Pedestrian Access Control Products
At a Glance: Will Coronavirus Change Access Control and Entrance Security?
With novel coronavirus cases rising daily, we can't help but look to the future and wonder what the new normal will be. We can only speculate at this point as we haven't had to deal with a viral outbreak of this magnitude since the 1918 Influenza outbreak. But, one thing is for certain; this novel coronavirus outbreak will sit fresh in our minds for years to come, popping into our thoughts whenever we go in for a handshake or attend a crowded social gathering. There is no denying the monumental impression this microscopic virus will leave on the world.
If there's a silver lining to this novel coronavirus pandemic, though, it's that we now understand the all-too-real threats that lurk in the microscopic world around us. We have now seen firsthand what works, what doesn't work, and what preparedness–or lack thereof– looks like in a global pandemic situation. Looking forward, I can't help but wonder: will coronavirus change the access control and security spaces?
Put simply: yes, I think it's safe to say that coronavirus will change the access control industry. Why? Because access control has never been more important. If you think about it, the whole idea of quarantining to flatten the curve is basically just a huge access control effort with people actively controlling who they come into contact with and who they do not. Pathogens are now just another risk factor on the long list of reasons to monitor and control access into and out of your facilities.
Looking forward, there will be a shift in the access control industry: one that favors tighter security, hands-free entry control, and new sanitization technologies. As access control remains a facility's first line of defense against unauthorized entrants, it too will now function as a facility's first line of defense against pathogens.
Uncovering Long-Forgotten Risks
In the overview, I touched on the H1N1 outbreak of 1918. This strain of influenza, colloquially referred to as the Spanish Flu, was particularly harsh: infecting over a third of the world's population with at least 10% of carriers succumbing to the unrelenting disease. The Spanish Flu pandemic was like a scene out of a horror movie. But like all things, our memory of its severity faded over time. In fact, I bet a viral pandemic wasn't even on your list of worries just a few months ago, and why would it be?
Well, things have obviously changed over the past few months. The long-forgotten risks of a deadly viral pandemic have taken center stage again after almost one hundred years. We are now experiencing first-hand how a microscopic virus can create some very real macroscopic threats. And somehow I don't think we will be forgetting the events of the past few months any time soon.
The threats that a viral outbreak poses are especially apparent in offices, factories, entertainment venues, and really anywhere where people gather in large numbers and come into close contact with each other over extended periods of time. Anything from touching doors, to using the same sinks, or even just sitting in the same office can help a virus spread. Because of this, many organizations have chosen to work from home or close their doors entirely to stave off the deadly disease.
Business owners feel like they do not have the proper controls in place to simultaneously keep business going while keeping the virus at bay. Closing the doors for any period of time could prove detrimental to some smaller businesses, so savvy business owners are looking for new ways to keep viral threats at bay and minimize risk without having to shut down.
What Does This Mean for Access Control?
COVID-19 has functioned as a wakeup call for most. Companies have seen firsthand how quickly and violently this novel coronavirus can spread from their factories into their offices and beyond. Above all, facilities with sophisticated access control solutions implemented are uniquely at risk. Just like door handles and bathroom sinks, access control systems like turnstiles and security gates are inherently high-trafficked. In fact, many turnstiles and gates require users to push through with their hands to gain entry. These inherent characteristics of an access control system should not be overlooked in a global pandemic context.
Now more than ever, facility managers should practice proper turnstile and gate maintenance, making sure to clean and sanitize all access control products on a regular basis. Coupled with keeping units clean, users should practice proper hygiene by washing their hands and avoiding touching their faces after going through a turnstile or gate, for example.
So, what does this all mean for access control anyway? Well, given the recent eye-opening coronavirus pandemic, access control is no longer only about controlling who is allowed access into your facility, it is now also about controlling what is allowed access into your facility–with that what being pathogens and other potentially deadly contaminants.
Hands-Free Operation: The Future of Access Control is Touchless
As this novel coronavirus continues to progress and spread across our world, we must think ahead. We owe it to ourselves to better prepare for the next outbreak, even if one never comes. I know I am not the only person who believes this because our Hayward Turnstiles access control specialists have seen a massive influx of inquiries from potential customers looking for touchless turnstiles and gates that feature hands-free operation. These potential customers are planning for their futures and taking responsibility into their own (washed) hands.
Now, I know that most people don't know the subtleties of access control turnstiles and security gates. But, I can assure you that there are hands-free options available. In fact, here at Hayward Turnstiles, we offer completely motorized ADA compliant gates and optical turnstiles that provide a completely touchless entry experience. Both of these types of units control access into and out of your facility while simultaneously halting the spread of germs and harmful viruses. What could be better than that?
All is not lost for our customers with higher security needs that require hands-on units like full height turnstiles. We offer a line of full height turnstile safety sleeves that act as a barrier between your turnstile and its users. Simply remove safety sleeves at the end of each day, wipe them down, and reinstall them for a quick and easy sanitization. These safety sleeves can be purchased right on our website from our convenient full height turnstile safety sleeve store.
