In business and personal life today, digitalization increasingly means moving to mobile. Mobile-first is becoming the norm across regions and industries. In Western Europe alone, there are 459 million active smartphones and only a fraction of these are currently used for digital access. This is changing fast: one projection suggests mobile credentials’ CAGR of more than 22% over the next 7 years.

By: Thomas Schulz, Director & Head of Marketing ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA

E-mail: thomas.schulz@assaabloy.com

This rapid growth seems only natural: in terms of access management, it is more secure and more convenient, for both building users and managers, when the smartphone also becomes a key. From an organizational perspective, digitalization helps to maximize the productivity of existing assets. By adopting a mobile ethos, in access and beyond, businesses increase convenience for their users and the security of their buildings. It is easy to understand why mobile is, according to one analyst, “the dominant trend in access control”.

Making life easier and enabling mobility for users and facility managers

Using mobile keys for access helps building users to act faster, work smarter and collaborate better within teams. Similar convenience benefits have already made banks, travel agents, food delivery services and more into mobile-first sectors. With mobile access, staff and visitors no longer need to carry or keep track of keys, fobs, badges or cards. The convenience of replacing plastic key-cards with secure mobile keys is obvious.

From an access management perspective, mobile access enables the secure movement of people into and through premises – and simultaneously streamlines daily work for security managers. Mobile credentials are also more secure. Phones are almost never loaned to anyone else, and are harder for a user to lose. Mobile credentials are easier for security managers to amend or de-authorize than a mechanical key. Changes to anyone’s access permissions can be made over the air, without any need for dedicated readers or asking a user to check-in their credential.

Furthermore, when a security administrator cancels a mobile key, it vanishes immediately. No more time-wasting handover meetings are scheduled when a tenancy, employment contract or authorized visit ends. Remote access management via smartphone and a secure cloud saves facilities staff time and hassle. They work smarter and more flexibly, benefitting both their well-being and their organization’s productivity.

“At ASSA ABLOY, we were very quick to spot the benefits of mobile access for all kinds of stakeholders,” explains David Moser, SVP & Head of Digital Access Solutions at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA. “So many of our access innovations provide the option to make access not only digital, but also mobile.”

Broad range of mobile access solutions from ASSA ABLOY

ASSA ABLOY offers customers a choice of mobile access solutions, both within complete digital access systems and via devices which plug seamlessly into an existing security management solution. Multi-residential housing is just one sector, among many, where the advantages of mobile access have seen its rapid growth. Fast-growing build-to-rent housing provider Becorp is just one that has benefited from its convenience. For a planned new development in Barcelona, they sought a digital alternative to mechanical keys. Becorp realised that a keyless solution would save property management time, which is often spent handling hundreds of physical keys. The burden on staff is especially great when properties are newly occupied or vacated, a regular occurrence in large build-to-rent complexes.

Residents instead use secure mobile keys in their own SMARTair Openow^® app. “Physical key management for any large development puts severe pressure on operational costs,” explains Becorp’s Xavier Casals. “Choosing SMARTair wireless locks and mobile management via Openow helps us to minimize them.”

“We have several more mobile access solutions, providing customers with a choice to meet their exact needs,” adds David Moser. “CLIQ^® Connect is a mobile extension to ASSA ABLOY’s CLIQ programmable key access solution. A keyholder no longer needs to update access rights physically in person. Their system administrator simply opens the CLIQ Web Manager – from anywhere – and updates it. The key-holder makes an encrypted connection between their programmable BLE key and the app on the mobile to instantly update permissions from the cloud.”

“Yet another mobile solution, CLIQ Go, is designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers easy access management from a mobile. CLIQ Go makes it simple even for non-specialists to manage their own access, digitally and from the palm of their hand.”

Adding mobile access to an existing EAC solution or new application

Mobile access is also built-in to ASSA ABLOY digital access devices designed for seamless integration with existing systems and hardware. Battery powered Aperio^® locks are compatible with both Bluetooth and NFC mobile wireless protocols. Aperio mobile access offers Seos^®-based, class-leading cryptography and authentication, plus unrivalled privacy protection.

