Why Elevators and Security Need a Single Pane of Glass

Introduction: The Invisible Backbone of Buildings

When people think about modern commercial real estate, they often picture the glass façades, smart office designs, or tenant amenities that grab attention in leasing brochures. But beneath the glamour, there are two systems that quietly define how people experience buildings every single day: elevators and security.

Elevators determine how efficiently people move. Security ensures the right people move to the right places. Both are mission-critical, yet for decades they’ve been treated as parallel worlds. Security checks people at the door. Elevators transport them after the fact. And between those two events lies a blind spot that impacts efficiency, safety, and the tenant experience.

This white space is where BluSKY steps in — by unifying elevators and security into a single pane of glass dashboard that integrates movement, identity, and data.

The Status Quo: Two Silos, One Experience

In most high-rises today, the tenant journey looks like this:

• Step 1: Swipe a badge at the lobby turnstile.
• Step 2: Wait for an elevator.
• Step 3: Enter a car, select a floor, and ride.

On the surface, this works. But scratch deeper and the cracks show:

• Security Blind Spots: Once past the turnstile, security visibility drops. Who’s in the elevator? Where are they going? There’s no live context.
• Unauthorized Access: Without integration, it’s possible for unauthorized individuals to “piggyback” or ride elevators to sensitive floors.
• Operational Inefficiency: Elevators assign cars based on generic traffic patterns, not actual identity or access data.
• Lost Analytics: Elevator usage data exists, but in isolation from tenant identity, it tells only half the story.

For tenants, these silos show up as longer wait times, crowded rides, and frustration. For owners, they create risks, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities to optimize.

The Cost of Siloed Systems

While the problem sounds technical, the consequences are tangible:

• Tenant Retention: CRETech surveys reveal over 60% of tenants cite elevators as a top frustration point in daily building operations. Even the nicest lobbies can’t compensate for poor elevator experiences.
• Security Risks: A 2023 ASIS report noted that 17% of unauthorized access incidents in multi-tenant buildings exploited gaps in vertical transportation systems.
• Financial Impact: Delays, inefficiencies, and lack of optimization can add hidden operational costs that eat into NOI (Net Operating Income).

When elevators and security fail to work together, the building experience suffers.

The Future State: One Pane of Glass

The solution is not to bolt more tech onto each silo — it’s to unify them. BluSKY delivers a single dashboard that integrates:

• Configuration & Control: Define rules for cars, floors, and access points in real time.
• Hybrid Access Methods: Support mobile, wallet, biometrics, QR codes, prox, and legacy cards in one ecosystem.
• Real-Time Monitoring: See live elevator positions, car occupancy, rider identities, and floor access.
• Analytics & Reporting: Automated insights on wait times, travel optimization, peak demand, and stress loads.
• Emergency Management: Instantly lock down floors, cars, or banks while preserving access for first responders.
• Integrated Communications: Video, audio, and text intercoms linked directly to the dashboard.

Instead of fragmented systems, owners, tenants, and operators get one source of truth.

Use Cases That Resonate

Morning Commute Optimization

In a 40-story office tower, mornings mean elevator chaos. Tenants queue, cars overload, and wait times spike. With BluSKY, identity-driven dispatch transforms the experience. Employees badge in at the turnstile, their destination floor is auto-assigned, and a car is already waiting. Wait time becomes walk time.

Visitor Management Made Simple

A first-time visitor receives a QR code credential. Upon entry, BluSKY validates identity, assigns an elevator, and ensures they arrive at the right floor — no confusion, no mistakes. Security knows exactly who they are, and hosts get real-time notifications of arrival.

Emergency Lockdown

During a threat scenario, a command center can lock out entire floors or elevator banks instantly. At the same time, first responders retain access through pre-programmed credentials. Integrated video feeds provide situational awareness inside cars and lobbies, ensuring fast, informed decisions.

Data-Driven Ownership

With unified analytics, owners gain insights like:

• Which floors generate the most traffic at different times.
• How tenant patterns affect building flow.
• When cars are underutilized or overloaded.

This data informs not just operations, but leasing strategy, staffing models, and capital planning.

The Business Case for Unification

For Tenants

• Faster, frictionless commutes.
• Personalized experiences (pre-selected floors, mobile credentials).
• Reduced frustration and stress.

For Visitors

• Seamless, professional first impressions.
• QR and wallet passes simplify access.
• Guided journeys that reflect well on the property.

For Owners/Managers

• Reduced risk and liability through stronger security.
• Higher tenant satisfaction and retention.
• Actionable data that informs long-term asset value.

For Integrators & Consultants

• A unique differentiator in proposals.
• Simplified deployments by reducing siloed systems.
• A future-ready platform to support evolving client needs.

The Future: AI + Security + Elevators

The true power of unification lies in prediction. BluSKY uses AI to make elevators anticipatory systems:

• Predictive Traffic Management: Anticipate demand surges (e.g., post-lunch returns) and pre-position cars.
• Personalized Journeys: Recognize frequent tenant behaviors and dispatch cars proactively.
• Anomaly Detection: Flag unusual elevator usage patterns that may signal security threats.

As cities grow denser and buildings more complex, these capabilities aren’t luxuries — they’re necessities.

Conclusion: A Smarter Way Up

Elevators and security were never meant to be separate. Both serve the same ultimate purpose: moving people safely and efficiently through a building. By unifying them into one pane of glass, BluSKY redefines the building experience.

For tenants, it means faster commutes. For visitors, it means seamless access. For owners, it means smarter decisions and stronger buildings. And for the industry, it signals the end of silos and the rise of truly intelligent buildings.

One system. One dashboard. Total control.