Conclusion
The novel coronavirus outbreak has been an eye-opening event for us all. Though we never used to worry about a future viral outbreak, we most certainly do now. COVID-19 and other pathogens create a unique threat to access control turnstiles and gates because of their inherent exposure to high traffic and touching. Because of this, many organizations are now preparing their access control systems for the future by implementing hands-free turnstiles and gates that allow for touchless entry. Though nothing can replace proper cleaning and active transmission prevention, touchless operation is a step in the right direction.
As we are starting to see–and we will soon see more clearly– access control is no longer simply about controlling the traffic of visitors into and out of your facilities, it is now also about controlling the transmission of disease into and out of your facilities.
At a Glance: A Partner Program That Emphasizes Mutual Gain and Collaboration
A good partnership is one that is beneficial to all involved parties
The Hayward Turnstiles Partner Program thrives on mutual benefit by generating new business opportunities for all involved
Trade discounts, business opportunity referrals, and co-branding are some of the features of our Program
Our production capabilities are expanding so we are actively seeking out new partnerships with access control integrators
Good candidates for our Partner Program come in many shapes and sizes
5 Elements of a Strong Business Partnership
1.Collaboration: A strong partnership always starts with collaboration. Both companies should come together to work out a partnership agreement that satisfies the needs of both companies and makes everybody involved happy.
2. Mutual Benefit: A strong partnership should mutually benefit both parties. Each company should be better off after partnering than they were before they were associated with each other.
3. Transparency: A strong partnership is one rooted in trust. Partnership agreements should be completely transparent with an emphasis on defining terms plainly and on minimizing ambiguity.
4. Compatibility: A strong partnership depends on compatibility. The skills and capabilities of one party should complement those of the other party nicely to form a cohesive value-adding team.
5. Shared Vision: A strong partnership exhibits a shared vision between all parties involved. A partnership with aligned goals is much more productive than one where parties involved work towards separate ends.
The Hayward Turnstiles Partner Program Is Beneficial in More Ways Than One
Our new Partner Program is unlike any other partnerships found in the access control industry. Instead of simply offering a trade discount and being done with it, we go the extra mile for our partners. Our partners enjoy a relationship seeded in mutual benefit where, along with industry-leading trade discounts, they can count on us to provide referrals and funnel new business opportunities their way.
Being a turnstile and ADA gate manufacturer only, we often encounter customers that require turnkey services complete with both products and installation. Since we don't do installation, this is when we reach out to all our partners in that potential customer's general geographical area to provide them with an opportunity to gain that potential customer's business. This creates a two-way road between ourselves and our partners where we reach out to them with new business because we do not install and they reach out to us for products because we offer some of the most competitive trade discounts in the industry (off our already industry-leading MSRP).
Beyond our win-win partnership structure, we are also proud to offer co-branding opportunities for our partners. With the strongest digital presences in the industry, the Hayward Turnstiles website brings in more qualified and relevant traffic than any other turnstile-related website in the country. As a partner, we are willing to display logos, descriptions, and contact information right on our website for all of our visitors to see. Further, by linking back to your website (called a backlink), our strong web presence will even rub off onto the performance of your website, improving your search visibility and allowing you to get more qualified traffic online.
We Are Actively Recruiting Access Control Integrators and Turnstile Installers
As Hayward Turnstiles continues to grow, we are now able to handle increased volumes and, as a result, more projects at once. Because of this, we are looking to add to our network of partner installers and integrators in all areas of the country to better prepare for this increased number of projects going on at once. We want to make sure we always have an installer available when a customer needs one, so the more installers and integrators we can strike up a partnership agreement with the better.
What Does a Strong Candidate for Our Partner Program Look Like?
Projects in the access control industry often deal with high security engagements, military or government contracts, risk mitigation, and other serious applications. So, it certainly pays to be picky when choosing installers for a project. Customers want an installer that is competent, trustworthy, and easy to work with. This is why we prescreen all of the candidates for our Partner Program to ensure that only the most qualified access control integrators install our products. After all, when we recommend an integrator to a customer, that integrator is now an extension of the Hayward Turnstiles brand.
What a strong candidate for our Partner Program looks like can vary greatly. Obviously, we only choose seasoned installers with countless successful installations behind then and great customer service, but these installers don't necessarily have to be hardcore enterprise level access control systems integrators. For example, many of our partners are fence companies. They primarily install fence lines, but they have extensive experience integrating full height turnstiles and full height ADA gates with their fence systems because full height turnstile solutions and fence lines often go hand-in-hand. Though they may not be the most adept at integrating complex systems, they are masters at installing and integrating all things related to fencing. Further, many of our successful partners are large construction companies. They have the knowledge and personnel available to install all types of turnstiles and gates at their construction sites whether they are for securing the site or part of the building specification. Again, these construction companies may not be your run-of-the-mill access control systems integrator, but they have the experience and the wherewithal to install products correctly.
Though many of our partners are full-fledged access control systems integrators, installers in adjacent industries can also succeed in our partner program. Therefore, the main aspects we look for in a strong candidate for our Partner Program include:
Proven track record installing turnstiles and ADA compliant gates
Impeccable customer service both on site and accessibility off site
Trustworthiness and easy to work with/get in contact with
Sounds like a job description application, right? Well fear not, we won't have HR contact you or some head hunters bother you. You can reach out to us at any time to spark up a conversation about your candidacy for our partner program. I promise you won't have to wear a suit and survive a group interview.