Volume 57 | June 10, 2024
Welcome to Brief 57, titled "Recap of ACS24 Europe Day 1: Part 2 - Afternoon Sessions."
As highlighted in Brief 55, the ACS24 Europe event was a significant platform for industry professionals to discuss key access control issues and opportunities. To provide you with a comprehensive overview, I've divided my summary into two Parts: the pre-lunch (Brief 55) and post-lunch sessions (this Brief).
As Access Control Executive Brief Members, you will have exclusive access to all the sessions we are authorized to share. Please anticipate an email with the password-protected site shortly. Rest assured, we reviewed everything, and the sessions are pretty amazing.
If you couldn't attend ACS24 Europe and are having a bit of FOMO, no fear is needed; we have announced the upcoming dates for ACS24 DC (October 23 & 24) and ACS25 Europe, and we can't wait to see you there. We will continue to evolve each ACS, so it is fresh. For instance, Q&A will be coming to ACS24 DC—and much more. We are thrilled to announce a new addition to our event lineup: ACS InterOpCon, or InterOpCon for short. This unique conference, the first of its kind, will focus solely on the global access control industry, interoperability, and standards. We will hold InterOpCon at ASSA ABLOY's H.Q. Q2 of 2025 in Stockholm, a city known for its innovation and technology. Stay tuned for the date, as we are finalizing the details to ensure it's a day you will want to attend.
All right, here's the 2nd half summary of ACS24 Europe. Thank you to everyone who could attend for the ongoing support. As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps us improve.
Please let me know if there's any area where we can better meet your expectations.
Thank you!
Lee
PS: I am sure some of you may forward this, but please do so sparingly and encourage others to sign up here. Thank you!
Welcome after lunch.
I opened the afternoon session of ACS24 Europe, expressing gratitude to Nico Cary at PassEntry and Dan Isaaman at Dot Origin for donating and working hard on the tap-to-enter technology to get into ACS24 Europe. I also announced the plans for future ACS events. ACS24 DC will be held on October 23rd and 24th in Washington DC, at a unique location on the Warf. ACS25 Europe will be hosted in San Sebastian the following year, and Salto WEcosystem will be the city host.
Fireside Chat: Marc Gomez, Group CEO, Salto Wecosystem
We kicked off with a 1:1 fireside chat. It was a great honor to have Marc Gomez, the new CEO of Salto Wecosystem, share his background and insights on the industry. Marc, an engineer by education, spent 26 years at ABB, serving in various roles, including the president of ABB in Iberia. Despite being new to the industry, Marc has been captivated by the complexity and dynamism of the access control industry. He highlighted the importance of technology and innovation in the industry's growth and touched on the recent rebranding effort by Salto, which reorganized the company under the Salto WEcosystem brand. This umbrella encompasses three businesses: the Salto brand (access control), the Gantner brand (locker systems), and the Vintia brand (booking and ticketing). Marc expressed Salto's commitment to continue building growth while respecting the company's core values and exploring new frontiers.
Panel: Redefining the Landscape: Embracing the Multifaceted Shifts Shaping the Evolved Global Ecosystem
Hildur Smaradottir, CEO of Defigo
James Shannon, Chief Product & Technology Officer of essensys
Jordan Burnsed, CEO of Agora Partnerships
Natalia Armendariz, Identity Expert of Veridas
We discussed three mega shifts in the global ecosystem during the "Redefining the Landscape: Embracing the Multifaceted Shifts Shaping the Evolved Global Ecosystem" panel. The conversation focused on the importance of user experience, globalization, and the evolution of credentials. The discussion emphasized the need for systems to be interoperable and open while respecting user data privacy. The panelists agreed that the user should be central to this transformation. The industry should build trust by ensuring secure personal data and physical security handling. They also highlighted the role of integrators in creating valuable integrations that extend beyond simple access control, unlocking more significant value and experiences. There was also a discussion on the various regional trends, with insights reflecting the diverse experiences across North America and Europe.
