Market Trends of Europe Proximity Access Control Industry
Biometric Scanners to Hold Significant Market Share
- The field of biometrics continues to expand, so the demand for improved security authentication technology has increased compared to other security techniques. The need for strict security regulations in many areas of society has created a strong demand for biometrics, raising the expectations of biometric scanning technology. In recent years, biometric authentication has become increasingly popular, particularly with the introduction of two-factor verification for online banking, and the number of companies utilizing biometric authentication is on the rise.
- Biometric scanners have become increasingly popular due to heightened security concerns in European countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France for various purposes, including border control and financial services. Biometrics provide a heightened level of security by utilizing unique physiological or behavioral characteristics to authenticate users, thus reducing the likelihood of identity theft and unauthorized access.
- Governments in these countries have actively promoted biometric technology for various purposes, such as national identification schemes, electronic governance, and immigration controls. For example, Germany will transition from children's paper passports to biometric documents containing embedded electronic chips in 2023. The children's tickets did not include the security chips and fingerprint biometric data required for admission in the United States, Australia, and certain African countries. Also, the child's photo could be altered instead of the biometric passport.
- The European Union plans to roll out a new digital border system next autumn, mandating British travelers to provide fingerprints and facial scans upon initial use. The entry/exit system (EES) is slated to commence operations in October 2024, as the i and Times newspapers reported. Eurotunnel, known for its Folkestone to Calais car transport service, is currently trialing the technology. This system collects personal data at borders and then integrates it into a centralized EU database.
- Further, in March 2024, Zwipe AS partnered with SCAP, France's leading distributor of access control cards and readers. The collaboration aims to bring Zwipe's cutting-edge "biometric system-on-card" to SCAP's diverse clientele in France. SCAP's extensive customer network encompasses key players in France's security landscape, such as access system manufacturers, integrators, and various corporations spanning airports, healthcare, and government. Such development in biometric scanners will drive the segment growth.
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The United Kingdom to Witness Significant Growth
- The increasing concern for safety in both residential and commercial settings has led to a surge in the demand for sophisticated access control solutions in the United Kingdom, such as proximity systems, to improve the security of businesses and individuals. In July 2023, the government planned to make EUR 20 million (USD 21.74 million) in funding available to implement pay as you go technology for passengers across Southeast England by December 2023.
- This technology will enable tens of thousands of Southeast passengers to tap into their bank cards or smart devices to travel. Passengers will no longer need to plan to secure the best prices or manually search their phones and wallets for the right ticket, as they can tap into their card or smart device and be automatically guaranteed the best price on the day of travel.
- The prevalence of data breaches, particularly those involving unauthorized access to confidential data, has heightened public awareness of the necessity of security measures. Both organizations and individuals are driven to invest in comprehensive access control measures to avoid such incidents. According to crimerate.co.uk, at the beginning of 2024, police forces in England and Wales handled 243,759 reports of burglary, marking a 3.5% drop from the 252,701 cases reported in 2023. This shows an annual crime rate of 4.22 per 1,000 individuals in 2024, down from 4.38 in 2023.
- Adopting biometric scanners, wireless locks, mobile access control systems, and the increasing urbanization of developing countries are expected to provide significant growth prospects for market participants. As access control solutions become more widespread, governments increasingly seek to protect their assets. However, the market for proximity access control is highly competitive due to the high security and privacy requirements of various businesses and individuals in the United Kingdom.
- Implementing proximity access control systems, such as biometric scanners, is a common practice in transportation facilities, such as airports, to provide secure entry into restricted areas and screening of passengers. For instance, in September 2023, the implementation of universal, mandatory facial recognition at airports was met with strong resistance, with one major United Kingdom airport disregarding requests for polite reminders. In Manchester, United Kingdom, individuals are being made aware of the new requirements to provide face biometric information when boarding flights to destinations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. These factors are anticipated to boost the market growth in the United Kingdom.
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