Keyless to Success

“Rib eyes, New York Strips, Filets!” exclaimed a man with a Midwestern draw. This man was not a butcher in a butcher shop or a barker in a meat market, but a guy standing in the Taylored Systems sales department hawking meat out of his refrigerated truck. The peddler walked in the front door to sell his goods. Bill looked up from his desk, scratched his head in confusion, and escorted the gentleman to the door, past the “No Soliciting” sign. Bill could respect the salesmen’s drive but was concerned with the security of his building.

Bill had been planning and designing a new Taylored Systems office building. Incidentally, the office move happened the weekend following the attacks on September 11th. With the question of access to our building, coupled with the concern for security that was in all of our minds, we needed to monitor who could gain access to our building.

In 2001, door access technology was simple and easy. A key fob or card waved in front of a reader device sent a signal to the electronic lock giving it authorization to open. A controller in the data room controlled access to the doors and locks. Multiple wires run from this controller to each door allowing the system to work. We receive reports of which key fob or card was swiped, by whom, at what time. Our employees can access their offices any time to work.

Door access technology has changed and now integrates with phone systems. One product we carry has the ability to add door access readers and key fobs or cards with the phone system expense. An employee waves their fob or card in front of the reader to signal the phone system and trigger the reporting feature to mark that user as “In” for a time clock function. It can also mark the employee as “In” for their Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) agent seat or trigger their Do Not Disturb (DND) setting. This works the opposite way at the end of the day to mark them as “Out” for their time clock, ACD, and DND.

Today we use Internet Protocol (IP) for everything technology related. We send voice over the IP (VoIP), use IP to stream images from our security cameras, use IP telephones to work remotely in a seamless fashion.. IP can also control door access, allowing easier management with one centralized computer to monitor and change settings on all locks in either your home or remote locations. IP also allows for easier cabling and door access devices can work in tandem with IP security cameras. When a fob or card is waved, it sends a signal to your camera triggering it to focus on the door.

Wireless capabilities are moving into door access technology. Rather than cabling from the locks back, a wireless access point near the door can use wireless technology to connect to the network and carry the signal as IP to the locking device and the central controller.

Some may think door access is only for the large corporations. There are many benefits that can be used for businesses of all sizes. Do your research and consult a trusted advisor before ruling out or jumping in.

This was Michael Martin’s latest conversation with Bill Taylor.