometimes called an employee engagement or workplace experience platform, a digital engagement platform like Modo Workplace enables organizations to integrate enterprise systems, engaging features, essential tools, and more into a single, company-branded workplace app. The seamless experience matches employees’ digital expectations in their personal lives, especially the Gen Z set that navigated college with the convenience of a campus app.
Furthermore, with a Modo-powered workplace app, employee digital credentials can be easily segregated from personal digital IDs, providing an added layer of security. Once signed into the company app, employees can access all company-approved apps and system integrations.
Interested in adopting a workplace app with digital IDs for your company? Contact us for a no-obligation demo.