HID: Why access control is only set to get bigger

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HID, a leading provider of physical security technology, recently showcased its latest innovations in access control and secure identity issuance at Intersec Dubai. The identity solutions provider has been expanding in the region, with plans to firm up their presence in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

With a presence across 100 countries, HID is leading the pack as the industry transitions to deal with post-pandemic trends such as a mobile-first world and a hybrid work model.

Gustavo Gassmann, VP of Emerging Markets at HID, spoke to Gulf Business about the firm’s plans for the region, its strategy to continue its market dominance, and trends shaping the industry.

Q. What did HID showcase at Intersec?

HID provides industry-leading content about physical and logical access control solutions with its headquarters in North America and specialises in two major solutions: access control and ID printing.

I oversee the business of these solutions in emerging markets. At this exhibition, we highlighted three key aspects. Firstly, the dedication put into the access control solution encompasses readers, controllers, credentials, and biometric devices for identification and access control—secondly, our cloud-based mobile access solution, managing identity data. Lastly, our top priority is to achieve increased adoption of these solutions.

Q. How is HID approaching the identity solutions industry in 2024?

In 2023, we experienced a notably successful year, setting a high standard with impressive adoption of mobile access trends and witnessing substantial growth.

As we transition into 2024, our data from end users indicates a continuation of this growth or further expansion. From a business perspective, we strategically allocate additional resources to align with this momentum. We have open positions for presales engineers in Riyadh, and we are set to expand our sales and support teams.

Our approach to business has always involved leveraging various channels and avoiding direct engagement with end users. While we do not intend to increase direct channels, our plan is to intensify training for the second level of integrators or installers. This will empower them to provide accurate information to end users.

We maintain strong, long-term relationships with several business partners who contribute significantly to our operations. We focus on encouraging these partners to play a more integral role in solution-oriented approaches, thereby expanding our footprint in digitalisation.

Q. What are some trends we should look out for in identity solutions?

Right now, the big thing is using mobile solutions. This means doing everything on your phone through apps, making things much easier. For example, in my country, we used to have plastic IDs, but now we’re switching to digital ones. Traditional plastic IDs need a lot of work to make and distribute, while digital IDs are simpler and more convenient.

Even though it’s more convenient, there’s also a focus on securing things. Strict security rules are in place because we’re collecting a lot of data, and this data is connected to artificial intelligence. It helps us figure out patterns and important information.

Companies and governments are also paying more attention to balancing going digital and being sustainable. This focus on sustainability is connected to using data efficiently. Smart buildings, where things are run using data, are an example. This trend is also seen in other areas like transportation, where working together is important.

Another big trend is using biometric solutions, like facial recognition. Even though facial recognition technology is getting better, there’s still a need for traditional IDs. Both ways of identifying people are becoming more common nowadays.

Q. What are your plans for the coming year?

We’re experiencing rapid growth, with last year being particularly impressive as we achieved a 50% growth rate.

This year, we aim to maintain this momentum, focusing on expanding in the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf region. Our outlook for the first quarter anticipates a growth rate ranging from a minimum of 20 per cent to as much as 50 per cent.

Read: How digital ID is unlocking Saudi Arabia’s vision for smarter cities