Access control user experience and reliability
Cloud security and mobile credentials aren’t the only important factors when reviewing access control systems. The system should be easy to use, and needs to be reliable. Make sure that the system you choose is compatible with the devices your employees and tenants use, and that the unlock experience is consistent. If your staff can only unlock the door 80% of the time, you’re going to have a lot of complaints coming your way. While HID does offer mobile credentials, not all HID readers have 100% compatibility with the most common mobile devices. Recent HID Mobile Access reviews say that the mobile app is not very reliable for either iOS or Android devices, and many users experience frequent bugs and app downtime.
Openpath’s app and software was designed to be easy to use and reliable for both administrative teams, and for end users. With patented Triple Unlock technology, which races Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular signals for every unlock request, unlocking the door is fast, frictionless, and 99.9% reliable. Plus, Openpath’s access control system features fail safes and backup power options, so it still works even if the Internet is down, during a power outage, or the cell service is spotty. When reliability matters most, Openpath provides a consistent user experience.
Flexible access methods are also important for usability. While HID has different readers for prox cards, mobile access, and PIN codes, not all readers support every credential type. In order to upgrade an HID access system to mobile, there’s a good chance some readers will need to be swapped out. The HID Signo™ reader line supports touchless unlock with a “Twist and Go” motion, but this is not intuitive and will take some training for users to understand. Openpath’s touchless access uses Wave to Unlock, either with a hand or mobile device for a more intuitive touchless unlock experience. For more enhanced security, Openpath offers an option to use multi-factor authentication (MFA), available on all Openpath readers.When enabled, MFA requires users to present multiple credentials before entry is authorized. Openpath Smart Readers, Keypad Readers, Video Readers, and Video Intercom Readers also support any combination of mobile, tablet, smart watch, high- and low-frequencykey cards and fob credentials.