Tag

Security

Jan 28
0

Biometrics – A Vital Part Of The Physical Access Control Toolbox

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The use of biometrics for physical access control is not new. Since the early 1970s, biometrics has been used to secure some of our most high-security buildings. Before the introduction of biometrics on smartphones, it was probably the first thing that came into a person’s mind when asked about the use of biometrics. It seems that every Mission Impossible film has a scene where Ethan Hunt spoofs a biometric access system to get at top secret material (mask detection anyone) In one famous scene in “Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation”, we even see an attack on a gait recognition system (not by Ethan Hunt but by Benji Dunn).

Fast-forward to 2026 and biometric technology in physical access control is everywhere and not just confined to protect access to high-security buildings and rooms. I can order a fingerprint-enabled door lock or padlock for under $50 from Amazon. The availability of easy-to-install and reliable biometric-enabled access control solutions across all sectors is revolutionizing the way in which we access buildings. Added to the availability of affordable biometric access control hardware is easy-to-use software that can manage enrolment, access control, and visitor management. Visitors to offices no longer have to queue at reception for their visitor badge or sticker but can enrol at home or enroute and simply walk through the gate or turnstile.  In some cases, you don’t even need a gate or a turnstile. Taking a leaf out of border control, biometric corridors for access control can remove the need for expensive gates or turnstiles.

In our recently published market analyst and forecast report covering the market for biometric physical access control we determine that biometrics for physical access control is increasingly a vital part of the physical access control systems (PACS) toolbox. Suppliers and adopters are increasingly adding biometric technology to their PACS to improve security and convenience.

Goode Intelligence’s investigation of biometric physical access control has discovered a number of major trends driving the adoption of biometrics in this market that include:

  1. Biometrics as strong second factor. Predominantly augmented card-based physical access control systems. The combination of access control card and a biometric enhances security and convenience and helps prevent access cards being used by non-authorised users (stolen or lent).
  2. Tighter integration with other physical security applications including surveillance and safety especially when face is the modality used. Modern face biometric PACS can detect and prevent tailgating as the camera can be monitoring this activity.
  3. Smartcard integration (fingerprint sensor integrated into biometric card).
  4. Face becoming the dominant biometric modality replacing fingerprint biometrics.
  5. The emergence of palm biometrics as a significant modality for biometric physical access control.
  6. Merger of physical and logical access control either using a biometric smartcard or with biometric-only.
  7. Biometric corridors replacing physical gates. An opportunity using technology proven in border control to replace the need, and cost, of installing and maintaining physical gates and turnstiles.
  8. Biometrics becoming the dominant PACS technology in emerging markets in particular APAC and LATAM. In these markets, face is predominant biometric modality.

The future for biometric physical access control is positive and as such Goode Intelligence is forecasting that by 2031 the market will be generating over $16.31 billion in revenue making it a significant market for biometric technologies.

The 215-page report is the most detailed and comprehensive guide to the market for biometric physical access control published to date exploring the adoption of biometric technology for physical access control in major sectors including office, residential, government, healthcare, education, transportation, and technology.

It investigates the current global adoption with market analysis including key drivers and barriers for adoption, regulation and technology standards, interviews with leading stakeholders, technology analysis with review of key biometric technologies and profiles of companies supplying biometric systems for physical access control.

Biometric modalities covered include fingerprint, face, retina, iris, palm, and finger-vein.

It includes regional and global market forecasts for users (segmented by sector and biometric modalities), devices, and revenue for the six-year period from 2026 to 2031.

This report is now available to purchase. For more information visit the report page: https://www.goodeintelligence.com/report/biometric-physical-access-control-market-technology-analysis-forecasts-2026-2031/

Aug 14
0

Travel Digital Identity – Seamless Travel Powered by Digital Identity

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Imagine an industry where you can book tickets, store them securely, and then walk from the entrance to your destination seamlessly and securely without having to show tickets and identity documents. Then, when you arrive at your destination, collect a hire car and then walk into your hotel room without lengthy queues and having to present driver’s licenses or passports.

This industry is the travel industry, and this scenario is available now – not a vision for tomorrow.

Biometric Enabled Seamless Travel (BEST) is being used today by millions of people around the world and in a recently published report from Goode Intelligence investigating the market of travel digital identity, we forecast that by 2029 over 1.27 billion travellers will be benefiting from digital identity issued by both governments and commercial organisations including airlines, train operators, and sea travel operators.

