A new report from Goode Intelligence projects that biometric physical access control systems will generate more than $16.31 billion in global revenue by 2031. The study highlights rising demand for face, palm, and multimodal biometric solutions as organizations seek stronger security and more frictionless user experiences across offices, government facilities, healthcare institutions, and transport hubs.
The 215-page report, Biometric Physical Access Control: Market and Technology Analysis, Adoption Strategies & Forecasts 2026–2031, examines market drivers, technology trends, and supplier activity across major sectors. It forecasts more than 1.5 billion users of biometric access systems by the end of the decade, marking a shift from card- and PIN-based entry systems toward biometric authentication as either a second factor or sole credential.
Biometric technologies are becoming standard components of modern building security infrastructure, replacing or supplementing traditional keycards. Deployments now range from face and fingerprint recognition to contactless modalities such as iris and palm authentication, reflecting the broader evolution of physical access control toward automated, identity-based verification.
According to Goode Intelligence, facial recognition remains the most widely deployed biometric for access control, supported by AI-enabled camera systems capable of detecting tailgating and other unauthorized activity. Palm recognition is emerging rapidly as a contactless option suited to high-traffic environments such as healthcare and finance. Fingerprint authentication continues to dominate in smartcards and compact readers, while retina and finger-vein recognition are being applied in specialized security use cases.
Recent implementations show the technology’s expanding reach. The Alcatraz AI Rock X system completed operational testing at Honolulu Airport, demonstrating how facial recognition can support frictionless secure entry. In the corporate sector, JPMorgan Chase’s biometric-enabled headquarters integrates palm and face authentication to manage employee access across multiple security zones.
The report identifies convergence between physical and logical access management as a key market driver. Biometric credentials are increasingly being used to verify both physical entry and digital system access, connecting facility security with enterprise IT infrastructure. Consolidation across the identity industry supports this integration, as shown in Toppan’s acquisition of ASSA ABLOY’s Citizen ID business and Invixium’s acquisition of a real-time location systems specialist, both aimed at expanding unified identity and access platforms.
Goode Intelligence also points to strong adoption in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, where face recognition is becoming the dominant modality. The report highlights potential for “biometric corridors,” applying border-control technology to replace gates and turnstiles with automated verification systems that reduce infrastructure costs and improve throughput.
Alan Goode, founder and CEO of Goode Intelligence, said biometric access control is “creating solutions that are more secure and friction-less.” He added that biometrics are being deployed “as a strong second factor, card plus biometric for instance, or as a sole factor—no card or token, just you.”
The findings indicate a market rapidly transitioning toward biometric-first access control, where secure identity verification and convenience are reshaping how organizations manage entry and authentication worldwide.
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By Cass Kennedy
