According to the most recent Commercial Victimisation Survey, approximately 14% of business premises in England and Wales experienced theft in the past year, while roughly 8% were the targets of commercial burglaries (including attempted break-ins).
With commercial properties facing such threats, having a reliable access control solution isn’t just a convenience – it’s a necessity. The right system can prevent unauthorised access, protect valuable assets, and even enhance operational efficiency.
Commercial electric gates, in particular, offer businesses a secure, automated solution that simplifies access management while offering robust security.
In this guide, the experts at Windlesham Gates will outline how commercial automatic gates can benefit thriving businesses and explore the key access control features that augment these systems.
Business Benefits of Commercial Electric Gates
The benefits of commercial electric gates extend beyond basic security. These gates contribute to a safer, more efficient, and more productive work environment.
1. Asset Protection
For commercial properties, protecting tangible assets is paramount. Whether it’s expensive equipment, branded vehicles, inventory, or cash takings, every size of company has valuable items that need protecting outside of working hours.
Without sufficient protection, these assets can become targets for thieves or vandals. A report by The Federation of Small Businesses found that the average cost of commercial crime is £14,360 per affected business (across a 2 year period), so theft can have a significant financial impact.
Commercial automatic gates provide a secure barrier that safeguards company assets by deterring potential trespassers. By restricting unauthorised access to the property through access control features, electric gates also help to protect any sensitive information that is stored on-site.
Since criminal issues often lead to hassle, stress, and time taken up with damage repair or police investigations, commercial electric gates are a smart investment to proactively secure company assets and help reduce the risk of theft or damage.
2. Operational Efficiency
Commercial automatic gates not only enhance security but also significantly improve operational efficiency by reducing the need for manual gate operation.
With automated gate functions, staff no longer have to open and close gates throughout the day, saving time and enabling them to focus on more critical tasks. This is especially beneficial for large properties where the gate may be located some distance from the main building.
Automated access control also minimises the need for additional security personnel, as gates can be operated remotely or through pre-programmed settings, lowering overhead costs and streamlining operations.
For businesses with regular deliveries or multiple entry points, these gates efficiently manage vehicle traffic by controlling entry and exit, ensuring that only authorised vehicles are granted access.
By saving time and resources while maintaining secure access, commercial electric gates represent a valuable investment for busy properties.
Key Access Control Features for Commercial Electric Gates
Although all commercial electric gates offer benefits such as enhanced security and practicality, the right access control features can unlock additional advantages for commercial properties.
Some of the most effective access control options available include:
1. Keypad Entry
Keypad entry systems are a secure and practical solution for businesses that require frequent access for multiple users, but wish to avoid the inconvenience of distributing and managing physical access tools such as keys, fobs, or access cards.
With a keypad, only trusted individuals who know the entry code can pass through the commercial electric gates to access the business premises, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorised entry. Depending on the system, businesses can opt for a single shared code for all visitors or assign unique codes to individual users.
To maintain optimal security, codes can be updated regularly or revoked as needed. This is particularly useful for companies with a high turnover of employees or regular changes in access requirements. For businesses with frequent visitors, providing trusted customers or suppliers with their own codes saves staff the time and effort of having to manually grant access at the gate.
Additionally, keypad entry eliminates the administrative burden and security risks associated with users losing their key or physical access credential.
Overall, keypads offer a streamlined and reliable way to manage access to commercial properties.
2. Remote Monitoring
Remote monitoring capabilities provide businesses with a powerful way to oversee gate activity in real time.
By equipping commercial electric gates with integrated CCTV systems, businesses can supervise gate access and respond to events as they happen. Video intercom systems, which allow security personnel to see and communicate with visitors at the gate through a live video feed, offer similar functionality but are often less visually prominent.
Such real-time remote monitoring options are especially valuable for industrial sites, properties where gates are located away from the main building, premises without physically manned perimeters, and offices where restricted access is critical.
In addition to viewing live feeds, remote monitoring enables security personnel to control gate access from anywhere. Whether granting or denying entry, security staff can respond promptly to ensure the property’s safety, even outside of standard operating hours. This ability to manage gate activity remotely offers unmatched flexibility for businesses and ensures continuous protection.
Beyond convenience, visible security cameras act as a strong deterrent against potential intruders. Knowing that gate activity is being recorded and observed in real time significantly reduces the likelihood of unauthorised access. For security-focused properties, remote monitoring is therefore an essential feature of commercial electric gates.
3. Automatic Locking and Timers
Automatic locking and timer features enhance gate functionality by offering a secure, hands-free solution for managing entry and exit according to predefined schedules. These capabilities are especially advantageous for businesses with predictable operating hours or frequent gate use.
Timers can be programmed to open and close commercial automatic gates at specific times, such as the start and end of the workday. This ensures that gates are secured outside of business hours without requiring manual intervention from staff.
For businesses operating in high-traffic environments, this automation also simplifies access management – allowing workers to save time and focus on other operational priorities – and reduces the risk of human error.
Automatic locking mechanisms provide peace of mind that your gate will close and lock securely after each use. When combined with robust gate designs and electric motors, this makes it incredibly difficult for would-be trespassers to force commercial electric gates open, which significantly enhances overall security.
Gates with these capabilities create a seamless and convenient solution for businesses, helping to streamline security routines, improve operational efficiency, and maintain consistent protection with minimal effort from staff.
Manage Access to Your Business with Commercial Electric Gates
For modern businesses, effective access control is essential for security and operational efficiency. Commercial electric gates provide a streamlined business solution that allows for convenient, secure entry monitoring and management.
With features like keypad entry, remote monitoring, and automatic locking, these gates offer robust security and convenience. Beyond protecting assets, commercial automatic gates improve operational flow and reduce the need for manual gate management, allowing businesses to focus on core activities.
At Windlesham Gates, we have extensive experience in providing superior commercial gates and security solutions for high-traffic premises. Whatever your business, our experts can help find the perfect gate solution to protect your property, secure your assets, and streamline operations.
Contact our team today to start discussing access control options for your business.