Utilizing HID Seos^® technology, Aperio also supports employee badge in Apple Wallet, enabling quick, convenient entry to doors, cabinets, lockers, server racks and more equipped with Aperio wireless devices. ABLOY CUMULUS is another keyless access solution, also part of the suite of connected Digital Access Solutions from ASSA ABLOY. With ABLOY CUMULUS, tailored access rights are issued directly on a user’s smartphone. Their personalized, encrypted mobile credential unlocks any authorized opening. In addition, the revolutionary CUMULUS Controller brings mobile unlocking via Bluetooth to any electric or electronic lock – from any brand.

“We engineered CUMULUS to help businesses increase their mobile capability to really get their access ready for what’s ahead,” explains David Moser. “It is completely customizable, with APIs and SDKs for smartphone app development. Mobile becomes part of their business”

“Like all our mobile access solutions, we hope it helps our customers to realize new possibilities in whatever they do.”

To learn more about living mobility with Mobile Access Solutions from ASSA ABLOY, visit https://www.assaabloy.com/group/emeia/campaigns/mobile-access

Sometimes a digital system cannot cover all the openings an organization needs. Readers, escutcheons and security locks can equip many doors. But what if they also want to deploy intelligent key-operated locking for alarm boxes, medicine stores, server rooms or power units? Until now, the only secure option was to run two systems in parallel. A new integration between two digital ecosystems puts facilities managers in control like never before.

Author: Thomas Schulz Director & Head of Marketing ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA

E-mail: thomas.schulz@assaabloy.com

The SMARTair® wireless access system, part of a suite of connected Digital Access Solutions from ASSA ABLOY, now enables management of CLIQÒ programmable smart keys from the same software interface. When businesses extend their SMARTair digital access solution with CLIQ battery-free cylinders, they implement complete oversight for their premises, including any outdoor spaces. There is no cabling and no more need for mechanical keys – just smart, flexible management.

When CLIQ electronic and electromechanical cylinders are deployed within a SMARTair-controlled installation, security teams can manage even more doors. They can implement digital access almost anywhere, without drilling or causing damage to the building structure. The broad range of openings already covered by SMARTair are supplemented with a range of more than 60 CLIQ and eCLIQ cylinder types, making every access point secure. SMARTair’s intelligent TS1000 software manages and monitors every opening and credential, including smart keys and mobile keys if required.

“For healthcare, education, multi-residential properties, and many more types of building, this new integration puts so much more power in your hands,” says Mikel Gaztañaga, Sales Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA. “Building managers gain transparent oversight over every type of opening, from one familiar software interface. It helps them to meet the growing demands of compliance and to control access much farther into and through their buildings.”

“With this new integration of SMARTair and CLIQ, you make life more convenient for everyone who manages or uses your premises. Facilities teams work smarter and more efficiently. Users enjoy a streamlined, unified experience right from the front door.”

One solution, maximum reach

By bringing CLIQ devices into a SMARTair solution, organizations gain fully integrated control and total traceability of access. They can extend access control even to remote locations with durable CLIQ cylinders and programmable keys, all from the familiar SMARTair TS1000 software interface. In addition, SMARTair’s Wireless online management option gives security teams real-time system control via wireless HUBs. For added convenience, every CLIQ key has an RFID chip inside which can be programmed to unlock authorized doors secured with SMARTair battery-powered devices. Aligning CLIQ with SMARTair gives facilities managers the choice of mobile credentials or RFID credentials (smart cards, fobs or badges) for SMARTair devices, smart keys for CLIQ cylinders or smart keys with RFID tags for both SMARTair and CLIQ devices.

