Exclusive interview with Grosvenor Technology

International Security Journal speaks exclusively to Chris Wrench, Senior Product Manager, Grosvenor Technology.

Can you tell us more about Grosvenor Technology’s journey to this point? 

Grosvenor Technology, founded in 1989, traces its roots back to Custom Micro in 1971, known for manufacturing time clocks and basic access solutions.

Notably, in 1993, the company introduced Janus, one of the pioneering Windows-based access control solutions.

Janus Enterprise followed in 2007, with enduring legacy systems still in use today.

The IT series of time clocks, starting with IT31 in 2008, showcased the company’s commitment to technological evolution.

Sateon, launched in 2010, evolved into Sateon Enterprise and Sateon Pro.

The IT51 and IT11 time clocks were introduced in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

In 2016, the Advance Hardware was released, incorporated into the latest access solution, JanusC4.

Recent releases include the GT series clocks: GT4, GT8 and the successful GT10. 

What are the biggest challenges for businesses currently from an access control and workforce management perspective? 

Challenges in access control and workforce management stem from entrenched legacy technology.

Collaborating closely with partners, the company strives to educate them on the advantages of advanced security technologies available in the market.

The incorporation of facial recognition and fingerprint readers in time clocks aims to eliminate issues related to lost or shared access, mitigating concerns like ‘buddy punching’ that can cost companies millions.

Privacy considerations are paramount, leading to the introduction of measures such as consent logic and clear documentation to assure partners and end users of the secure and responsible use of biometric data. 

What’s on the horizon for 2024? 

Looking ahead to 2024, Grosvenor Technology focuses on GTConnect, a cloud hosting platform introduced in 2022.

It empowers Human Capital Management (HCM) customers with comprehensive clock estate management, offering data on performance, user management, firmware, applications and diagnostics.

The ongoing migration of customers to this platform has seen notable success, with continuous efforts to gather feedback for further operational improvements.

The JanusC4 roadmap reveals exciting features like destination control for lifts, visitor management and a new roll call and muster reporting system in the pipeline.

Recent enhancements to the commissioning process for Advance hardware ensure a smooth and efficient deployment, underscoring the hardware’s robust nature and an impressive failure rate of less than 1%.

The company‘s confidence is underscored by an extended warranty period of five years, reinforcing a commitment to durability and reliability in their hardware offerings.