About the business
I manage a mixed-use building: offices, and a steady stream of visitors. Contractors, deliveries, interview candidates.
The problem
We emailed each visitor a QR code, and the door opened when they scanned it. Cheap and quick.
Then a contractor's code turned up on a second phone. It was a screenshot.
The code never changed, so anyone holding the picture could get in. A static QR code is just a picture.
What we did
First, we learned that "dynamic" in marketing often only means the web address behind the code can be edited. That does nothing to stop reuse.
So we asked a better question: does the code rotate, and is it signed or time-based? In ticketing, rotating codes typically refresh every 15 to 60 seconds, so an old screenshot fails.
Now every visitor code is tied to a named host and one time window, and it expires. Staff and high-risk doors stay on cards.
The result
Visitors get in without us printing cards. Every entry links to a host and a time. A forwarded screenshot stops working fast.
QR isn't for every door. For visitors, it fits well. Here's how a coworking space used it for guests.
Sending visitors QR codes today? Tell us how they're made and how long they last. We'll tell you honestly whether a screenshot could get someone in.
Free door-by-door access review
Send us your door list, or just tell us what's behind each door. We'll reply with the weak spots and what to fix first, cheapest first.
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