Until the late 20th century, people primarily relied on lock-and-key systems to control access in buildings. In the last 40 years, however, we have been introduced with new access control technologies that promise improved security and a range of features that elevate the occupant experience. From various versions of card and fob technology to QR and barcodes, to smartphones and biometrics —each new solution presents unique advantages and disadvantages that have led to their adoption in different access control scenarios. In the 1980s, magnetic stripe cards represented a significant leap over traditional lock-and-key systems in terms of user rights management and traceability. This low-cost, user-friendly technology quickly gained traction, especially for budget-sensitive installations and legacy systems. However, its limited data storage capacity soon became obvious, especially when contrasted with emerging modern alternatives such as smart cards. “While mag-stripe cards still find some application in existing legacy systems, they are on a clear path to obsolescence […]