The shift to hybrid working has changed the security landscape of commercial office spaces, writes Tina Hughan, Global Marketing & Sustainability Director, Gunnebo Entrance Control.
Unlike traditional workplaces with predictable schedules and consistent flows of employees, hybrid offices must manage fluctuating occupancy and sporadic visitor traffic.
This variability introduces security risks: A 2024 study by the Security Industry Association found that 40% of organisations experienced at least one security incident over the previous two years, with access control lapses as a major contributing factor.
Entrance control methods such as simple card readers or turnstiles are often inadequate in hybrid environments because they cannot reliably distinguish between authorised users, visitors or potential intruders in real-time.
Tailgating is also a common challenge. Without intelligent detection systems, such incidents can go unnoticed, threatening personnel safety and organisational assets.
Gunnebo Entrance Control addresses this with solutions that integrate multiple layers of security.
Systems like the SpeedStile FP Glide employ high-precision sensors to detect unauthorised access attempts, climb or crawl attempts and other forms of physical intrusion. Biometric authentication ensures only authorised personnel gain access while maintaining seamless entry.
These technologies are valuable in hybrid offices, where employee presence is unpredictable and visitor traffic may spike at certain times.
Gunnebo Entrance Control’s solutions integrate with building management platforms to provide centralised monitoring and operational insights.
Security personnel can observe traffic flows, monitor occupancy and receive alerts when anomalies occur.
If a staff member or visitor attempts entry outside scheduled hours or into a restricted area, the system can notify teams immediately.
This approach improves safety and reduces the need for constant manual monitoring.
Security in hybrid workplaces intersects with data protection and compliance. Breaches of physical security can lead to information loss or regulatory non-compliance.
Combining physical measures with analytics and monitoring tools provides visibility into access patterns.
As organisations scale, expand or adapt to changing work models, intelligent entrance systems can respond to new occupancy patterns and evolving security needs.
In this sense, Gunnebo Entrance Control forms the backbone of a smart workplace’s security strategy.
Entrances generate data that provide valuable insights into building usage.
Understanding how people move through the building enables optimisation of staffing, cleaning schedules and resource allocation.
Advanced analytics platforms capture detailed information about employee and visitor flow, dwell times and peak usage periods.
Facility managers can use this data to make informed decisions, deploying personnel when necessary and adjusting schedules to match occupancy.
Predictive analytics reduce costs while maintaining effectiveness.
Integration with analytics software allows organisations to anticipate high-traffic periods, dynamically adjust staffing and monitor security coverage across locations. This approach streamlines operations and improves user experiences by reducing congestion and wait times.
Analytics contribute to energy efficiency where entrances equipped with sensors can adjust door operation based on traffic.
Automated sliding doors may slow or close faster during low traffic and revolving doors with occupancy-sensitive technology can limit air exchange, reducing heating and cooling losses.
Predictive maintenance is enabled through continuous monitoring, identifying equipment wear or operational anomalies before they cause downtime.
This approach extends the lifespan of equipment, reduces maintenance costs and supports ESG objectives.
Long-term strategic planning benefits from entrance analytics.
Trends in employee movement, peak hours and visitor behaviour inform office layouts and circulation area design, ensuring entrances support workflow.
Integration with broader building management systems allows coordination of security, HVAC, lighting and energy systems, improving efficiency and sustainability.
In hybrid offices, these insights ensure resources are deployed effectively.
Buildings account for a significant portion of global energy consumption and operational adjustments can yield savings.
Entrances play a pivotal role in energy loss and environmental impact, influencing heating and cooling efficiency.
Gunnebo Entrance Control designs entrance systems with intelligent automation, energy-efficient motors and durable materials to minimise energy consumption and environmental footprint.
Revolving entrances reduce air exchange and maintain interior climate control, while sensor-driven systems operate only when required.
These guiding principles are part of Gunnebo Entrance Control’s Sustainable Design Framework introduced in 2025 and aligns with a commitment to Science Based Targets and SteelZero.
Durable and modular design allows components to be replaced or upgraded rather than discarded, supporting long-term resource efficiency and circular economy principles.
Predictive maintenance ensures equipment operates optimally, preventing unnecessary repairs or early replacement.
Social aspects of sustainability are important. Inclusive design, accessibility features and touchless authentication enhance usability for all employees and visitors, creating equitable workplaces.
Ensuring entrances accommodate people with disabilities, parents with strollers or individuals carrying equipment contributes to safety and inclusivity.
Sustainable entrances support broader corporate strategies and certifications such as LEED, BREEAM or WELL. Supporting this, Gunnebo is a silver member of the US Green Building Council (USBGC).
Entrances are the first point of interaction in hybrid offices, influencing perceptions of safety, professionalism and efficiency.
Design must accommodate diverse user needs, allowing everyone to move safely, comfortably and intuitively.
Wide lanes, ergonomic layouts and thoughtfully positioned sensors support users of all abilities. Touchless authentication reduces friction and supports hygiene.
Multiple authentication methods provide flexibility and maintain security.
Visual design and signalling improve navigation. Intuitive lighting, clear signage and ergonomic glass heights guide users.
Entrances communicate organisational values, with designs conveying professionalism and innovation.
User experience is linked to efficiency, reducing congestion and delays. Data from systems can inform adjustments to lane widths, door operation and traffic flow.
Compliance with accessibility standards ensures workplaces are safe and equitable, reflecting an organisation’s commitment to diversity and social responsibility.
Thoughtful design transforms entrances from simple access points into strategic elements of workplace infrastructure.
AI enhances entrance management by analysing data to predict peak periods and unusual patterns. Behavioural analytics detect deviations in traffic flow, flagging potential security incidents.
In hybrid offices, AI ensures safety without impeding workflow. IoT integration allows entrances to communicate with other building systems.
Data from doors can adjust HVAC and lighting systems, reduce energy use and enable predictive maintenance.
Digital twin technology creates virtual replicas of entrances, simulating traffic flows and optimising layouts before implementation.
Biometric authentication and touchless access improve security and hygiene, while multi-modal authentication offers flexibility.
Sustainable technologies prioritise energy efficiency, recyclable materials and low-maintenance components, ensuring entrances operate efficiently and environmentally responsibly.
Hybrid working has reshaped office working, creating environments where occupancy fluctuates daily and visitor patterns are unpredictable.
These changes have elevated the role of entrance control solutions from simple access points to strategic infrastructure that impacts security, operational efficiency, sustainability and user experience.
Gunnebo Entrance Control provides solutions that address the demands of hybrid offices.
By integrating advanced security features, real-time analytics, energy-efficient operation and inclusive design, we deliver measurable benefits across organisational priorities.
Security is strengthened through high-precision sensors and biometric authentication, efficiency is enhanced via predictive analytics and centralised monitoring and sustainability can be supported through energy-efficient components and lifecycle-conscious design.
User experience and accessibility are prioritised, ensuring that employees and visitors can navigate entrances safely, intuitively and comfortably.
Emerging trends in entrance technology reinforce the strategic importance of these systems.
By adopting these technologies, organisations future-proof buildings, ensuring entrances remain effective and welcoming in a hybrid working landscape.