This is all happening in an industry with some of the strictest security requirements on the planet. If travel can meet the needs of convenience and security, then other industries can surely learn and benefit from its example.

Biometrics is a key enabler for digital travel identity and is an important area for the reports coverage. From remote selfie-based identity verification on your smart phone, to self-bag drop, accessing VIP lounges, getting through security, concession-shopping, and boarding your plane, train or cruise ship, biometrics is enabling the seamless travel experience.

For government issued and managed digital identity, ICAO’s Digital Travel Credential (DTC) standard is supporting the migration from physical document to digital travel identity. There are promising signs for DTC with several pilots and actual live deployments for DTC Type 1 around the world proving and testing the technology. For DTC Type 1 (eMRTD Bound), the DTC is generated by the user on their smart phone or from a self-service kiosk by reading the chip in the passport. Travellers still need the physical passport to pass through border control. The goal is to have DTCs that can be used on their own, in a same way that digital payments can be used on smart phones without the physical card being present. ICAO has devised a roadmap for this to happen with DTC Type 2 (electronic Machine Readable Travel Document (eMRTD)-PC bound) leading to DTC Type 3, issued without the need for an eMRTD. This means the DTC is entirely contained within a separate component (DTC-PC) and is not directly linked to an eMRTD.

According to the many travel identity experts that I spoke to as part of this research, we are probably five to 10 years away from DTC Type 3.

Of the 1.27 billion travellers that will benefiting from travel digital identity by 2029, 725 million will be air travellers using digital identities issued by commercial organisations, predominantly airlines. IATA One ID was cited by many travel identity experts as an important initiative to provide guidance and a framework for non-government issued digital travel identity. By 2029, we believe that a decent percentage of commercial-issued travel digital identities will be based on IATA’s One ID framework to ensure interoperability and, importantly, a common user experience for air travellers.

Travel offers a great test bed for the wider digital identity market and has been a key sector for growth.

A travel digital identity is your identity information stored electronically in a way that can be used for travel purposes. It can encompass different things, depending on the specific system:

  • Biographic details: Basic information like your name, date of birth, and nationality.
  • Biometric data: This could include fingerprints, facial scans, or iris scans.
  • Digital documents: Electronic versions of your passport, visa, or health certificates.

The main goal is to create a secure and convenient way to verify your identity throughout your travels.

The future is bright for Travel Digital Identity with Goode Intelligence forecasting that by 2029, Travel Digital Identity will be generate over $4.6 billion in revenue with a CGAR of 22 percent over the six-year period.

This puts the sector at the vanguard of Digital Identity adoption globally – outperforming other sectors for growth.

Travel is offering a blueprint in how to digitise identity and provide realisable benefits that that can be replicated by other sectors. Travel offers a great test bed for the wider digital identity market and has been a key sector for growth offering a template for how digital identity can be at the centre of the seamless customer experience. From onboarding and remote identity verification.

It is a sector based on highly secure core infrastructure that is managed by suppliers that are not afraid to embrace cutting-edge technology such as biometrics, digital wallets, and verifiable credentials.

The expected growth is based on strong foundations, a combination of:

  • Global interoperable standards established by industry bodies such as ICAO (driving ePassports and Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs) and IATA (driving One ID).
  • The ePassport, has established itself as the prime internationally recognised identity documents for identity verification – packed full of physical and digital security features that are simply unparalleled in trusted identity and backed up by ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD).
  • A compelling business case that benefits all parts of the ecosystem from travellers to governments, travel operators and transport hubs, provided by established technology providers.
  • AI-powered biometric technology that is based on international standards and certification authorities that is accurate, resistant to presentation attacks including deepfakes, and can operate in the cloud and at the edge.
  • The emergence of standards-based Digital Wallets and Verifiable Credentials (VCs) that supports Biometric Enabled Seamless Travel.

If you want to discuss this research, I would be happy to discuss this on a call – reach out via LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/alangoode.

You can find out more about the recently published Goode Intelligence Market Analyst Report “Travel Digital Identity – Seamless Travel Powered by Digital Identity” by checking out our website. https://www.goodeintelligence.com/report/travel-digital-identity-seamless-powered-by-digital-identity/

Thank you, Alan.