How mobile, biometrics and AI are shaping the industry
As the world moves toward seamless, secure and sustainable entry solutions, Steven Commander, HID’s director of consultant business looks at how mobile access is being combined with biometrics and AI to transform the future of security.
A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations are changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces and buildings. Access control is at the heart of these changes. When combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Whether in commercial real estate, higher education or corporate environments, these technologies are integral to how organisations should approach security today.
Looking at the Numbers
More than 60% of security professionals highlight mobile access as a top priority, according to the HID 2025 State of Security and Identity Report that summarises feedback from more than 1,800 survey participants (users, installers, integrators and original equipment manufacturers) worldwide.
The report also revealed growing demand for biometrics, with approximately 35% of those surveyed saying they are currently using this technology and 13% saying they plan to. The majority (73%) report biometrics as part of their multi-factor authentication (MFA) strategy aimed at ensuring a multi-level approach to identity management for access to digital assets and critical areas of facilities.
As for AI, the report shows that 64% of security leaders are using or planning to implement AI-powered solutions, citing benefits such as improved threat detection, operational efficiency and scalability. Among their many use cases, AI agents enable real-time anomaly detection, they automate routine tasks and facilitate seamless integration and scalability as security needs evolve.
Another theme of the HID report is the growing demand for seamlessly integrating access control with smart building technologies while improving scalability and delivering favorable business outcomes for the organisations. Organisations want easier ways to use physical access control data in their facilities for applications like flexible workspace management and building usage monitoring. Perhaps more important, they want their buildings to provide occupants with the same easy access to their places and services that they experience elsewhere in their lives.
Fulfilling these and other objectives will increasingly require more unified security management in a more integrated technology landscape spanning mobile credentials, biometrics and more. It all starts with mobile access.
Mobile Access Provides a Foundation
Mobile credentials offer a convenient, secure way to access spaces—right from the smartphones people already use every day. This eliminates the need for physical cards or fobs and creates a streamlined experience across multiple use cases. These credentials also meet the expectations of employees and tenants who want seamless access experiences similar to what they can do with their phones for payments, travel, and communication. They want to unlock doors and authenticate identity with the same familiar tap.
Mobile access not only meets these expectations but also aligns with broader organisational goals, such as digital transformation and environmental responsibility.
For instance, while plastic keycards can be lost, cloned or stolen, mobile credentials offer enhanced security features such as biometric authentication, encrypted storage, and remote credential management. Furthermore, plastic cards tend to get lost, misplaced and destroyed more often than an individual’s mobile device which are looked after far better.
Mobile devices, particularly when integrated with cloud-based platforms, also allow administrators to issue, revoke or update credentials instantly—reducing vulnerabilities associated with lost or outdated cards. Additionally, real-time reporting and provisioning provide administrators with instant insights into access activities, enhancing security and compliance.
Sustainability is a growing priority and mobile access supports this by helping to reduce waste. By eliminating the need for plastic cards and shipping logistics, businesses reduce their environmental footprint. Certifications like LEED, WiredScore, and GreenCircle further validate mobile access as a far more eco-friendly alternative to traditional access control systems.
Mobile access also improves operational efficiency through centralised identity management. It enables security teams and HR departments to simplify onboarding and access provisioning. Organisations with multiple locations can manage credentials remotely, eliminating the need to distribute physical cards. Beyond access, smart integrations with facility management systems can help optimise building efficiency, such as adjusting lighting or climate control based on occupancy. Real-time reporting capabilities allow organisations to monitor access trends, analyse occupancy data and make informed security decisions.
All these benefits of mobile access, and more, have become even more impactful with the rise of corporate apps and mobile wallets integrated with physical access control systems (PACS). This advancement makes it easier to realise the benefits of physical and digital security convergence which now extends to emerging access methods including biometrics and the use of AI for surveillance and facial recognition.
Benefits of Biometrics and AI
Diversification of credentialing and the adoption of more innovative solutions are leading security teams to demand more options for identity and access control beyond passwords, cards or mobile credentials. One of the emerging trends is around biometric technologies or the use of automated technologies for authenticating and verifying human body characteristics, such as fingerprints, facial recognition or eye retinas/irises.
