There are many ways in which one of our systems can protect your business from theft and unauthorised entry, and while this is the primary function, there is more to access control than just security. With the right solution in place, you stand to improve record-keeping, productivity and safety across your business - and in this article, we’ll explain how.

Boost payroll efficiency

Your workforce is your biggest asset, and to keep employees happy, you need to pay them correctly and on time for their hard work. Keeping track of attendances and overtime can be tough, however, especially for larger organisations. Admin staff, however skilled, can make mistakes, and the process of recording and copying data from timesheets is long and arduous. An access control system will record all of the relevant data while it goes about its primary security function, and then make this information available to your existing payroll and HR systems, removing the need for manual processing. The result is not only a happy, paid workforce, but more time to spend on other pressing tasks.

Save on everyday costs

Access control passes can do more than just grant a person entry to a room or area; they can be used to control the use of basic office equipment too. Some forward-thinking businesses are using tools like swipe cards and barcodes to reduce printing costs, for example. Staff are required to present their access control passes to activate the printer, and then the materials they print are linked to their account. You can then see accurate records, and employees are encouraged to use paper and ink only when absolutely necessary. Catering within the business can also benefit. Cards linked to an individual’s account could be used to purchase items from the canteen, for example, or from vending machines. This creates a more efficient buying process and saves time for all involved.

Reducing energy consumption

The access control market’s more advanced systems could help you to reduce energy consumption, simply by being able to determine where people are within the building in real-time. If scanners or CCTV cameras register that nobody has entered a specific area of the building for a pre-determined amount of time, for example, they can communicate with a building management system which can, in turn, switch lights and equipment off. Energy costs then fall along with your environmental impact.

Simplify car parking

Access control’s secondary function is to help you manage the movement of people, to keep things moving smoothly in busy areas. This includes the car park, where authorised staff and visitors can use their passes or identifiers – whether a key card, passcode or even fingerprint – to operate the entry barrier. This saves your security team the time of having to approve every driver’s entry manually. While window stickers can work, issues of unauthorised parking can take hours or even longer to sort once noticed, temporarily reducing capacity for your staff. Also, these kinds of passes limit your employees to using one vehicle; a moveable card is linked to the person rather than the car, meaning they’re free to switch as necessary. The data generated will also give you a clearer picture of how your car park is used, helping you make better decisions on things like expansion and general operation.

We’re on hand to help

Still have questions about how an access control system could benefit your organisation? Our experts can advise on the above points and more to help you get the most from your investment – simply give us a call today.