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Blog Facial recognition tech in the workplace

The importance of facial recognition technology in the modern workplace

By Maddy GlynnDigital Marketing Specialist
Published on March 9, 2021

Investing in workplace security is paramount for large and small companies alike. One of the most significant investments made by organisations in recent years has been in facial recognition technologies.

A robust visitor management system can effectively counter potential modern-day safety risks. However, these risks are no longer limited to unauthorized entry, other hazards include theft, vandalism, commercial espionage or fraud.

The routine practice for most office premises is to issue fobs and identification badges to each visitor and employee who enters the office building. However, these can be lost, stolen or even faked by criminals who are bent on targeting your people. 

That is why there's been a greater need for more secure and robust security solutions for businesses to choose from.

Facial recognition technology has been the mainstay of action movies for several decades. But now, it has become a reality, making leeway into security setups all over the world to track visitors and develop a security check. 

In fact, reports from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) suggest facial recognition software is now 20 times more accurate than it was in 2014 at finding matches in databases filled with photographs. 

With the right system in place, you can automatically capture and validate facial identification to protect your workplace.

Facial recognition—what is it and how does it work?

We recognize each other, not by looking at fingerprints or scanning irises, but by looking and remembering everyone's faces. 

Facial recognition technology gives your security system similar abilities to verify an individual's identity by examining their face. This technology can be leveraged to identify people in videos and photos in real-time. 

This technology uses biometrics to map faces and save recognizable features as verifiable data, specific to that individual. Then, it compares the garnered information against their database of recognized faces to see if there's a match. This is an effective way to verify anyone's identity. 

Facial recognition technology is leveraged for law enforcement and security purposes. With recent market projections showing it will be worth $7.7 billion by 2022, up from $4 billion in 2017. And by 2025, it is projected to grow to $10.15 billion.

Here's how facial recognition works:

Step 1: Face detection 

Firstly, the camera identifies a face, whether in a crowd or alone. 

Step 2: Analysis of the identified face

Next, the system captures a photo of the face and analyzes it. Most facial recognition is based on 2D images instead of 3D because it is more convenient and easy to compare a 2D photo with those in a database or public photos. Nodal points or distinguishable landmarks make up every face. In fact, there are 80 nodal points on a human's face. Facial recognition software gauges the nodal points like your cheekbones' shape or the distance between your eyes.

Step 3: Image to data-based formula conversion

The system then smartly turns an individual's face analysis into a carefully worked-out formula. This numerical code creates a "faceprint" that is unique to the user. Similar to a thumbprint's unique structure, every person has their faceprint.

Step 4: Finding a face match

It compares the numerical code to their database of faceprints. The database consists of photos that have identification details to compare with the ones captured.

Every person has a unique facial structure. Now, facial recognition technology allows you to analyze those unique features, match them against your database information and identify them.

Applications for facial recognition in the workplace

Facial recognition is already in use and has widespread applications for organizations of all shapes and sizes.

The technology makes it easy to track employees and visitors while on-premises, which can otherwise be quite challenging if you work from a large office.  With sprawling facilities, there is a significant risk that visitors and employees wander away to explore or even get lost. 

Leveraging facial recognition technology helps you ascertain the number of visitors and employees in spaces where they shouldn't be. It also allows you to establish an additional security layer followed by smooth tracking of each present.

Although most of the employees and visitors' also check-in manually, they might forget to check out. With facial recognition, you can monitor their movements, automatically recording exit and entry along with their movement.

Additionally, it is a great double-check on people that may sneak into an area they are not allowed in. You can also set up alarm systems to alert you anytime the system recognizes an unauthorized entry.

However, facial recognition systems bring along various privacy issues. The technology can effortlessly track people, which makes them uneasy. Additionally, massive data breaches are not uncommon. Personal data collected and provided by the facial recognition software is not immune to theft.

Interestingly enough, despite its rather intrusive nature, people are more than okay with using this technology if it means securing their environments. Research shows that 49% of people approve of using facial recognition in stores to catch shoplifters.

In addition, 54% of Americans support unrestricted use of these technologies where there is a proven benefit to public safety. As such, we can expect to see this technology being implemented in a lot of places. 

Utilise technology to protect your workplace

This controversial, yet highly effective technology is here to stay. 

We will see it breakthrough into more industries to eventually become commonplace in the world.

The right visitor management solution can seamlessly integrate facial recognition and help you build cohesive security with modern technology and the latest features. The security services landscape of facial recognition technology has drastically changed since its inception. 

And with a visitor management platform like Sine, which cohesively integrates facial recognition in their system, the analyzing process becomes straightforward. Now, the visitors and employees don't have to go through a rigorous process, conveniently helping all the involved parties.

facial recognition example

Facial recognition with Sine offers an automated, quick, and seamless authentication experience to its users that requires no data entry for sign-in purposes.

Incorporating facial recognition technology in the workplace comes with infinite possibilities. It enables you to establish a safe and secure system. Sine significantly helps you enhance the existing security and safety system and allows you to manage the workplace. 

Book a demo with Sine to learn more about our workplace security and safety management solutions.

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