By automating identity verification, biometrics reduce the risks associated with traditional login or access credentials while enhancing convenience for users. As this technology continues to evolve, biometric solutions are poised to play an important role in shaping the future of identity and access management.
AI has an important role to play here. An example in the healthcare industry is the integration of AI-driven surveillance and facial recognition technology which enables hospitals to track and manage individuals entering and moving within the facility. These systems can flag unauthorised individuals, monitor unusual behavior and assist security personnel in responding to potential breaches in real time.
Key AI benefits that were revealed in HID’s “Securing the Future of Healthcare” report include improved efficiency and speed (according to 50% of respondents), real-time data analysis (47%), reduced human error (45%) and proactive threat identification (37%).
Better Building Experiences
The transition to mobile credentials represents more than just a security upgrade—it’s a gateway to biometrics and AI and a significant step toward a smarter, more sustainable and efficient future. It is also a gateway to multiple unique use-cases that plastic credentials may not be able to fulfill. Mobile credentials take a significant leap toward delivering dramatically better building experiences— benefiting from tight integration between mobile access solutions and a building’s many physical and digital amenities, from cafeteria services to parking garages, lifts and a variety of digital assets and applications.
Achieving this requires the right balance between a building’s security and its user experience. This is achieved through the integration of modern hardware and digital overlays like mobile access, allowing for seamless access to amenities with a single credential across multiple buildings. Security can be dynamically adjusted, such as introducing stricter protocols after hours or the ability to remotely revoke a credential from a device in seconds.
Conversely, building security can be at odds with the user’s experience when outdated systems create silos, making it difficult for hardware and digital solutions to work together. This lack of interoperability can hinder both security and the user experience, leading to inefficiencies and frustration. Making everything work together requires scalable and interoperable access solutions.
Mobile apps and/or mobile wallets integrated with PACS solutions have been an effective first step toward this goal. Now, the industry is beginning its next step, with a shift toward open and software-driven security platforms that unify management while supporting the growing range of integrated technologies that increasingly define a world-class building experience. A flexible, scalable approach is crucial for supporting evolving technology and design needs, ensuring both security and user satisfaction are maintained as the building adapts over time.
Mobile credentials are a future-ready and essential component of modern security frameworks. Organisations that embrace mobile credentials now will have a foundation for adding biometrics and AI while making the transition to unified security management, such that ultimately they’ll be better positioned to adapt to evolving security needs, digital transformation and user expectations.
CASE STUDY
Mobile Access in Practice: University of Dundee transforms campus security using HID’s innovative access control solutions
When it comes to being future-ready, there is no better example than a university—filled with students who are digital natives and rarely leave their phones behind. The University of Dundee in Scotland exemplifies how mobile access technology is shaping modern security strategies in higher education.
Home to more than 16,000 students and 3,300 staff, the public research institution is recognised for its academic excellence in medicine, science, and engineering.
Challenge
The university needed a modern access control system that was both secure and user-friendly. Compliance with upcoming legislation, including Martyn’s Law—designed to enhance security measures in public spaces—was a key consideration. The institution also faced logistical challenges in issuing thousands of plastic RFID access cards annually, creating inefficiencies and increasing material waste.
Solution
To enhance security and efficiency, the university adopted HID® Mobile Access® with HID Signo™ readers across 40 buildings. This phased, two-year rollout was designed to provide a seamless transition from traditional RFID cards to mobile credentials, allowing students and staff to use their smartphones for access.
The integration with AEOS access control software enabled centralised management, remote credential provisioning, and improved security monitoring. Additionally, security staff were equipped with Motorola smart radios configured to work with HID Mobile Access, further streamlining campus operations.
Benefits with future-ready results
By shifting to mobile credentials, the University of Dundee has significantly reduced the time and cost associated with issuing physical cards while improving student and staff experiences. Pass issuance has been streamlined with instant credential delivery, saving 25,000 collective minutes for the Student Services department – equivalent to over 52-man days.
Mobile access is more sustainable, eliminating plastic card production and distribution. Moreover, the system’s flexibility will allow future expansion possibilities such as the integration with digital campus cards and smart building solutions, ensuring long-term value to the institution.