Overview:
When a Los Angeles-based, urban real estate developer moved their headquarters to a new facility, they reached out to ADVANTIDGE to review the existing physical access control system. With a track record of uniting community stakeholders, municipalities, and institutional investors, their real estate projects transform shopping centers into regional and local gathering spaces.
Following their relocation to a new corporate office, management team quickly identified significant deficiencies in the existing physical access control system and expressed strong interest in a solution that aligned with their company’s values around sustainability. The legacy system’s limited functionality was insufficient to meet their security needs, operational requirements, and industry compliance standards as a financial institution.
Challenge:
The inherited access control system consisted of HID low frequency card readers at external entry doors, connected to an access control panel in their IT closet. Key limitations included:
- No administrative access to the software interface.
- Inability to adjust security settings for each door or create specific schedules for departments.
- Lack of capability to enroll new employees or viewing access reports.
- Dependency on plastic PVC prox cards which contradicted their sustainability goals.
New compliance requirements with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) further emphasized the need for a robust and secure access control system. They engaged ADVANTIDGE to provide a solution that would offer improved control, better user experience, and align with their sustainability commitment by moving towards mobile access through smartphones.
Consultative Approach
ADVANTIDGE initiated the project with a comprehensive review of their new facilities with the following steps:
- Review Floor Plans: Their operations team coordinated with property management to provide the floor plans so we could understand the overall site layout. Photos were provided to identify areas that needed onsite inspection so it was clear as to what infrastructure was already in place.
- Site Evaluation: Our security integration team conducted a thorough walk-through of the new office location, assessing the existing setup and wiring run through walls via conduit.
- Stakeholder Consultation: Our account management team coordinated meetings with company leadership and the operations team clarified specific requirements and operational workflows.
Solution Design
Based on the insights gathered above, ADVANTIDGE proposed the following solution highlighting key advantages to streamline the approval and implementation process:
- Reuse of Existing Infrastructure: The existing legacy wire runs from the IT closet to the external doors were compatible with the new hardware, avoiding the need for wall modifications which would save time and cost.
- Seamless Transition: New card readers enabled with Bluetooth could replace the legacy HID readers with minimal change to the reader placement, ensuring minimal disruption and a consistent look at feel to the building exterior.
- Software: Brivo cloud-based access control software, offering advanced features and remote management capabilities for their operations team.
- Hardware: Wireless control panel matched with high frequency card readers that included Bluetooth functionality, facilitating app based mobile access.
- Access Credentials: The new solution would no longer depend on plastic PVC cards and employees would be able to use a smartphone app to gain access to the building.
Implementation
After tweaking the scope of work to match the needs of each department, the real estate firm approved the proposal from ADVANTIDGE and we shifted into implementation:
- Approval and Timeline: After an online demonstration of the Brivo software, the real estate management team approved the solution. A detailed timeline for installation was established.
- Employee Integration: Operations managers were trained to import the human resources database into the Brivo system. Employees received auto-generated invitations to download the Brivo app, allowing pre-configuration of group schedules and access permissions.
- Installation and Training: The installation of the new Brivo system was completed swiftly, with onsite training provided to ensure the operations team could manage the system effectively.
Post-Implementation Support
During initial use of the new physical access control system, the operations manager identified an issue with one of the external entry doors not closing consistently. Leveraging their active support plan, our team sent a technician onsite:
- Verified and adjusted the door closing mechanism.
- Checked the alignment of the electronic lock and door strike.
- Confirmed the functionality of door position sensors.
These adjustments ensured the system’s reliability and adherence to security standards without the need for the building locksmith to come out for an additional service visit.
Outcome
The upgraded access control system provided the real estate developer with:
- Enhanced security through advanced, user-friendly control and monitoring features.
- Compliance with FINRA regulations.
- An eco-friendly, sustainable physical access control solution that shifted from plastic PVC badges to mobile access via smartphones.
Conclusion
For over 20 years, ADVANTIDGE has excelled in delivering security identification solutions that inspire confidence among security and IT teams. This project exemplifies our commitment to a consultative approach, leveraging industry expertise to exceed customer expectations and provide innovative, sustainable solutions. By understanding the end user’s unique needs and constraints, ADVANTIDGE successfully implemented a tailored access control system that not only met their immediate requirements but also positioned them for future growth and sustainability.
