Top Trends in Access Control and Contactless Technology

In the access control and contactless space, it can feel like there are constantly new developments and technologies that you have to stay up to date with. Now, more than halfway through 2025, there have been a myriad of new trends emerging from AI-automation to digital IDs and everything in between. This is everything you need to know about the latest trends in access control and contactless technology. 

Biometrics Are Now Commonplace 

Biometric access control has become even more commonplace than ever before in 2025. Businesses are switching to more secure biometric access systems rather than having physical cards to scan into secure spaces in corporate, education or healthcare environments. 

This may include things like facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, iris scanning and more, as it is a far more secure way to identify individuals and allow access. Where access control cards can be lost or stolen, biometric technologies improve overall security by almost guaranteeing the person accessing the space is who they claim to be. As we continue into 2025 and beyond, we expect to see biometric systems popping up more and more often. Suddenly, facial recognition software isn’t something reserved for fictional spy movies, it’s something even corporate offices are implementing for everyday use. 

Contactless Cards Are Getting Smarter 

Contactless is everywhere. From tapping into the tube and accessing your office to buying your morning coffee, it’s hard to avoid using a contactless card, but in 2025, contactless cards (and the security that accompanies them) are getting smarter and smarter.

MIFARE DESFire is a prime example of the leaps and bounds contactless cards have made in recent years. It’s a secure smart card technology for access and identification that supports high-level cryptography. This means you can have multiple uses on one single card. Rather than having a different card for closed loop payments, access and identification, MIFARE DESFire makes it easy to have everything you need on the one smart card. 

They also have secure key encryption, making them a perfect solution for banks, medical facilities, research labs and corporate offices that need higher security solutions for physical and logical access.

Digital Wallets Are Here To Stay 

Gone are the days of the physical wallet. Digital wallets are here, and they’re here to stay. Rather than having to carry physical cards around with you everywhere you go, you’re now able to have everything you need stored on your smartphone. 

Now your smartphone (and your digital wallet) make it easy for you to pay for items with your phone, and with the introduction of the UK digital wallet, you’ll soon be able to show your ID, right from your smartphone. But it’s not just payments and identification – you can even use NFC to unlock doors from your phone, rather than having to have keys or access cards. One thing’s for certain when it comes to current trends in contactless access control solutions: convenience still reigns supreme. 

Cloud-Based Systems Are All The Rage

Traditional on-site access control systems are slowly but surely being phased out in favour of cloud-based platforms. Having a cloud-based platform in your business allows you to control who has access to which areas in real time! 

This means you can control your access credentials from the cloud from anywhere, whether on-site or out of office!

AI For Good 

It feels like you can’t escape artificial intelligence (AI) in 2025, and that’s even true for access control solutions. AI is quickly becoming a key tool in threat detection and identifying any suspicious behaviour. AI is able to monitor activity 24/7 and is able to flag and compile anything that doesn’t seem quite right. 

Whether someone gains access outside of normal hours or unauthorised individuals make their way into authorised-only spaces, AI can flag these issues and, based on their severity, alert the authorities, lockdown the office, or simply provide an internal alert. 

So, Where Do We Go From Here? 

It’s hard to say exactly what kind of developments are going to be seen in the next few months (and the next few years), but one thing we do know for sure is that access control solutions and contactless technology are advancing more and more every day. 

Whether it’s switching to cloud-based systems, using smarter cards  integrating AI, using biometrics or anything in between, your organisation can stay ahead of the competition by remaining up-to-date with all the latest trends and industry insights. More advanced contactless and access control technology is here to ensure your organisation has improved security and enhanced safety. 

When you keep up with the times and update your software and solutions accordingly, you can make sure your business isn’t getting left behind in the dust.