--- title: "Access Control: Overview" canonical: "https://help.getequiem.com/space/CS/1612021791/Access%20Control%3A%20Overview" format: markdown --- **Contents:** > Macro (toc) ### What is Mobile Access Control? **Mobile access control** allows users to enter secured spaces—such as buildings, offices, lifts, and parking areas—using their smartphones instead of keys, cards, or PINs. The app on the phone essentially functions like a digital wallet containing the access pass. It grants entry using a combination of three key technologies: - **NFC (Near Field Communication):** Fast, works at close range (a few centimeters). - or** BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy):** Works up to 10 meters away for hands-free entry. - or **QR Code:** A unique code displayed in the app that must be scanned by an optical reader to provide access. --- ### **Who Can Use Mobile Access?** Mobile access is available for: - **Employees:** Staff of landlords, building managers, or tenant companies. - **Visitors & Service Providers:** Contractors, guests, and third-party providers with secure, time-limited access—no physical passes needed. --- ### **What Can Be Accessed?** With the right hardware, tenants can unlock via the Equiem app: - Doors, speed lanes and barriers - Lifts - Parking gates - Storage lockers - Printers **Please note:** Integration features through the Equiem app depend on the technical setup and user flow at your location, including any hardware involved. We cannot guarantee functionality, as it depends on feasibility. To help us complete the feasibility check with your systems, please provide detailed information about your setup, service, and system providers. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your Account Manager or Customer Success Manager. --- ### **Why Mobile Access Control Matters** Mobile access is one of the most frequently used features in the Equiem app—because it fits naturally into tenants’ daily routines. Most users carry their phones at all times, making secure entry simple, fast, and seamless. By offering mobile access through Equiem, you unlock a range of benefits: - ** Enhance Security: ** Centrally manage who has access and instantly update or revoke permissions as needed. - **Gain Insights: ** Monitor adoption and usage trends in the **Digital Access** section of your **Reporting Dashboard**—available in your Equiem platform. - **Boost Operational Efficiency: ** Eliminate physical key management. Issue, update, or revoke credentials remotely. - **Increase Tenant Convenience: ** Tenants unlock doors with their smartphones—no cards, PINs, or access delays. - **Support Sustainability: ** Reduce reliance on plastic cards and printed passes—helping meet your ESG goals. - **Drive App Engagement: ** Because tenants use access multiple times daily, it naturally increases app interaction and long-term engagement. - **Promote Hygiene: ** Contactless access supports a safer, touch-free experience—perfect for shared spaces. - **Streamline Visitor Access: **Connect access control to your Equiem Visitor Management system to create a smooth, contactless visitor experience—no more waiting in queues to check in or collect a badge! In addition to regular employee access control, if you use access control for visitor management, you could benefit from reduced operational costs and overheads by replacing printed or physical visitor passes with QR Codes. By enabling mobile access through the Equiem app, you modernise your building’s security, streamline operations, and deliver a smooth, secure experience that tenants love. --- ### **Who’s Involved?** - **Landlord/Building Manager:** Owns the system infrastructure and is responsible for procuring hardware and software. Manages third-party relationships. (Alternatively, this responsibility can belong to any of the site teams, but it must be clearly defined at the start of the project.) - **System Integrator:** Installs/configures hardware and software on site. - **Building Security Team:** Manages access permissions and mobile credential distribution, and collaborates with the system integrator. - **Access Control Provider:** Supplies the access control backend, including hardware and software for managing user access rights and controlling secured areas (e.g., Gallagher). - **Mobile Credential Vendor:** Supplies software to issue and manage digital credentials (e.g., HID). - **Access Reader Vendor:** Supplies physical readers to read mobile credentials and communicates with the access control system to issue and manage digital credentials (e.g., HID). Installation on site is performed by this vendor or by any other site team assigned to the task at the project start. - **Equiem:** Delivers mobile credential distribution through the app. --- ### **How Mobile Access Works** 1. The user presents their phone to a reader. 2. The reader sends credential data to the Access Control System (ACS). 3. ACS verifies permissions. 4. If authorized, the door unlocks. Mobile access control relies on three components: - **Mobile Credential:** Digital key on a smartphone. - **Access Control System (ACS):** Backend managing permissions. - **QR Codes for Visitors:** For secure visitor check-in and access, integrated with ACS. --- ### **Supported Access Control Systems** For advanced tenant and visitor management, we integrate with systems like: > Macro (children) Read the above guides to find out more about the supported user journeys and pre-requisites that must be in place to get started. > ℹ️ Don’t see an Access Control system in the list above? We’re working on new integrations right now, reach out to us to find out more. --- ### **Ready to simplify access for your property?** Discover how mobile access control can enhance security and convenience for your spaces. Get in touch with us via [getequiem.com](https://getequiem.com/contact-us) today to learn more or request a demo, or speak to your Account Manager or Customer Success Manager. --- ### Frequently Asked Questions See some of our Access Control FAQs [here](https://equiem.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DOC/pages/1611825222).