Did you know that the average smartphone user touches their device nearly 3,000 times a day? More than 95% of adults aged 18–44 use a smartphone. This means that beyond entertainment and communication, apps that simplify and enhance everyday work are becoming increasingly common. And the same applies to the world of access control systems.Thanks to modern solutions, there’s no longer a need for access cards to enter through doors—having your smartphone in your pocket is enough. This speeds up the passage process and offers a trendy, 21st-century solution.
How does a modern, smartphone-based access control system recognize employees today?
Essentially, a card reader system is required for this to work—such as the MaxReader offered by Anteus. With this device, access can be granted via smartphone in several ways: after securely unlocking the phone (via PIN, pattern, or biometric authentication), the user can simply press a button; or they can use the phone like a traditional card; or even keep it in their pocket in long-range mode without taking it out. No internet connection is needed for operation, as the system uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy)—similar to how a fitness tracker connects to a phone to transmit heart rate or movement data.
The Anteus MaxReader supports both iPhone (iOS) and Android smartphones. And best of all, it’s incredibly easy to use.
The employee needs to install the MaxReader Mobile ID app on their phone and register the displayed ID in the access control system. From that point on, they can open any door they’re authorized to access using their smartphone.
What are the biggest advantages of this?
According to some surveys, keys or access cards are forgotten somewhere—typically at home or at work—about once or twice a month. Our smartphones, on the other hand, are much more valued; we carry them with us practically everywhere and pay special attention to not leaving them behind. This makes access smoother and far more convenient.
Another advantage of the system is that there’s no need to replace lost keys or cards in a physical sense. If an employee loses or replaces their phone, the old device can be removed and the new one registered in the system within minutes—without any production costs.
The third major advantage is that, depending on the settings and environmental factors, identification can work from up to five meters away—there’s no need to hold the phone just centimeters from the card reader.
What if the employee doesn’t have a smartphone?
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, only about five out of a hundred people today don’t have a smartphone. Of course, there’s no need to require your employee to get one—our card reader supports this new technology, but it also works just as well with traditional methods like cards, smartwatches, key fobs, lanyards, and other commonly used access tools, just like earlier card readers.
What happens if the employee’s smartphone is turned off?
The employee’s phone must be turned on for identification to work, so if the device is dead or malfunctioning, access won’t be possible via smartphone. To handle such situations, we offer several quick solutions—such as issuing a temporary access card. This can be set up quickly, allowing the employee or tenant to start their day without delay. Naturally, this also covers cases where the phone is forgotten at home or lost.
Is this solution secure?
Yes—absolutely! A traditional access card can be used by anyone if it’s lost. In contrast, today’s smartphones are equipped with built-in security features like biometric authentication, PIN codes, and patterns, which ensure that only the rightful owner can unlock and use the device. When used in this mode, the chance of an unauthorized person gaining access with someone else’s phone is virtually zero. When using the convenient “card mode,” the level of security is equivalent to that of a physical access card—which is more than sufficient for most applications.
Of course, to further enhance security, additional checks can be integrated into an access control system. However, these are not directly related to the reader itself—they are system-level features, so we won’t go into those solutions here.
How should you transition to smart access control?
If you already have an access control system in place, usually it’s enough to simply replace the reader. If you’re not yet using any access control system, we can implement a suitable solution tailored to your needs—easily and efficiently. Get in touch with us, and we’ll assess, design, or redesign your current system. Trust the two decades of expertise that Anteus Kft. brings to the table.