Fireside Chat: Joe Grillo, Industry Legend
In a last-minute call into action with a change in speakers, industry veteran Joe Grillo shared his insights and experiences. With over 40 years in the access control industry, Joe has witnessed significant transitions, from the rise of cloud-based systems to the emergence of mobile credentials. He emphasized the importance of new blood in the industry, highlighting the need for fresh perspectives from different backgrounds. Joe serves on the board of directors and is the CEO of Biblioteca, a company that uses RFID technology in libraries, which has unexpectedly brought him back to access control.
Panel: A Use Case in Winning Through Partnerships and Innovation
Dan Drogman, CEO, Smart Spaces
Matt Bennett, Director, Strategic Alliances, HID
Chris Boultwood, Head of Technology, Workspace
Sharon Yang, Strategic Partner Manager, Google Wallet, Google
This panel discussed partnerships and innovation featuring Smart Spaces, HID, Workspace, and Google leaders. The panel underscored the importance of trust, transparency, and aligned strategies in successful partnerships. They also highlighted how partnerships have evolved to be more customer-centric, shifting from a B2B to a B2B2C model. The panel also discussed the role of integrators and the importance of maintaining strong relationships with them. The conversation concluded with a discussion of the future of partnerships, emphasizing the need for interoperability within the industry.
Fireside Chat: David Sullivan, President, AMAG
David Sullivan, from AMAG, participated in a one-on-one chat at ACS24 Europe. With a background in fire and security at Honeywell, HID, ASSA ABLOY, acre security, and others, Dave is now focused on selling solutions at AMAG. He highlighted AMAG's extensive product portfolio, including its access control solution, identity management, visitor management, and video management. Dave shared that AMAG is moving towards offering both on-premises and cloud solutions. He also emphasized the importance of supporting integrations and delivering complex solutions in the field with integration partners.
Panel: Innovations in Reader and Smart Lock Configuration and Maintenance: Towards Seamless Integration
Ivan Kravchenko, CEO & Founder, CoreWillSoft GmbH
Sven Teichmann, Business Development Manager, Uhlmann & Zacher GmbH
Pierre-Antoine de Morel, Managing Director, STid
Aznar Sethna, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, SALTO Systems
Matthew Bell, Product Manager Access Solutions, Siemens
During the "Innovations in Reader and Smart Lock Configuration and Maintenance: Towards Seamless Integration" panel discussion including Ivan Kravchenko (CoreWillSoft GmbH), Sven Teichmann (Uhlmann & Zacher GmbH), Pierre-Antoine de Morel (STiD), Aznar Sethna (SALTO Systems), and Matthew Bell (Siemens) explored key challenges and future trends in the field. The panelists emphasized the importance of standards and interoperability in the face of increasing complexity and scale. They revealed that while industry standards like OSDP are valuable, technology often evolves faster than the standards. Integrators, therefore, have a crucial role in pushing for standards adoption. They also highlighted the significance of maintenance in determining the cost of ownership and the need to make systems user-friendly and easy to integrate for the end-users. The discussion concluded with the consensus that tackling these challenges requires a customer-centric approach and tackling one aspect at a time rather than attempting to solve everything at once.
Fireside Chat: Alper Cetingok, Senior Managing Director,Raymond James & Associates
During a fireside chat, Alper Cetingok, a Senior Managing Director at Raymond James, shared insights about the finance side of the security industry. Alper, who has been in investment banking for 27 years and focused on the security and safety industry for 24 of those years, highlighted the increased attention the sector is receiving due to its unique combination of downside protection and growth. The market has matured, but there is still plenty of innovation and development, particularly in areas like access control. Alper mentioned that while the market has traditionally been more attractive to mature businesses, an increasing number of newer organizations and startups are making their mark. He predicts more businesses will transform themselves to align with industry evolutions, and we can expect to see more companies like OpenPath.
Panel: A Use Case in Residential Value Beyond Locking and Unlocking
Andreas Raab, Head of Corporate Development, Nuki Home Solutions
Marc Sarmiento, Head of Research & Innovation, The Austrian Post
Andreas Raab of Nuki Home Solutions and Marc Sarmiento of The Austrian Post discussed their newly announced partnership in this panel. They have introduced a new in-home delivery service in Austria where the mail carrier can unlock a Nuki smart lock and leave OR pick up a package. This service is not a beta but a genuine, serious initiative rolled out after rigorous testing and iterations. The response from the public has been highly positive, with over 2000 households expressing an interest in just five days. The participants also touched on the future of e-commerce delivery, foreseeing more keyless solutions and better identification systems. They shared a great overview video of the partnership and value delivered to their customers.
