Entry sensor:
people counting,
made simple.

Building entry sensors are devices that are used to track and monitor the movement of people entering and leaving a building, floor, or confined space. 

Entry sensors typically use one of several technologies to detect the presence of people as they enter or exit a building. The most common include computer vision, infrared, WiFi, Bluetooth, and RFID. Entry sensors are installed at the entrances to a building, floor, or area. Once installed, these sensors track the movement of people in real-time, allowing workplace professionals to get a better understanding of overall workplace utilization — how much their space is being used. Often, the data from entry sensors are delivered to a workplace analytics solution for analysis, standardization, trending, and visualization.

The data collected by entry sensors can be used for many purposes. Some of the most common use cases are to assess workplace space and resource needs, optimize building operations, and improve energy efficiency. Some common use cases include understanding occupancy patterns on various days of the week or times of day so workplace professionals can understand resource demands. 

Get an in-depth introduction to sensors with this blog post, Occupancy Sensors 101.

Entry sensors are important for gathering workplace occupancy data for several reasons:

• Accurate entry and exit data collection: Entry sensors provide accurate data on the number of people entering and exiting a building or workspace. This data can be used to determine the actual occupancy level of a space and uncover usage patterns over time.
• Ideas for real estate cost savings: Since many real estate teams are looking for ways to reduce real estate costs in light of hybrid work rules and the challenging economy, they need reliable data on occupancy on which to make their assessments and plans. Entry sensors can provide entry and exit data to help power more effective decision-making. 
• Improved space utilization: With accurate occupancy data, workplace leaders can determine if specific office locaitons or floors are under- or overutilized. This information can be used to optimize workplace footprint and size, which can lead to cost savings and improved productivity.
• Energy efficiency: By tracking occupancy data, workplace leaders can optimize energy usage in the workplace. 

Entry sensors and area sensors serve different purposes and provide different insights. While entry sensors provide data on the number of people entering and exiting a building or workspace, area sensors can provide a more comprehensive view of how a space is being used.

Area sensors are installed throughout a workspace to track occupancy levels in different areas, such as individual offices, meeting rooms, and common areas. This data can be used to identify patterns of usage, optimize space utilization, and improve workplace design.

Entry sensors, on the other hand, are installed at building or area entry and exit points, and are primarily used to track the number of people entering and exiting a space. While they can provide valuable data on overall occupancy levels, they do not provide the same level of detail as area sensors.

Some companies deploy entry sensors as a first step toward comprehensive occupancy measurement and optimization. They get overall insights that help prove the value of precision measurement. To get a complete picture of workplace occupancy, it’s valuable to use a combination of entry sensors and area sensors. By using both types of sensors, workplace and real estate teams can gather more comprehensive and accurate data on how their space is being used and make informed decisions to optimize workplace operations.

Learn more about area sensors on the XY Sense Area Sensors webpage. 

There are many reasons why entry sensors are a better way to measure occupancy than the various alternatives:

• • More accurate data: Entry sensors provide more accurate data on occupancy levels than alternative methods. Key card systems and time clocks rely on individuals to swipe or clock in. These approaches become inaccurate if individuals forget or intentionally piggyback and bypass the systems. Surveys and observational studies rely on self-reported or observed data, which can be biased or incomplete. In contrast, entry sensors provide highly accurate real-time data on occupancy levels, making it far more reliable and accurate.
  • Non-invasive: Entry sensors are non-invasive and do not require individuals to interact with them, unlike key card systems and time clocks. This means that there is less risk of user error or intentional manipulation of the data. Additionally, entry sensors do not require team members to carry devices or cards to be counted. This ensures more accurate data and insights.
  • Privacy Preserving: Some alternative technologies pass personally identifiable data along with employee count information, which can make employees feel exposed and may add additional legal challenges and risks. By contrast, entry sensors provide only an anonymous count of employees entering and exiting. 
  • Continuous monitoring: Entry sensors can provide continuous monitoring of occupancy levels, while key card systems and time clocks can only provide data when individuals swipe or clock in. Surveys and observational studies provide only a snapshot of occupancy levels at a particular point in time. Continuous monitoring allows real estate teams to track occupancy patterns over time and make informed decisions about space utilization and building operations.
  • Outstanding Privacy Protection: Entry sensors are designed to track occupancy levels without collecting personal data, unlike key card systems and time clocks, which collect personal information. This can help alleviate privacy concerns among employees and visitors, and ensures companies fully observe their own privacy policies. 

