Visitor management software solutions are helping to automate front-of-house operations, helping organizations save time, money, and energy while running their workplaces and facilities more efficiently. Reducing reliance on manual check-in processes and paper-based systems has become a priority for organizations looking to stay competitive.
By investing in smart visitor management software, organizations can streamline the entire visitor journey while reducing operational overhead. Operators can now digitize and automate visitor check-in, host notifications, regulatory and compliance checks, and even access credential provisioning, all from a centralized platform and mobile app. Analytics dashboards can also help maximize operational efficiency through detailed insights surrounding visitor flow and space utilization.
Visitors have the convenience of pre-registering and receiving check-in credentials ahead of their visit. But what about access? For most facilities, visitors still need to collect a physical badge at reception to move through the building. What if they could access the areas relevant to their visit using a mobile credential sent directly to their smartphone automatically once they have checked-in? This is the piece of the puzzle that many visitor management software (VMS) providers are missing. Many VMS companies have been put off adding a mobile access feature due to the development resource required to build separate integrations with every access control system. However now a single integration, from the likes of Sentry Interactive with their readerless mobile credential SDK integration, can open up compatibility with a portfolio of access control systems, saving development time and money.
A critical component of the visitor journey
Advancements in open standard mobile access software are providing visitor management software companies with the opportunity to add real value to their platform with NFC mobile credentials that can be issued and used entirely within the same digital journey, and work with a combination of disparate physical access control systems (PACS) .
By integrating secure mobile credentials directly into the visitor workflow, visitor management software providers can help organizations deliver a truly frictionless visitor experience. Mobile credential access permissions can be synchronized with visit time and date windows, meaning once a visit has ended the credential is instantly deactivated.
Visitors can simply use their smartphones to open entrance gates, doors, elevators, and meeting rooms using Near Field Communication (NFC) tap-to-unlock mobile access technology, QR code scanning, or even iOS and Android widgets, eliminating the need for physical badges, access cards, or memorized PIN codes.
For software companies serving the visitor management space, mobile access represents more than a convenience feature. It is a critical component of the connected, automated building experience that both facilities managers and their visitors expect.
The competitive shift in visitor management software
Today’s visitor management platforms already include a wide range of operational tools, including:
- Digital pre-registration and check-in workflows
- Automated host notifications
- NDA and document signing
- Compliance questionnaires and watchlist screening
- Visitor analytics and reporting
However, those that want to stand out and gain a competitive advantage need to look at additional features that add value while enhancing the existing user experience.
This is where mobile access as a complementary feature comes in. Software developers now have the opportunity to bring mobile access into their platform without having to navigate access control hardware complexities. One integration can provide mobile access compatibility across multiple access control systems.
Rather than relying on a disconnected access control platform, organisations can benefit from an integrated experience where visitor registration, host notifications, compliance checks, and mobile access permissions all work together seamlessly under a single pane of glass.
Adding mobile access as a feature without hardware complexity
Historically, integrating mobile access into visitor management software has been costly and difficult. Developers often had to work directly with proprietary hardware systems, build and manage separate integrations for different access control vendors, and support complicated deployment environments.
For many software providers, the complexity outweighed the opportunity.
However, newer open-standard mobile credential software solutions are changing that entirely.
Solutions like Sentry Interactive’s readerless mobile credential software provide visitor management software developers with a mobile credential feature that doesn’t rely on reader hardware and can already integrate with a portfolio of physical access control system (PACS) brands.
This dramatically simplifies the process. Instead of building and maintaining separate integrations for multiple hardware manufacturers, developers can integrate once and immediately enable mobile credential functionality across a broad ecosystem of supported access control systems.
Mobile credentials that don’t rely on reader hardware
Unlike traditional mobile access solutions, Sentry Interactive’s mobile credential software for app developers does not require installation of mobile-compatible reader hardware. All that’s required is a smart access tile that can be applied without any cabling, batteries, or power supply, simply applied next to a door. The visitor’s smartphone does all the work, acting as the reader and communicating with the access control system via cloud services.
This means organizations can apply a smart access tile to any entrance, elevator, meeting room, or restricted door with an electronic lock connected to the access control system – set up in minutes, compatible with the secure mobile credentials issued through the visitor management platform.
It’s a fast-track route to mobile access that doesn’t disrupt the access control systems and credentials already in use for permanent staff.
With mobile credentials integrated with visitor management platforms organizations can:
- Automatically issue time-limited mobile access credentials upon successful check-in
- Instantly revoke access when a visit ends or is cancelled
- Reduce front-desk workload and dependency on physical badge issuance
- Improve audit trails and real-time visibility of visitor movement
- Deliver a fully digital, end-to-end visitor experience
Organizations are under pressure to reduce front-of-house staffing costs while improving the visitor experience and meeting increasingly stringent security and compliance requirements. At the same time, visitors expect a modern, frictionless experience that aligns with the digital standards set by other industries like hospitality, coworking, and smart office environments.
Visitor management software providers now have the ability to deliver a complete digital journey, from pre-registration and check-in, through to in-building access. With the rise of unmanned reception areas and hybrid working environments, this capability is becoming increasingly essential.
A strategic opportunity for visitor management software providers
As organizations continue investing in smart building technology and frictionless workplace experiences, software providers that can offer integrated mobile credential functionality will be in a stronger position to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
The ability to integrate solutions like Sentry Interactive allows developers to accelerate that transition without the burden of building separate access control integrations from scratch.
The visitor management industry is rapidly moving toward fully connected, app-driven building experiences. Software providers that embrace mobile access as a feature now will be better positioned to lead the next phase of workplace and facilities technology innovation.
Find our open SDK information here or get in touch to find out more.
