Q&A with Ron Shaffer, Technology Business Development for Education, SALTO Systems

There are a lot of choices when it comes to access control systems campuses could use. What should drive the decisions of higher education leaders in this area?

Many decision-makers don’t take the most important factor into account: the end-user experience and student journey. It is the experience of your campus users—students, faculty, and staff—that matters most when deciding what type of smart access control systems to implement. Other important factors to consider when deciding on access control systems include: 

• Whether a system is easy to use, has an intuitive design, and provides clear user feedback 
• The regulatory compliance, quality, and compatibility  of the hardware to fit any door and any access point with a complete, electronic locking platform
• The long-term reliability of the system, full support and any ongoing administration requirements

What are the most overlooked aspects of implementing access control systems on campuses?

Think about it in terms of “Day 1” versus “Day 2.” During the Day 1 phase, higher education leaders are focused on the features of the system, the initial installation costs and whether the new system meets their current needs.

During the Day 2 phase, new questions arise concerning the complexity of the interface, network dependency, monthly or yearly user or access point fees, credential compatibility and other ongoing costs. As time goes on, institution leaders may ask more questions, such as:

• How are my users, staff, visitors or students affected during a network outage? 
• Is access still permitted in a power outage?
• Is the system scalable to meet future growth within our current network environment?
• How do we maintain IP addresses, network switching and routing design?

These questions are often overlooked at an earlier stage, but it’s important to consider these Day 2 issues in the decision-making process. Look to the future and Day 2 with a school access control system that will support growth both in physical locations and staff/student services.

What are some best practices when implementing a new access control system?

Research, research and research! Kick the tires and ask a vendor for an onsite demonstration installation or trials—and use it without any company representative present with a brand and certified installers ensuring support is always available to deliver top notch security for schools.Take this opportunity to put the system through its paces. Test and explore every scenario your team can think of.

Look for a system that includes the following features:

• Extensive students cards and credential compatibility 
• Access points that allow for growth, such as lockers, cabinets, exterior gates, parking gates, glass doors, emergency exits and panic bars, cylindrical and mortise applications
• Wire-free, wireless and wired applications
• Emergency preparedness and Crisis responsiveness features incorporating electronic door locks for schools improves security for schools and an overall crisis management plan.
• Easy I/O data integration with custom or third-party systems
• Mobile iOS and Android applications for remote access assignment

What trends are you seeing on cutting-edge higher education campuses today?

One emerging trend is providing self-service offerings such as kiosks and mobile access credentials or digital keys to campus users. These provide the ability for a student to cancel their lost or stolen card through a portal, change a pin code, and request a replacement, all on their own and without involving staff.

Many higher education leaders who are using mobile credentials are looking to make the most out of this technology and to eliminate the risks and costs of lost keys, finding ways to customize their existing app to their brand, and ensuring compatibility with iOS and Android devices that utilize Bluetooth and NFC for access control communications.

The future of access control is here, and mobile credentialing offers a level of security, convenience, and self-service that enhances the end-user experience.

Contact us if you have any questions on the SALTO product range or visit our education website located here for information on all things SALTO. We look forward to help you!

Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest product features, updates, and news from the industry.

SALTO Systems develops and manufactures advanced and reliable wireless electronic locking and access control smart solutions that provide a smoother, more comfortable, and secure daily life for the people using our systems. We bring added value to our clients, making it easier for decision-making and smarter management of facilities. Our goal is to not only be within the top three companies in our sector in the world,but also tobe your number one smart electronic access control provider. As an organization, we intend to create an ecosystem of end-users clients, partners, collaborators, and suppliers with whom we build long-lasting, win-win relationships guided by closeness, flexibility, integrity, and trust.