City Workers Can Now Use Apple Wallet to Access the Office with their iPhone or Apple Watch

PropTech Outlook | Friday, May 12, 2023

A new technology integration from Smart Spaces will enable Apple users to seamlessly access their offices at London's 22 Bishopsgate.

FREMONT, CA: "We're excited to bring this new service to occupiers at 22 Bishopsgate and to be using Apple Wallet to deliver cutting-edge and truly innovative solutions for our clients. Evolving workplace trends mean that we need to think creatively about occupier needs and what draws them to the office. Having seamless access to a building through a commonly held Apple device is a game changer, and we're delighted to be one of the first to bring this technology to London offices," says Dan Drogman, CEO at Smart Spaces. Smart Spaces, a leading global provider of smart building technology, has partnered with HID to introduce an employee credential in Apple Wallet, providing employees at 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London with secure and even more seamless building access. By adding their employee badge to Apple Wallet, building employees and staff can now access offices with a single tap on their iPhone or Apple Watch.

In 2020, due to the initial partnership between Smart Spaces and 22 Bishopsgate utilizing HID Mobile Access, all occupants and visitors of the renowned office tower enjoyed a frictionless arrival experience. Those in need will continue to have access to QR codes on multiple platforms.

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Smart Spaces offers a suite of innovative smart technologies for office spaces. By utilizing HID Mobile Access and building management systems, Smart Spaces continuously adapts to deliver best-in-class experiences that improve the efficiency of daily work life for occupants, employees, property owners, and managers while maximizing sustainability and wellness.

Introducing employee badges in Wallet, one of the first to debut in the United Kingdom at 22 Bishopsgate, is the next stage in transforming the user experience in the contemporary workplace.

Unlike physical cards, there is no waiting period to obtain building credentials, allowing new employees to access the building quickly and efficiently. Once an employee badge has been added and activated within Apple Wallet, users can promptly access restricted areas by holding their device near an NFC-enabled door reader.

With Express Mode enabled, employees do not need to unlock or awaken their devices to use their employee badges; instead, they can touch their devices to access their credentials. Power Reserve allows employees to access their office or amenity areas for up to five hours if their iPhone or Apple Watch needs to be charged.

Apple Wallet employee insignia fully leverage the privacy and security features of the iPhone and Apple Watch. When or where an employee of 22 Bishopsgate uses their Apple Wallet employee badge is never shared with Apple or stored on Apple servers. The owner of a misplaced iPhone or Apple Watch can immediately use the Find My app to lock the device and locate it.

"We are happy to continue to bring yet another deployment of employee badges in Apple Wallet. The broad reach and daily touchpoints of digital wallets will truly impact the way we interact with the world, particularly in terms of convenience and security," says Gerald Grattoni, VP and Head of Physical Access Control Systems for Mature Markets at HID.

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