• Computer vision entry sensors provide more accurate and detailed data on occupancy levels that all of these technological alternatives. Computer vision sensors use advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence to detect and track human movement more precisely. They provide more accurate counts of individuals as they enter and leave a space. The superior computer vision technology provides more accurate counts of individuals as they enter and exit than do other technologies.

  Wifi, Bluetooth, and RFID sensors rely on individuals carrying a device or card with them. If users carry more than one device, or forget their devices, counts become inaccurate.  Computer vision sensors, on the other hand, are not device-dependent.

  Additionally, quality computer vision sensors can offer a far larger range than technologies like infrared. For example, XY Sense computer vision Entry Sensors offer a range of 1000 square feet (95 square meters) – space for about 20 workstations – while Infrared entry sensors can only monitor about half that area. That means that companies can deploy far fewer sensors, lowering hardware, installation, and maintenance costs. 

XY Sense offers a comprehensive guide to workplace analytics platforms that you may find helpful for learning more. Download our buyer’s guide to workplace utilization technology.

Entry sensors can measure a variety of important data metrics related to workplace occupancy, including:

• Count of entries and exits: Entry sensors can count the number of times an individual enters or exits a specific area, building, or room.
• Traffic flow: The direction and speed of traffic movement through a specific area or location.
• Occupancy rate: The number of people present in a particular space at any given time.
• Time in office: Entry sensors provide important insights on how long people stay in an office. 
• Peak hour usage: The busiest hours of the day or week in a particular area or location.

Armed with this information, workplace leaders have a critical foundation on which to make better decisions. 

For more insight, download the XY Sense Solution Brief for Entry Sensors.

Making the right choice for entry sensors is important. Here is a list of attributes to consider to help you make the best selection:

• Accuracy: The accuracy of the sensors is critical in ensuring that the data collected is reliable and can be used for decision-making. Look for a platform that uses reliable and accurate sensors and algorithms to ensure accurate data collection. We recommend and use computer vision sensors in part because of their superior accuracy.  For example XY Sense Entry Sensors offers superior accuracy (<1ft) and are highly accurate in identifying the precise number of people entering a building, floor, or space. 
• Range: Broader coverage area per sensor means fewer sensors – and lower installation and maintenance costs. Choosing computer vision offers significant advantages because these sensors have a far larger range than other technologies. For example, XY Sense offers wide-area sensors that cover 1000 square feet (95 square meters,) versus competitors that usually have a range of only about half that figure. 
• Sustainability: Some systems are better than others at limiting materials usage and e-waste. Wide-area sensors cover a greater office footprint than competitor sensors – 1,000 sq ft, or the area for about 20 desks. That means fewer sensors and less wiring are necessary.  Additionally, daisy-chain installation methodology pioneered by XY Sense in our SenseLink solution dramatically reduces wiring and equipment costs for every installation – including up to 90% less cabling. Further, battery-free sensors mean reduced toxic e-waste. For a 20,000-headcount organization, a battery-powered system could mean as much as 1-2,000 pounds of disposable battery waste every 2 years.
• Integration: The platform should be compatible with the existing infrastructure, including networking, IT, and building management systems. 
• Security and Privacy: The platform should have robust security and privacy features, including data encryption and access controls, to protect sensitive information. For example, XY Sense offers robust security and privacy protection through multiple means, including leveraging computer vision with edge processing which ensures that no images or other information that could potentially contain proprietary company information or employee personally identifiable information (PII) are stored or transmitted from sensors. This means an unsurpassed combination of privacy and security protection. 
• Data Analytics: Many sensor systems can provide data, but insight is quite a different thing. The best systems offer a comprehensive insights platform to help make your data actionable. For example, XY Sense offers a comprehensive analytics toolset as part of every engagement. 
• Cost: The cost of the platform is an important factor to consider, including the upfront costs of installation and ongoing maintenance costs. Installation costs can vary by $Millions on global installation programs – make sure you factor those into your overall considerations. For example, XY Sense was able to save a financial services company $12M for a global deployment across its facilities. 
• Support, Service, and Strategic Assistance: The availability of technical support and service is essential in ensuring the continued operation and accuracy of the platform. This kind of human support, in combination with real-time data from your platform, can help you boost employee productivity, give business leaders critical facts, and power better decisions in a host of areas. 

The XY Sense team would be pleased to show you a demo of our Entry Sensors. Just get in touch now using our convenient web form.