SMARTair and CLIQ in action at a Spanish football stadium

This powerful new integration is already up-and-running at Spanish football club, UD Almería. For their stadium, they chose SMARTair digital access with additional centralized management of CLIQ smart keys and cable-free cylinders. All users and access points are managed online from their SMARTair TS1000 Web software. SMARTair Wireless Online management gives staff real-time control and oversight of offices, locker rooms and physio suites. Stadium staff use customized RFID cards which double as their ID badges. Visitors and external contractors receive time-limited access via mobile keys sent to their own SMARTair OpenowÒ app. It’s convenient for them and simplifies visitor management. CLIQ cylinders protect technical rooms and interior service zones. Maintenance staff and security personnel, including matchday police, carry a programmable CLIQ key with their individual access permissions.

“The complementary benefits of SMARTair and CLIQ ensures Almería’s needs are met without compromising on security or flexibility,” adds Gaztañaga. “This innovative hybrid installation ensures their diverse access needs were met. Only ASSA ABLOY could provide such a connected, unified solution.”

To learn more about SMARTair/CLIQ integration, download a free Solution Guide at: https://assaabloy.com/emeia-blueprint/en/documents/solutions/topics/access-control/smartair/AA_SMARTair-CLIQ-Integration_Brochure_2026-01_EMEIA.pdf

Across Europe, the Middle East and beyond, schools, colleges and universities look to modernize security while preserving openness. Their duty of care extends to protecting people, property and data, yet education sites must also enable the free movement of staff, students and visitors. At the same time, budgets are tight and expectations for user experience are high. The right access management strategy must reconcile safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness – and when implemented effectively, can benefit daily operations.

Education sites always host multiple user-groups with different access needs, as well as schedules which shift constantly. Staff, students, contractors and other external users share the same spaces at different times of day. At sites which still rely on mechanical keys, often across large estates, management may be complex and time-consuming.

Lost or duplicated physical keys can expose entire premises to risk and require expensive rekeying. Manually updating permissions for thousands of users is inefficient. Outdated systems and protocols may make it difficult to monitor who is on site or to coordinate a rapid lockdown in an emergency. Facilities teams increasingly seek intelligent access solutions that provide real-time visibility, centralized control and reduced maintenance. An increasingly digital-native user-group, especially students, expects the convenience of digital solutions, including mobile keys stored on their personal smartphone.

Recent data underlines the urgency of a more connected approach to access. UK universities, for example, are at high risk of cyber breach, with perhaps millions of stolen credentials circulating on the dark web^*. Such weaknesses illustrate a growing hybrid threat. If a single credential can open both doors and provide access to in-house networks, its compromise endangers the institution’s operations and reputation. To mitigate these risks, mobile digital credentials – instantly revocable, amendable and traceable – can help education facilities teams to close this gap. Reliable, digital physical security and access is now a fundamental building-block of the modern education institution.

The solution is access digitalization

Digitalization offers a coherent way forward. ASSA ABLOY has extensive experience in digitalizing access management for educational buildings, helping these institutions to create a secure, safe and convenient environment for students, teachers and visitors. A vast range of ASSA ABLOY digital solutions can protect people and valuable assets from the perimeter right into the heart of a building, all the way to intelligent locking for server racks which integrates seamlessly with almost any access management software. Schools and universities can choose to manage access rights on-premise, via a secure cloud, or with a choice of Software as a Service packages.

For security and facilities managers, programmable locks and credentials boost the responsiveness and efficiency of access management. Lost or stolen cards can be deactivated with a click, preventing unauthorized entry without the expense and hassle of replacing hardware. Rights are issued, amended or withdrawn remotely, backed by a full audit trail. Digital access also enhances flexibility. Smartphone or smart-card credentials can be configured for specific areas and time windows, supporting after-hours study or revenue-generating rentals, while maintaining control, for example. Facilities managers gain oversight across multiple buildings and can administer access off-site through intuitive software. The outcome is safer, more adaptable premises and a significant reduction in administrative effort – and therefore, costs.

For staff and students, the convenience and security of a digital credential gives them the peace of mind to move about the premises in safety and comfort.

