How Turnstiles Are Taking a Swing in the Right Direction

Most organizations today are moving security to the top of their priority list.  Managing multiple office locations can be challenging, especially when property owners need to control who is coming in and out of their building daily. The importance of securing the perimeter of buildings across our nation has taken a swing in the right direction. Security

and pedestrian traffic control are now more than ever becoming a priority based on the increase in violence.  However, we are seeing a huge push in the market for touchless entry points especially after the covid pandemic. Traditionally, facility managers would look at the least costly turnstile solution to just get the job done.  Today, superior durability and a touchless turnstile experience are in high demand along with integrating access control and advanced credential technology into the turnstile solution.  This includes multi-credential verification devices such as all-in-one readers that can read cards, Bluetooth, NFC, face & palm verification, along with pins and passwords. Turnstile manufacturers are developing their own version of mechanical analytics to give building owners data points on the health and wellness of their turnstiles.  In addition, these new turnstile solutions layer technologies on top of each other; such as incorporating video surveillance technology and software that can give data points to help business owners make smarter decisions.

Another huge challenge facing the industry includes reducing and/or eliminating tailgating at entry points. Many sports venues, schools, and corporations are looking to use entrance turnstiles for entry of authorized people. They are also using exit turnstiles with counters to get accurate measurements of how many people are in their facilities, when peak traffic is, and to see whether there are still people in their facilities after hours. “Along with the trend of touchless check-ins we are seeing an increase in demand for touchless credentials built into the turnstiles to enhance user experience.” states Scott Bohm, EVP Entrance Controls at ZKTeco USA.  

The Importance of Turnstiles at Unmanned Checkpoints Securing who is authorized to come in and out of a building at unmanned entry and exit points is crucial to ensure the safety of people and security of the building.  For some organizations equally important are the turnstile aesthetics.  In the 1980’s when turnstiles were becoming popular, we saw hunky and chunky types of turnstiles that stood out like a sore thumb.  Today, the industry has migrated to leaner and sleeker modern turnstile designs that compliment new lobby designs.  Typically, Class A & B buildings have architectures working on project designs that include making the lobby more attractive; resulting in the installation of turnstiles that match their overall designs and color scheme.  “At ZKTeco USA, we customize our turnstile solutions based on our clients’ needs and offer a wide range of turnstile options that are vertical specific,” says Bohm. “ 

Some other vertical markets that are using turnstiles include retail, warehouses/distribution centers, schools, stadiums, criminal justice buildings, subways and commercial office buildings.  Optical turnstiles are ideal for use in high traffic areas like corporate office buildings, airports, etc. where security and providing positive customer experiences are a top priority. “It’s a perfect balance of security and design for modern lobbies and corporate environments.  At ZKTeco USA we strive to provide a seamless and positive experience to users,” says Bohm.

When it comes to turnstiles, retail has exploded for utilizing turnstile technology not only for security purposes, but for speed, convenience, and labor reduction.  The concept of frictionless applications continues to revolutionize the retail industry and illustrates how we can control shrinkage in so many different applications, while also creating a great experience for shoppers.

This approach focuses on reducing or eliminating obstacles between the customer’s purchase from entry to exit points.  This includes efficient designs that include self-checkout, and AI-powered personalization to deliver these frictionless experiences.  “At ZKTeco USA we are constantly seeing new applications for turnstiles due to layering technologies on top of each other as manufacturers are trying to meet the evolving expectations of consumers who are looking for ease in their daily shopping routines,” says Bohm.

The Future Looks Bright for Turnstiles

Over the years, we have seen tremendous growth and improvements in turnstile technology.  There has been a steady evolution that has taken turnstiles well beyond just security.  “It's important in any industry to be a visionary and understand what new technology is coming down the road. Smart manufacturers understand that the trick is to make turnstiles agnostic with the ability to seamlessly communicate with other systems. Most organizations want a plug and play approach and look for a simple and convenient solution more than anything else” says Bohm. 

As we move forward, we will continue to see turnstile manufacturers trying to create their own niche with new uses for turnstile technology. The successful ones will understand the importance of creating a turnstile application where a user can simply log into one interface to collect data and make smarter business decisions. It all comes down to data and understanding who is entering your building and are they authorized to do so.  In the long haul, we will see more organizations moving to the cloud to store data and looking for turnstiles that can complement their existing security system.  A security investment should be made only after taking the time to research the latest technology out there and truly understand its functionalities. Integration and seamless collaboration among all technologies is essential.  Keep it simple…as simplicity is the key to keeping the turnstile industry swinging in the right direction for the long haul.

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