Fireside Chat: Tara Dunning, Vice President, Global Security and Infrastructure, Wesco-Anixter and SIA Board
During this Fireside Chat, Tara Dunning from WESCO touched on various topics. She spoke about her background in the I.T., telecom, and networking space and how her experience in these fields informs her current role in distribution. Tara highlighted the growing role of A.I. and 24/7 connectivity in the industry. She also discussed the significance of I.T.O.T. convergence and the evolution of the camera into a comprehensive sensor. Furthermore, she talked about the future of distribution, emphasizing the need for aggregating solutions to simplify the process for end customers. Finally, she discussed the importance of providing consistent solutions and enabling the channel rather than displacing it.
Panel: The Evolving and Future of Physical Access Control in the U.K. and Europe: Market Growth, Technological Advancements, and Strategic Opportunities
Dan Isaaman, CEO, Dot Origin
Richard Huison, Regional General Manager UK and Europe, Gallagher Security
Servaas Kamerling, Product Director Access Solutions EMEA, LenelS2 & Onity
Joachim Mahlstedt, Commercial Development Director EMEIA, ASSA ABLOY
In this panel discussion on "The Evolving and Future of Physical Access Control in the U.K. and Europe," we discussed market growth, technological advancements, and strategic opportunities.
Key points from the discussion included:
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The panelists recognized the significant growth in their respective markets, driven by an increased understanding and demand for security from consumers and businesses alike.
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They identified several verticals and regions showing promising growth, such as the fitness market, data centers, healthcare, government/military sectors, and areas in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
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The shift from mechanical to digital security solutions was also highlighted, with opportunities for growth in retrofitting existing systems and compliance with new standards.
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The panelists also noted that the increase in demand is not just for hardware but also for software, representing a shift in revenue generation.
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Compliance and vendor responsibility were also emphasized, with the upcoming NIST2 directive cited as an example.
The discussion provided valuable insights into the future of physical access control, showcasing the potential for innovation and growth in the sector.
Panel: Exploring the Global Evolving Landscape of Access Control
Gareth Ellams, Commercial Security G.M. Europe, Honeywell
Andrew Campagnola, VP, Strategic Initiatives, VTS
Jake Leichtling, Director of Product, Verkada
Moderator: Rob Lydic, President, Wavelynx Technologies
We continued with a panel discussion on the evolving global landscape of access control. Panelists included Gareth Ellams from Honeywell, Andrew Campagnola from VTS, and Jake Leichtling from Verkada, moderated by Rob Lydic from Wavelynx Technologies. They discussed the importance of cyber security, emerging technology's role, and end-user demand's power in shaping access control solutions. The panelists also emphasized the need for ongoing innovation, particularly in mobile credentialing and biometrics. Overall, the conversation highlighted the dynamic nature of the access control landscape and the need for industry players to adapt to these changes.
Fireside Chat: Rob Schuurman, CCO, Nedap
In the fireside chat with Rob Schuurman, CCO Nedap discussed his journey and the company's plans. With 20 years at Nedap, Rob shared how the company empowers professionals to enjoy their work through technology. Nedap has been diversifying its services from healthcare to retail, livestock, and access management. They are investing heavily in "digital twin access management," using digital twins of buildings and people's roles to create a more personalized, humanized access management system. Rob highlighted that Nedap is not just migrating to the cloud but reimagining access control as a people-driven business rather than technology-driven.
Panel: Mobile Access and Workplace Experience: How Technology is Driving Value Beyond Locking and Unlocking
Josef Ĺ achta, CEO, Sharry
Anders Dahlby Berg, Head of Aker Security Services, Aker Solutions
Roger Lindquist, Senior Product Manager, McKinsey & Company
In this panel, Sharry, Aker Solutions, and McKinsey & Company discussed the role of technology in driving value beyond locking and unlocking in the workplace.
