Steven Commander, Head of Consultant Relations, HID discusses the ‘real deal’ when it comes to the industry’s favourite buzzword: Digital Transformation.
For years, “digital transformation” has been treated as a catch-all term, but what does it really mean when it comes to physical access control and building optimisation?
Increasingly it’s become a driver for enhancing security, streamlining operations and elevating user experience, all while supporting smarter, more sustainable spaces.
From mobile credentials and digital wallets to AI-powered analytics and cloud-native platforms, today’s access solutions are reshaping how buildings operate, protect and perform.
Modernising PACS is no longer a simple upgrade, it’s a strategic shift that:
Strengthens security with digital credentials, biometrics and real-time monitoring
Simplifies operations through software-driven integration and remote management
Improves user experience with mobile-first access enabling seamless and intuitive building interactions
Supports sustainability by reducing plastics, permitting energy optimisation and informing green certification
Many organisations continue to struggle with the constraints of traditional PACS.
The recurring challenges are familiar, making experiences more convenient for users, simplifying administration for stretched teams and integrating with wider enterprise systems without creating security gaps or operational blind spots.
The HID Security and Identity Trends Report highlights this reality: Improving user convenience is cited as a priority for nearly half of organisations, while 41% are focused on simplifying administration and 28% struggle with system integration (The Industry Report: 2024 State of Security and Identity, HID).
These are not theoretical challenges, they are day‑to‑day friction points that add cost, increase risk, impact operations and experience.
Digital transformation offers a clear pathway to overcome these hurdles by delivering a seamless end-to-end experience.
While digital transformation is a unique journey for every organisation, it is vital for delivering trusted access and a digital user experience that improves both the physical security of a building and how people engage with its spaces and facilities.
Make sure that your PACS strategy addresses these four key considerations to help optimally protect people, premises and both physical and digital assets, while enabling seamless interactions within smart workspaces and driving new value.
Organisations consistently face ongoing challenges with traditional PACS(The Industry Report: 2024 State of Security and Identity, HID) , including:
Traditionally siloed systems – information technology (IT), security and operational technology (OT) – are converging. Software now plays a key role in practically every aspect of PACS.
Digital credentials and biometrics are replacing keys and cards, strengthening posture without adding friction.
Full technology integration enables tap‑to‑access without opening an app, the user journey becomes faster, safer and more convenient.
This trend is only set to continue with nearly 80% of organisations expect to deploy mobile identities within five years and 39% already use biometrics for access control (The Industry Report: 2024 State of Security and Identity, HID).
Cloud‑native platforms extend this advantage with remote provisioning, real‑time monitoring as well as integration into video and other systems.
Layer in AI and these systems provide advanced analytics like predictive threat detection, behavioural analysis and real‑time insights act as a “weakness detection copilot”, helping security teams proactively identify and respond to vulnerabilities.
With software increasingly managing access to workspaces, it pays to ensure that you have a solution that delivers flexibility and upgradability.
The typical lifecycle of an access control system spans 15-20 years and with more than half of organisations planning to upgrade at least some PACS components within the next six years (The Industry Report: 2024 State of Security and Identity, HID),foor being future-ready is essential.
No matter how or when technologies evolve, your PACS will need to flex accordingly to accommodate software upgrades or a requirement for expanded integrations.
People expect building interactions to mirror consumer tech: Simple, fast and contactless.
Mobile access sets the tone with an end-to-end experience that extends naturally into daily tasks such as booking rooms, using printers, accessing lockers or hiring e‑bikes – all through a single, trusted credential.
As systems integrate, data becomes a commercial asset.
Once you’re able to translate real-time insights into how a space is used, it’s possible to provide services that optimise the user experience – whether you’re selling those interactions or not.
The financial upside is clear; smart, digitally transformed buildings can deliver around 8% higher yields per square foot (Turning Your Portfolio to a Smart Build Portfolio, Smart Spaces, 2025) versus local competitors, while operational savings accrue from reduced administration, the removal of card production, shipping and lighter IT support.
This creates a value cycle – better experiences drive adoption, adoption fuels monetisation and monetisation funds further improvements.
As sustainability becomes a key factor in property value, access control systems are stepping up as a measurable differentiator; sustainability extends far beyond digital credentials having a lower environmental impact than plastic cards.
The pay-off comes from data‑enabled optimisation, when data flows – enabled by an integrated PACS – it is possible to monitor a facilities usage and occupier behaviours.
This avoids waste without sacrificing comfort, by switching lights off or lowering the temperature in unused rooms, for example.
The One Bangkok building demonstrates the potential with a 22% reduction in energy consumption, saving 17,000 MWh and 9,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually (WiredScore Insights 2025).
Buildings with recognised sustainability certifications often command rental premiums of around 6% (CBRE Continental Europe Research Report, 2025) and three‑quarters of security decision‑makers now consider environmental impact in procurement.
Digital transformation in access control is not about chasing the latest trend. It is about turning software, data and integration into outcomes that matter.
Security becomes stronger and more adaptive. Operations become simpler and more cost‑effective. Experiences become seamless and consistent.
Sustainability moves from ambition to action. And the financial case becomes clearer as efficiencies are banked and new value streams emerge.
This article was originally published in the September edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.
