Traffic & transportation

January 18, 2021

Three Signs You Need ANPR-Based Vehicle Access Control

Is your access control system meeting your needs? Read on to find out how ANPR solutions can revitalize your facility’s parking management and security.

How to Tell If Your Vehicle Access Control System Needs an Upgrade?

Think about whether you are satisfied with your current parking and vehicle access control system. Which parts of it are succeeding or failing? We recommend answering the following questions to determine the problems you may be facing. After that, you can have an idea of the most well-rounded solution.

1. Is Your Staff Overworked?

No access control system is truly complete without personnel. If your site has high traffic with many incoming and exiting vehicles, staff members could easily be overworked and less effective at their duties.

cctv security system
When the access control management needs too much human resource

If you have an entirely manual configuration, you rely on staff to perform all facets of the access control process. The need for constant supervision creates vulnerability. Fatigue or an overflow of information opens the door for mistakes and increases the chance for security risks.

Do these issues sound familiar? If yes, maybe it’s time to think about how to modernize your vehicle access control system. ANPR-based entry/exit management will automate a lot of currently manual functions. Vehicles get nearly-instantaneous access based on plate information analyzed by the system. This allows staff stationed at the site to focus on other security and maintenance aspects.

2. Are There Longer Wait Times or Increasing Lines at Entry/Exit Points?

If yes, it’s not a good experience – either for your employees and guests or for your security staff. Of course, if the staff has to register all vehicles manually, it takes significant time. When the volume of cars passing through your site increases just a little, soon you will face longer wait times and sometimes even queues of vehicles at your company’s entry points.

Driver waiting in car for admittance
Slow access control takes effect on the employees, guests, and security staff, too.

One solution is to speed up and streamline the interactions between drivers and the parking system itself. With ANPR-based access control, automation reduces the number of time vehicles spend in the gate area and the amount of time security staff spends looking at information about each car. License plate recognition has advanced to a point where ANPR software scans and logs plate characters in seconds, and results are digitally available on multiple devices.

3. Trouble Searching for Previous Events in Your Access Control Interface?

It may be increasingly challenging for you to maintain a cumulative record of vehicles passing through your area. Personnel still scribe license plates of incoming vehicles on paper or register them manually in outdated security systems at many corporate sites.

looking for access control data
If it takes too much time to look for previous events

Either case, if you don’t have enough information to continually cultivate security or are experiencing issues browsing through past events, you might need to rethink elements of your system.

You can benefit from having the maximum amount of information about vehicles attempting to access your site. This may include their last visit, their complete history of visitation, or even their travels into surrounding areas outside of your site. All of this information is accessible through an automated access control system using license plate recognition technology.

If you already have such capabilities, make sure that your system accurately portrays and securely stores results. You’ll want a simple interface to navigate and speed up the search process so you can scan through events with ease – even at a distance of time.

What Is ANPR?

ANPR, or Automatic Number Plate Recognition, refers to the capture, verification, and logging of license plate numbers at critical vehicle entry and exit points in various locations. ANPR cameras like Vidar or Einar read license plates in milliseconds. Oftentimes, they can recognize characters in multiple languages for worldwide implementation.

ANPR vehicle access control
Example for a modern vehicle access control with ANPR (ParkIT system)

Whether as standalone products integrated into an existing system or as part of a family of related hardware and software, ANPR cameras have advanced capabilities that allow quick and accurate readings. They are beneficial for streamlining entry and exit processes and strengthening access control functions.

Benefits ANPR Brings Into Your Access Control…

Think of the differences between reading and registering plates manually vs. entirely automatically. The following list shows the main benefits of introducing ANPR to your access control:

  • Flexibility: Access control systems with ANPR perform better than those without. With a wide range of adaptable hardware and software available, you can build your system to meet your exact needs and adjust as they change over time.
  • Convenience and Error Reduction: Whether struggling with efficiency and speed or recognition errors, ANPR can provide an easy solution. Because most ANPR systems are automated, implementation of this technology essentially eliminates the chance for human error, as there are less steps to take manually. A modern state-of-the-art system will automatically scan and log plates, verify the vehicle’s entry privileges and lift the gate without the need for human intervention.
  • Human Resources: ANPR frees up human resources to help staff hone in on the most relevant tasks at hand. There is no need for employees to manually read plates, as ANPR fully automates all such functions.
  • Paperlessness: As this type of system usually reduces the need for a kiosk, there are no tickets printed at entry or exit – making this an environmentally conscious access control initiative.
vehicle access control with ANPR
Entry/exit management based on license plate data

… With a Well-Chosen Company

Whether you are setting up a new system or trying to revitalize an existing one, there are a variety of manufacturers ready to give you precisely what you need to create the system that works best for you. You will need to consider many factors before committing to a purchase.

In this process, you can always rely on Adaptive Recognition – we have been developing ANPR technology since 1991. With great experience and a client-focused attitude, you’ll always be in good hands. Do not hesitate to ask our experts regarding your access control system.