European standards and regulation also support this digital shift. EN/IEC 60839 sets functional and interoperability requirements for digital access systems, while EN 179 and EN 1125 specify safe egress for emergency exits. GDPR ensures personal and credential data are handled transparently, and biometric use is governed by national consent laws such as France’s CNIL or the UK Protection of Freedoms Act. In addition, the EU’s NIS2 Directive is bringing many academic research locations under its scope, obliging them to strengthen both digital and physical protections in line with the directive’s “all-hazards” approach to connected security. Institutions that fail to comply risk financial penalties, another clear incentive to modernize access infrastructure.

In this regulatory environment, investment to meet these evolving challenges is building. The European school and campus security market was valued at around EUR 0.92 billion in 2025, and continues to expand as educational facilities modernize and further digitalize access.

The impact of digitalization can be quick and significant, as these three real-world cases illustrate.

1. Staff and student security as the priority

For The Camp, a business-education provider based near Aix-en-Provence, France, security had to match its culture of innovation. Their site has offices, event areas, kitchens and on-site accommodation operating around the clock. Safety for a constantly changing population of residents and visitors required an access system able to adapt in real time.

Aperio® wireless devices are integrated with TIL Technologies’ platform to simplify management of access to the entire campus from a single interface. Permissions are updated instantly as staff, students and guests arrive or depart. Lost credentials are cancelled and reissued on demand. Defined profiles segment access to areas such as meeting or server rooms, keeping valuable assets secure even during busy events. Wireless devices also align with The Camp’s sustainability goals. Battery-powered operation reduces energy consumption compared with hard-wired systems and preserves the site’s architectural aesthetic. Security, flexibility and environmental responsibility work together.

2. Digitalizing key management for efficiency

At Vejle Friskole in Denmark, maintaining mechanical keys had consumed several hours each week. Lost keys caused disruption, and tracking who had access to which rooms was an onerous task.

The school installed SMARTair® wireless digital access system, an out-of-the-box solution managed with straightforward software. Each teacher and student carries a programmed fob with individual permissions. When a credential goes missing, administrators simply update digital rights, instead of changing cylinders – saving money and time. This simple change has transformed daily administration. Security management now takes minutes rather than hours, freeing security staff time for other responsibilities. The system also supports flexible building use outside school hours, allowing safe access for events without adding workload or risk. For smaller schools without dedicated security staff, SMARTair provides an accessible, easily scalable route to digitalization.

3. Cutting costs and risk from lost keys

In Villiers-le-Bel, near Paris, the financial impact of lost keys could run to thousands of euros per incident. Staff at the Municipal Technical Centre carried multiple keys for different sites; when one went missing, entire suites of locks required replacement. Administrators digitalized with CLIQ® electromechanical locking cylinders and programmable keys. Using the CLIQ Web Manager software, lost keys are now cancelled immediately and new permissions issued remotely. Each programmable key stores the user’s specific access rights, replacing dozens of physical keys with one secure, flexible credential.

The new system has reduced both cost and complexity. Staff no longer collect keys from a central office, and administrators monitor access across schools and other municipal buildings via a standard web browser. It enhances protection for sensitive sites while keeping the solution scalable and within budget.

Towards smarter, safer campuses

The education sector’s digital transition is accelerating, in both learning delivery and facilities management. Rapid change in access is being driven by a need for operational efficiency; national and regional regulations and compliance; and the fast-evolving risk landscape. NIS2 adds further urgency specifically at universities where sensitive research is conducted. Whether in a small primary school or a multi-site university, wireless and intelligent-key technologies enable cost-effective control across every opening.

Hybrid cyber–physical threats highlight the importance of secure credential management, for example: Microsoft estimate that more than 40% of UK universities face attack on a weekly basis. Mobile digital credentials, quickly and remotely cancelled if lost or compromised, are one powerful defence. Integrated, standards-based digital access at schools and universities across the EMEIA region can underpin not only compliance, but also the trust and flexibility essential to delivering education’s mission.

To learn more about Digital Access Solutions from ASSA ABLOY, visit www.assaabloy.com/group/emeia/solutions/topics/access-control