The panelists shared insights into how the pandemic has shifted the definition of the workplace from being a physical office to including homes, client sites, and even hotels. This shift has created a challenge in defining an excellent workplace experience across all possible work locations.
The panel also highlighted the increasing importance of technology in making workplaces more appealing to the workforce. From simplifying access control with mobile badges to improving the user experience of office appliances, technology is crucial in enticing employees back to the physical office.
However, the panelists also noted that people remain the primary reason employees come to the office. Creating opportunities to meet and collaborate effectively is critical to enhancing the workplace experience.
Lastly, the panelists emphasized the need for businesses considering a shift to digital badges to be ready for the challenges it presents, such as dealing with legacy infrastructure and ensuring seamless integrations with existing systems. Despite these challenges, the panel agreed that adopting digital badges has been well-received across all demographics.
Fireside Chat: Robert Lydic and Hugo Wendling, Wavelynx
In this fireside chat, Robert Lydic from Wavelynx and Hugo Wendling, who joined remotely, shared their insights on the access control industry. Rob discussed the rapid growth of Wavelynx and its commitment to interoperability, while Hugo predicted that mobile wallet technology would become the center of identity in the future. Hugo also shared that Wavelynx aims to introduce a new product category annually and is considering potential technology acquisitions for future growth.
Panel: Experience as the driver of securely connected interactions: Role of access transformation to enable better workplaces
Allan Chester, CEO & Co-Founder, any2any GmbH
Philip Tidd, Principal/Managing Director, Gensler
Travis Willis, Senior Product Manager, dormakaba
This panel discussion, "Experience as the driver of securely connected interactions: Role of access transformation to enable better workplaces," featured Allan Chester, CEO and co-founder of any2any GmbH, Philip Tidd, Principal/Managing Director of Gensler, and Travis Willis, Senior Product Manager at dormakaba. The discussion centered on shifts in workplace dynamics and the role of access control in enhancing user experience.
Key takeaways include:
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The panelists agreed that the focus is shifting from access control to unlocking experiences in the workplace.
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Philip Tidd shared the findings of Gensler's latest Workplace Survey, revealing that employees find being in the office more productive, regardless of their company's remote work policy.
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Allan Chester emphasized the importance of access control in creating positive experiences and enabling people to find connection and community in spaces.
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Travis Willis stressed the need for collaboration with architects and understanding the humans in the building to deliver the best user experience.
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The panelists highlighted the crucial role of trust, safety, security, and reliability in creating a better workplace experience.
Panel: Access Redefined: A Global Outlook on the Future of Access Control
Roy Jeunen, Co-Founder, NineID
Karsten Nölling, CEO, KIWI
Claudius Moor, CEO, Arbonia Doors AG
Jonathan Hays, CEO, Silverpine
The day's final panel, "Access Redefined: A Global Outlook on the Future of Access Control," brought industry experts together to discuss the future of access control. Panelists included Roy Jeunen (NineID), Karsten Nölling (KIWI), Claudius Moor (Arbonia Doors AG), and Jonathan Hays (Silverpine). They emphasized reducing friction for end users and incorporating all stakeholders into the decision-making process. The discussion also highlighted the need for education to increase adoption rates and the role of mobile apps in driving new revenue opportunities. The panelists agreed that while growth in the industry might be slower than expected, it's steadily increasing. They also noted exciting trends, such as the growing importance of user experience and data insights and the convergence of different products and services around the door. Despite the technological advances, the market is expected to remain fragmented.
In Closing
In the closing session of ACS24 Europe, I expressed gratitude to the attendees for their participation and emphasized the value of the event's global community. I also thanked several individuals and organizations for their efforts, including Hilary Gallagher, my business parter in all of this (and pictured above), Google for hosting and dormakaba for being the city host. I highlighted one of my biggest takeaways from the discussions throughout the day: the importance of education in advancing the industry. I challenged attendees to push the industry forward. We concluded with an invitation to a reception by Google, extending the opportunity for networking and further discussions.
This is an absolute honor. I am genuinely thankful for all of this. I am looking forward to the next and expecting more.
