Access control is at a defining moment.
What was once a system designed purely to keep people out is rapidly evolving into something far more strategic, an identity-driven platform that shapes workplace experience, security posture, and enterprise decision-making. Insights shared by Lee Odess at HID’s Origin 2026 reveal just how fast this shift is happening, and why many organizations are closer to disruption than they realize.
This edition brings together those insights, market signals, and real-world implications for anyone responsible for the future of physical security and workplace technology.
What’s inside this edition
- A candid look at why “integration-led innovation” is no longer enough, and how the industry has confused activity with progress
- How identity is becoming the core layer connecting access control, workplace systems, and enterprise experience
- What consolidation, acquisitions, and capital movement reveal about where the access control market is truly headed
- The strategic questions buyers, vendors, and integrators must ask to avoid being locked into legacy thinking
Why this matters to you
- Access control is no longer an isolated security system—it is becoming a shared identity layer that impacts security, facilities, IT, HR, and employee experience.
- Buyer expectations are shifting from features and integrations to usability, outcomes, and platform-level value.
- Market consolidation and investment trends signal which access control approaches are built to scale—and which are likely to stagnate.
- Mobile credentials and cloud-native systems are now central to adoption, trust, and long-term relevance.
- Decisions made today will shape how adaptable your access strategy remains as physical and digital identities continue to converge
