The New Norm for Class A Office Access: Wallet Credentials Leveraging NFC

Class A buildings are no longer defined by location or architecture alone. They are increasingly evaluated by the quality of the tenant experience, seamless building access and smart amenities provided. Technology has become central to that experience. Modern access control systems are often the first interaction tenants have with the building each day and are one of the clearest indications of whether a property delivers on the promise of being Class A.

Tenant Experiences Are Driving Change

Research from CBRE’s 2024–2025 Global Workplace & Occupancy Insights ^[1] emphasizes that employee satisfaction and seamless technology integration are now critical factors in how tenants evaluate and remain in buildings. JLL’s 2025 Technology Spaces Report ^[2] makes a similar point: tenants are no longer looking at office space simply as square footage, but as an ecosystem of infrastructure, digital services and connected interaction that support innovation, collaboration and employee experience. JLL also noted in its study of new amenities that what differentiates buildings today is not just the number of amenities, but their quality and impact on the day-to-day tenant journey from “street to seat.”

NFC Technology: Proven, Secure and Trusted

For years, our industry has trusted Near Field Communication (NFC) technology because it’s secure, fast and reliable. The short range needed for an NFC tap adds additional security as the user must be within a few centimeters giving a high certainty of the person tapping is the person going through the turnstile. This is especially important in office buildings, corporate campuses and workplaces where physical access security is a top priority.

The financial industry also adopted NFC for secure tap-to-pay transactions on credit cards. It’s no surprise that when Apple, Google and Samsung wanted to add the additional convenience of tap-and-go with mobile wallets and smart watches, they too, trust NFC technology as the proven experience for digital wallet credentials.

The Rise of Wallet Credentials in Commercial Real Estate

Today’s professionals are increasingly using the convenience of NFC “tap-and-go” in many aspects of their lives, paying at restaurants and stores, hopping on a train and now securely accessing their workplaces. Wallet credentials are one of the fastest growing technologies in the security industry, and commercial real estate (CRE) is one of the fastest growing verticals adopting them. CRE IT and security leaders are embracing this trend and swapping out plastic badges for digital passes for their tenants. 

Employees forgetting their physical badge?  With wallet credentials, no more.

Lost physical badge creating a security risk?  With wallet credentials, almost non-existent.

Hands full and can’t easily access your physical badge?  Tap your watch.

Why NFC Wallet Credentials Help Define the Class A Tenant Experience

For landlords and tenants alike, the message is clear. Buildings that install NFC based wallet access control today are reinforcing their position as Class A, aligning with tenant expectations and the premium experience documented by CBRE and JLL.

Wallet credentials leveraging NFC is not an upgrade, it is the baseline requirement for what a Class A office experience means going forward.

^[1] https://www.cbre.com/insights/reports/2024-2025-global-workplace-and-occupancy-insights

^[2] https://www.jll.com/en-us/insights/technology-spaces-research