Entrance systems are no longer just about opening and closing doors. In modern commercial buildings, entrances play a critical role in security, efficiency, and user experience. As technology evolves, biometric access is becoming an increasingly important part of how buildings manage movement, safety, and design.
From facial recognition to touch free systems, biometric solutions are reshaping what a commercial entrance looks like and how it performs.
Why Access Control Is Changing
Traditional access methods such as key cards, fobs, and PIN codes have long been the standard. While familiar, they come with limitations. Cards can be lost or shared, codes can be passed on, and physical contact points increase wear and hygiene concerns.
Modern buildings demand smarter, more secure solutions that work seamlessly without slowing people down. This is where biometric access steps in, offering authentication that is linked directly to the individual rather than something they carry or remember.
Facial Recognition and Identity Based Access
Facial recognition technology is becoming one of the most recognisable forms of biometric access in commercial environments. Using advanced cameras and algorithms, systems can verify a person’s identity in seconds as they approach an entrance.
For high traffic buildings, this creates a smoother flow of people while maintaining strong security. There is no need to stop, swipe, or interact with hardware. Access becomes almost invisible, integrated into the design rather than dominating it.
From an entrance design perspective, this allows for cleaner aesthetics, fewer physical components, and a more welcoming first impression without compromising control.
The Rise of Touch Free Entry Systems
Touch free access has moved from a convenience to an expectation in many commercial spaces. Motion sensors, proximity detection, and biometric scanning reduce the need for physical contact, improving hygiene and reducing wear on entrance hardware.
In busy environments such as offices, healthcare facilities, and mixed use developments, touch free systems support both user comfort and operational efficiency. Doors open only when authorised users are detected, combining access control with fluid movement.
These systems also align well with modern glass entrance design, where transparency and minimalism are key priorities.
Secure Authentication Without Friction
One of the biggest advantages of biometric access is its ability to strengthen security while reducing friction. Biometric data is unique, making unauthorised access far more difficult than with traditional credentials.
Modern systems are designed with layered security in mind. Biometric authentication can be combined with time based access rules, audit trails, and integration with wider building management systems. This provides facilities teams with greater oversight and control, while users experience a faster and more intuitive entry process.
As regulations and data protection standards continue to evolve, biometric systems are also becoming more secure in how data is stored and managed, addressing earlier concerns around privacy.
How Biometric Access Influences Entrance Design
As access technology becomes more advanced, entrance design must adapt alongside it. Hardware heavy solutions are being replaced by discreet sensors, integrated readers, and concealed systems that preserve clean architectural lines.
Glass entrances are particularly well suited to this shift. Transparency supports visibility and wayfinding, while modern access technology operates quietly in the background. The result is an entrance that feels open and inviting, yet highly controlled.
Designers and building owners are now considering access strategy from the earliest stages of a project, ensuring technology and architecture work together rather than being retrofitted later.
Preparing Buildings for the Future
Biometric access is not a passing trend. It reflects a broader move towards smarter buildings that prioritise security, experience, and adaptability. As work patterns change and buildings become more dynamic, entrances must be able to respond.
Future focused entrance strategies consider scalability, system compatibility, and long term maintenance. Choosing solutions that can evolve with technology ensures that entrances remain effective rather than becoming outdated.
At Open Entrances, we understand that an entrance is the first interaction people have with a building. By combining modern access technologies with expertly designed glass entrance systems, we help create entrances that are secure, future ready, and aligned with how commercial spaces are actually used.
When access and design are planned together, entrances become more than a threshold. They become part of the building’s intelligence.
