Cushman & Wakefield rolls out new keyless access control system at New York City headquarters

Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) has partnered with KISI Inc., a leading provider and developer of a cloud-managed keyless access control system, to roll out mobile access technology at the C&W corporate headquarters in New York City. This marks one of the first enterprise installations of this kind in a New York City office building. Once employees of C&W have downloaded the secure KISI mobile application, they are able to unlock doors within the C&W office suite via their iPhone or Android devices. This innovation is about embracing a new mobile-first philosophy, where consumers are using their smartphones to board planes and purchase groceries; now we can extend this reach to our workplace. For a workforce that is becoming more globalized and transient, traditional access cards and delays at reception can become burdensome. A mobile software solution is thus inevitable. "As a firm, Cushman & Wakefield is always looking for new, innovative opportunities to keep our company and office space ahead of the ever-evolving tech curve," said John Santora, C&W CEO of North America. "Our employees are constantly using mobile technologies for productivity, security and collaboration. KISI's technology enables all of this at the point of access, and makes our corporate headquarters ready for the future." As a leading manager of some of the world's most high profile properties, this partnership will allow C&W to be at the forefront of this evolution. C&W intends to collaborate with KISI, offering this innovative solution to their clients, transforming the way they secure their space. "We see the Internet of Things moving to the enterprise and encompassing entire cities. We believe KISI can contribute to making this city more livable and more secure," said Bernhard Mehl, co-founder of KISI. The installation of KISI technology is one of many tech-oriented initiatives that C&W has undertaken in recent months. In 2014, the firm launched C&W TechBeat, an innovative website that has been serving as a tool for technology startups and creative companies, offering the latest information, reports and trends on the Manhattan commercial real estate market. Additionally, C&W was the exclusive sponsor of the 2014 Tech Crunch Disrupt, one of the most iconic startup and thought leadership programs hosted in New York City each year. In fact, it was at Tech Crunch Disrupt that C&W was introduced to the KISI team and began this particular initiative.