Proximity technology is the giant of the access control industry. It is so prevalent that it has trickled down to almost every type of application and has an enormous installed base. But it would be a mistake to rest on this technology going forward. Manufacturers and systems integrators today see varied levels of interest and sales in smart cards, ranging from entities that buy mostly smart cards to facilities that use entirely proximity. But virtually all agree that smart cards are the future and it is best to be prepared.
“We still have a significant user base on legacy proximity technology, so we sell a fair amount of standard proximity,” says Ron Oetjen, president, Intelligent Access Systems, Garner, N.C. “But for a new client or new system, the vast majority if not virtually all of what we install are smart card systems.”