Access Control and Time & Attendance systems do work well together. Here’s some points to consider if you’re looking for added security for your company.
There are a lot of options for Access Control on the market, and it can be quite overwhelming when first making enquiries. In the hope of lending a helping hand, we’ve put together a few tips and some questions that are worth considering when embarking on purchasing a new access control system.
Keep it Separate
We get a lot of enquiries asking us for an access control system that also clocks people in and out when they use it. We almost always suggest against it. It may seem like an economic solution combining the two systems as one, however in the long run it causes far more problems than it solves. You have the issue of tail-gating, which is where one person uses the access control and two other people walk in behind them without using it. If the access control system is doubling as a time and attendance system, you’ve now got two people on site who are not clocked in.
Also, consider that using access control as a way of clocking in and out means that if someone needed to leave the building (to run an errand, throw rubbish out, etc.) then they will clock out, even though they should probably be being paid for that time. That’s not ideal. It’s going to mean lots of editing and amending of records, and the system becomes vulnerable to human error or forgetfulness. It’s better to have the access control system controlling entry points, and a separate terminal for clocking in and out to save you a lot of hassle further down the line and minimise potential issues.
One Way or Both Ways?
Do you need employees to use the access control for entry and exit? For example, if you have access control installed on a main entry point or the server room door, you most likely only need employees to use the access control for gaining entry. Unless there’s a specific reason for wanting to know when someone exits an area, there is a good chance that having a simple release button for purposes of exiting an area will more than suffice.
The Door Matters
This may seem like an obvious point to make but it’s surprising how often this gets forgotten. If you’re going to install access control with sturdy locks designed to prevent unwanted entry and provide reliable security, then you will require a suitable door for that system to be installed upon. Wooden doors don’t tend to cause a problem, but aluminium frame doors (especially those with lots of glass) for example, have a tendency to warp over time and use. This can cause problems, especially when using magnetic locks, where the plates become out of alignment, which could compromise your access control system. There are solutions to this, but it’s always worth making a note and mentioning the construction and type of door upon which you plan to install access control.
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