Hand scanning opens door to new world of offices
The Gateway building at Sydney’s Circular Quay has become the country’s first touchless-entry office tower which uses hand scanning to allow office workers into the building.
The technology had been in the works for some time with Gateway’s landlord, Dexus, as an efficiency initiative. But as major office tower owners contemplate the post-pandemic world, hand scanning has taken on heightened importance as a hygiene improvement.
Workers in the building can pass through security in the lobby and take a lift to their floor simply by passing their hand before a biometric scanner.
The technology means there is no need to swipe office passes across surfaces and no lift buttons need be pressed.
With around 40 per cent of the building’s occupants – around 1000 people – back in the office this week, a large number have already adopted the new tech to replace their passes, according to Kevin George, executive general manager for Dexus’ office portfolio.
“It’s futuristic. It’s easier than the previous regime,” he said. “People have been very accepting and keen to get on board.”
The system entails combining a series of technologies. Every employee’s hand print is scanned and turned into a unique algorithm.
Dexus was able to roll out the technology first at its Gateway building where the lifts already had a destination control system. Mr George said. It hoped to introduce the system at more of its buildings, including new projects.
Hand scans were preferred over facial recognition, to better protect privacy.
The system also works for entry to the car park and end-of-trip facilities.
Dexus is also exploring how it can extend the hand-scanning system to use of the food court. At retail outlets in Gateway’s food court office workers with previously established accounts could potentially buy their lunch using the scanner without having to make contact with any common surfaces.
“You can expect to see more innovation in this space as the real estate sector looks to leverage the wave of innovation and technology that has been accelerated by COVID-19,” Mr George said.
The high-tech system is just one of the changes workers can expect as they return to office towers in coming weeks.
In some workplaces, a regime of sneeze guards, social distancing directives and isolation rooms will have been installed.
The proximity of others during lift journeys has also been raised as a concern, with some major office tower tenants asking their workers to stagger arrival times to avoid long queues and crowded lifts.
“The real test will be in a few weeks’ time, I suspect,” Mr George said.
