GardaWorld

Cutting-edge technology was top of mind when GardaWorld, one of the largest privately-owned integrated physical security, cash management, and risk management companies in the world, decided to build a new headquarters in Montreal.

“We wanted this building to be high tech and show high tech,” says Frederic Kustcher, Electronic Security System Administrator and Technician for GardaWorld. Aiming for a seamless experience for staff and visitors, the idea was to incorporate security technologies into the foundational design of the building.

But to do so, GardaWorld had to find a security partner capable of integrating with the leading technologies of the day – and the unimagined ones of tomorrow.

Tasked with finding that partner, Frederic says: “That’s when I turned to Gallagher.”

Effortless access thanks to biometrics

“Facial recognition was at the top of our list,” Frederic explains. “First, because it looks nice and it’s pretty impressive, but also because it’s a smoother, more fluid experience for the many people coming and going each day.”

Gallagher’s integration with IDEMIA’s VisionPass helped GardaWorld achieve that goal. “With other solutions, you need separate systems and separate integrations - but now VisionPass is all run within Gallagher, so it’s much easier.”

With a complete suite of biometric integrations, including IDEMIA’s Vision Pass and Morpho Wave, GardaWorld’s staff are free to move about their new headquarters with a look or wave of the hand. This removes the hassle and security risk of lost ID cards.

The building’s parking site also posed a challenge requiring a hassle and hands- free access solution.

“The entrance to our underground garage has a steep slope which makes it difficult for cars to stop and use a card reader for access,” says Frederic. “Gallagher’s integration with Nedap enabled us to provide access stickers that affix to vehicles so people didn’t have to fumble on the slope,” creating smoother – and safer – access to their garage.

Smoothing out the visitor experience

But GardaWorld wasn’t just after the flashiest technologies – at their core, they needed a security solution that could adapt to their building’s varying functions.

“Our headquarters serves multiple purposes and has a lot of people coming through, so we needed flexible access control,” Frederic explains.

Nowhere was this more evident than in GardaWorld’s training center, which sees hundreds of future security guards pass through their headquarters each year.

“Because our training school is in the same building as our main office, we needed to ensure that classrooms are tightly controlled, but we didn’t want to have to issue access cards to every group of students coming through because they’re only here for four days and then they’re gone.”

Gallagher’s visitor management tools provided an easy solution.

“When a new group of students comes in, we’re able to restrict their access to the just the classroom for the four days they’ll be here, and only during training hours,” says Frederic, ensuring the rest of the building remains safely off limits while simplifying entry for their temporary visitors.