|
VAR's
Can Open Doors to New Markets with Access Control
Business Solutions, April
2004
Two years ago, VAR Identatronics Inc. (Chicago) initiated a co-development relationship with Accu-Time Systems (ATS) (Ellington, CT), a manufacturer of time and attendance and shop floor data collection terminals. "ATS was really starting to expand its access control terminal business at the time," says Michael Grzegorek, VP at Identatronics. "We wanted a partner that would allow us to give input during the hardware development process so we would know how to design our access control software and meet the needs of our customers."
One of the fe
atures ATS and Identatronics
worked on was the anti-pass-back functionality of the ATS series
7000 access control unit. The anti-pass-back feature prevents
employees from passing badges to colleagues to gain multiple access
through a single entry. This function also lets a company know if
everyone who has entered the building has exited. Furthermore, if
someone tries to use an ID card that isn't registered in the access
control system, the software will track who is trying to get in and
how many times he or she tried. For example, it could be a
terminated, disgruntled employee who didn't turn in his ID badge.
"Access control sales are growing because many companies want to protect their employees from workplace violence and theft [e.g. from tool/supply rooms]," explains Kevin Drummond, marketing manager at ATS. "Our VARs have installed units in a range of businesses, from private clubs/restaurants to manufacturing plants that want to control access to an office area from a production floor. Quite a few businesses are using these systems on back doors to allow employees to enter from rear parking lots."
The ATS series 7000 operates by dedicating one access control unit (ACU) to each door. It includes a dual input connection that can be used to automatically trigger alarms if doors are left open or are forced without a valid ID badge.
"The next ATS product we plan to offer is the series 7010, an Ethernet-based terminal that allows users to attach to the existing cabling and infrastructure of a company's PC network," Grzegorek explains. "This can dramatically lower installation costs by eliminating pulling cable, which is often the most costly portion of these projects. We plan to pilot this system in our new headquarters."
VAR's ID Card Service Bureau Business Thriving
Access Control Technology Unlocks Profits