The latest edition of Assa Abloy’s long-running Wireless Access Control Report has been released, and the 2025 survey signals a clear market transition: wireless and hybrid deployments have surpassed wired-only systems among digitally managed access infrastructures. The findings indicate a sector moving beyond early adoption into a mature phase, where integration, scalability, and demonstrable ROI are critical to advancing next-generation smart building ecosystems.

With wireless-first deployments now prevailing, the industry emphasis has shifted towards advanced digitalisation: intelligent integrations with enterprise IT systems, secure cloud-based services, and measurable sustainability outcomes. The report, compiled from almost 500 professionals across security, facilities management, and IT, documents adoption trends, regulatory readiness, and technology priorities shaping the access control landscape.

“The digitalisation of access control has reached an inflection point,” states Richard Sharp, VP & Head of Product Unit Wireless Locks, DAS at Assa Abloy Opening Solutions EMEIA. “Our data confirms that wireless is no longer a niche alternative – it is becoming the standard architecture for security deployments.”

Sustainability as a design driver

Buildings account for around 30% of global energy demand, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The report highlights that sustainability is no longer a secondary consideration in procurement. For 27% of respondents, sustainability is now the primary driver when evaluating new access technologies.

Wireless deployments directly contribute to sustainability objectives by reducing cabling and infrastructure overhead, while battery-powered and energy-harvesting locks significantly lower lifetime energy consumption compared to wired equivalents.

Growing demand for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) also demonstrates how access control systems are being incorporated into broader green building frameworks such as BREEAM, LEED, and WELL.

“Access data increasingly feeds into occupancy analytics, ESG reporting, and energy optimisation strategies,” explains Owen Kell, Senior IoT & Security Research Associate at Memoori. “Access Control as a Service is now part of a wider convergence of security, IT, and sustainability.”

Regulatory readiness and cyber resilience

The 2023 edition of the report identified substantial knowledge gaps regarding cybersecurity legislation, with over half of respondents unaware of key frameworks such as NIS2 and the EU Cyber Resilience Act. The 2025 survey shows progress, though challenges remain.

While 84% of organisations report they are either compliant, in the process of compliance, or unaffected by these regulations, 16% admit they are not prepared. This lack of readiness is critical, as regulatory pressure intensifies.

“Cyber security is rapidly becoming a regulated board-level risk,” comments Andy Watkin-Child of Veritas GRC. “Failure to implement effective governance could result in civil or even criminal liability. Manufacturers and operators must maintain close alignment to ensure compliance.”

The report stresses the importance of integrating physical access systems within enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategies, reflecting the growing convergence between IT and OT environments.

Mobile adoption reaches maturity

Mobile credentials, long predicted as the next wave of access management, are now established as a mainstream deployment model. According to the 2025 data, 17% of organisations already operate fully mobile environments – more than triple the 2023 figure.

The number of organisations merely planning mobile deployments has fallen (26% in 2025 versus 39% in 2023), signalling a clear shift from intent to execution. Mobile digital access is no longer a future consideration; it is operational reality.

“Mobile access has matured from pilot projects into scalable enterprise deployments,” Sharp notes. “The benefits – operational agility, user convenience, enhanced security, and sustainability – are being realised at scale.”

The report concludes that mobile credential ecosystems, coupled with wireless-first infrastructure, define the new baseline for digital access control. As adoption accelerates, the sector’s focus is turning to interoperability, advanced analytics, and value creation through integration with broader smart building platforms.

Would you like me to further enrich this with technical details on wireless protocols (e.g., BLE, NFC, cloud edge integration) and security hardening measures, or keep it at this business-technical balance?