Going Up? Advances in Elevator Access Control

Today’s elevators can do a lot more than just go up and down. Advanced elevator access systems not only enhance security in multitenant buildings, but also manage traffic flows and enhance the visitor experience. See what’s new in the world of vertical transportation and learn what to consider when planning an elevator access system.  

The Evolution of Elevator Access Control 

The first commercial elevators, installed in the late 19th century, were simple lift systems, often powered by steam or hydraulics. While elevators (or lifts) were initially intended to move freight, as buildings grew taller, passenger elevators soon became a critical component of urban architecture. In these early days, the only form of elevator “access control” consisted of the human elevator operator in each car. Eventually, some elevators added simple mechanical locks on elevator doors or a system of keys to activate the elevator car. These simple systems helped to limit access to certain floors or entire buildings.  

Since then, buildings have continued getting taller, and elevators have gotten much more advanced. Commercial, residential and government buildings may have hundreds or even thousands of people accessing the elevator system every single day, making visitor flow management essential. At the same time, security concerns in multitenant buildings necessitate the ability to limit access for certain floors and track who is coming and going and at what times. An effective elevator access system is a critical part of a physical access control (PAC) solution and the overall security concept for the building.  

It’s no wonder, then, that the global market for elevator access systems is growing steadily. In 2022, the global elevator access market was valued at approximately USD 4.63 billion, and it is projected to reach around USD 7.15 billion by 2029. Much of this growth is driven by advances in elevator access. Mechanical key systems gave way to keycards (e.g., magstripe) or radio-frequency identification (RFID) credentials in most large urban buildings by the late 20^th century. Other advances, including integration of elevator access with building security, PAC and visitor management systems, have resulted in the creation of smart elevator systems that simplify security and management while enabling more convenient access for tenants and guests.  

Elements of a Smart Elevator Access System 

Smart elevator systems are increasingly common in large commercial, government and residential buildings, including corporate and government offices, apartment blocks, hotels, universities, hospitals, research centers and data centers—essentially, any environment where you need to manage visitor flows and limit guest access to certain floors. For example, at Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, a sophisticated elevator system optimizes travel time and reduces wait times by intelligently grouping passengers going to the same or nearby floors.  

While the specifics vary based on the requirements of an individual building, there are some common elements that enable smart elevators.  

• User identification and access control: The first step to a smart elevator access system is the ability to identify users who are entering the elevator and confirm their access permissions. Today, radio-frequency identification (RFID) cards remain a popular choice due to their affordability, security and ease of management. Users simply bring their card into proximity with the reader mounted in the elevator access panel, which reads the unique ID number stored on the card. Based on their access permissions, the reader then unlocks access to the appropriate floors. The system can be programmed to grant access based on user credentials, time of day or other criteria. More recently, many buildings have started to transition to mobile credentials on the smartphone for elevator access. With smartphone ownership now nearly universal among many user groups, mobile credentials (such as Employee Badges for Apple Wallet) may start overtaking physical cards in the near future.  
• Destination dispatch systems: Also called destination control systems (DCS), these systems allow users to input their destination floor before entering the elevator. The system then assigns them to an elevator that will take them there in the most efficient manner, reducing wait times and minimizing the number of stops. This system optimizes elevator usage, reduces congestion and improves overall traffic flow within a building. Destination dispatch can be automated when combined with access control; instead of manually entering a number on a wall pad, for example, the system knows what floor to take each person to based on the information on their ID badge or mobile credential. This works well in multitenant office buildings where each client company has access to a single floor, for example.  
• Visitor management integration: The elevator system can be integrated with a visitor management system, allowing temporary access to visitors. Visitors receive a temporary ID card or mobile access credential that restricts their access to certain floors and for a limited time. This enhances security by ensuring that visitors can only access designated areas and simplifies the process of granting temporary access. When combined with destination dispatch, it also makes things simpler for visitors by automatically routing them to the correct floor based on their visitor access.  
• Integration with other building systems: A modern elevator access system is generally integrated with other building systems, including both security and non-security elements. For example, elevators can be equipped with cameras and integrated with the building’s surveillance system, allowing for real-time monitoring of elevator cabins and access points. When combined with elevator access control, this enables better monitoring of who is accessing each floor and at what times. The elevator system may also be integrated with the building management system, allowing seamless control of access, lighting, security, HVAC and other systems. This provides a cohesive building environment where all systems work together to enhance comfort, security and efficiency. 
• Advanced security features: For higher security environments, like research centers or data centers, additional security may be desired for elevator access. That might include multifactor authentication (MFA), for example by requiring visitors to enter a PIN on a keypad in addition to presenting their RFID card or mobile credential. For mobile credentials, secure MFA may also be achieved using the biometric features built into the smartphone.  
• Advanced monitoring, analytics and predictive features: Some elevator management systems allow building managers to monitor elevator usage and performance in real-time through dashboards, gaining insights into traffic patterns, system health and user behavior. This allows for proactive management of the elevator system, helping to optimize service, improve user satisfaction, and make data-driven decisions to enhance building operations. Advanced systems may even integrate machine learning and AI to enable predictive maintenance and automated traffic flow optimization.  

Elevator access can be integrated into a unified access system that extends beyond physical access control to include other essential services within the building. Instead of requiring separate cards or codes for different areas of the building, a unified system allows users to rely on a single credential for everything—from entering the building to accessing specific floors via the elevator to using shared amenities like gyms, lounges, and conference rooms. This not only simplifies the user experience but also reduces the administrative burden on building managers, as there’s only one system to manage and update. 

Need an Elevator Access Solution? 

ELATEC is your partner for elevator access control. We can help you design an intelligent elevator access system that integrates perfectly with your overall physical access control and security systems. The TWN4 MultiTech family of universal readers supports 60+ RFID transponder technologies along with mobile credential technologies using NFC or BLE. That means you can continue to use whatever access technology is already in place for front door access—or even support multiple technologies for different user groups in the same building or campus. Talk to our PAC experts to learn how you can optimize your building’s security and traffic flow with elevator access control.  

Download our whitepaper to learn more: Authentication Solutions for Elevators