Issue link: https://resources.genetec.com/i/1445598
have powerful software that can make this process much easier and more efficient by making it simpler to analyze potential threats to rule out false alarms and see what's happening in a given area. Ask your systems integrator or access control software provider to help you do the math to calculate how much your current system is really costing your business. Although the up- front investment in a new access control system can be significant, when you run the numbers, you might be surprised at just how much you could save in the long run. More Features, More Choice: Access Control Systems that Meet the Unique Needs of Your Business Traditionally, access control systems were proprietary products. A few big players built the hardware and the software, and the options available to you were limited to those supported by whichever provider you used. Today, there are newer open IP-based systems, and these have unlocked a new era of choice for consumers. There's a lot more flexibility to customize systems to your needs. Probably the biggest "staying cost" to consider is opportunity cost. With new access control systems, you can do so much more than you could before, including game-changing opportunities to streamline operations so you can invest resources where it counts. Your return on investment includes not only savings related to operating and maintaining the access control system itself, but also improvements in other areas. With a unified physical security system, access control can do much more than just manage access to particular areas. Using data from sensors and other elements of the access control system, companies can improve how they manage occupancy rates, integrate or unify with elevators, turn heating systems and lights on or off, and more. This can really impact the organization from an operational perspective. Legacy systems that rely on proprietary technology won't be able to take advantage of all the latest technologies and the benefits they bring to your business. Mobile credentials and biometrics, for example, are becoming more important in the world of access control, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, to enable frictionless ways of opening areas. These and other innovations will undoubtedly usher in new ways of working, as well as improving security. Change Management During Access Control Migration One of the big hurdles to overcome when considering upgrading to a modern, IP-based access control system is the upgrade process itself. How will you mitigate downtime and service disruptions? Who will be present to oversee the transition—and where will this person find the time without impacting other workflows? Do employees need to manage two systems concurrently during the switch? How long will it take to train staff on a new system?