Openpath Access Control Tested - 2018

Published Nov 20, 2018 15:57 PM

*** ********** ** ****** ******** ** uncommon, *********** *** ******** ********* $** ************ **** ****.

[***:******** ****** ******* ****** ****** ****]

*** ******* *** ******* ******** ********, but **** **** ******** **********. ***** system ****** ***** ************ **** *********** access ******* ********* ****** ***** ***********, cloud ***** **********, *** *****-**-**** *******.

** ****** *** ****** ** ******** panel *** *** *********** ***** '*****' readers ** *** *** **** ** compares ** ****** **********.

IPVM Image

*** **** ********* *** ******** ***** key ********:

  • *** ********* ** '*****' *******
  • ***** *********** *** ** ****
  • *** *** *** *****, & ***** It *****
  • *** *** *** ****** ** ********* Even ***** ****
  • ***** ********'* ******* ************
  • *** ********'* ********* & ********** ******** To ******
  • *** *** ****** ** *******

Key ********

** *** *****, ********'* ****** ****** tested ******** **** ******* ****:

  • ***** ******: ** ******* ********, *** ********** entry ****** ** ******** *** ****** when ********* ** *** ****'* ****** cellphone ***** **** ** ******** ********* and ** **********.
  • ******** *****-** ***: ** ****** ******** ***** **** Apple *** ******* *******, *** ***** the ******** *** ******** *** ****, and *** ******** ******** ******* *** use **** ** ********.
  • ******** **********: ** ****** ** *** ****** SE ****** **** ******** ***** *** board's ******* ******.
  • ***** *********: ******** **** ********** ***** **********, and ******* ******** ********* ***** ** ample ****** ** ***** ****-****** ***** like ******** *** *******. ********** *** constructed ** *****, *** ******** *** typical ***-******* ******* ***** **********.
  • *-***** & ***** ************: ** ****** *** ********** *** G-Suite *** ***** ******** ** ******** for *** ****. ** **** *****, the ************ ****** ****. *** **** companies, ********'* *********** *********** ** ***** platforms ** ********** *** ******** ** avoiding ********* **** ***** ** ****.

******* *** **** ** *** ****** shows **** ********** **** ********* ********* market ******:

  • ***** ****** ****: ******** ** ******** ** ****** doors *** ****** ********, *** ****************, ********, ***-*** *****, *** ******* *** facilities *** *** ********* *** *** system ******* *********** **** ********** *********** that ******** **** *** *******.
  • ** ***** ******* ****** ******* & App: ******* *** ******* ** ***** is ******** ****** ** ***** ************ integration, *** ***/*** ****** ****** ****** 'blind' ******* ***** ************ * ****** process **** ******** *******.
  • ** ********: *** ******** ****** **** * hardwired ****** *** ********** **********, *** even ****** *** ******'* ****** ****** verticals ***** ****** ******* **** ******** support.
  • ******* ******: **** ** ***** ** ********* users ** ********* ****** ** ******, Openpath ***** ***** ******* ** **** messages ** ****** ****** ** **** software ***-***.

Potentially ********** ********

** ***** ** ******** ********* ****** control ********, ******** ****** ******* **** other ********* ** ***. ** ****** these ********, *** ****** ********:

  • ***** ******: ********'* ******-******* ***** ****** ***** well *** ** *** ***. ** contrast ** ***'* *** ****** *******, Openpath ** ******** ** ***** *** manage, **** ** **** ********** ********** to ********* ** ******** ** ***.
  • ******* ************: ******** ****** * ***-*****, *** level *** *** ****** ******** ************ using ******** **** **** ****** ********* do ***.
  • **** ****** ***********: *** ****** ********** ****** ******* with ****** ****** ****** *** ********. Our **** ******* **** *** *** Android ******* **** ** ******.
  • ****** **** ******* & *****: ******** **** *** ******* **** support ********, ** **** ** ** even ***-******** ********** *** ***********. ** maintenance ********** ** ******** ******, ** contrast ** **** ********** ****** *********.

Openpath's ***** '*****' ******

*** **** *********** ****** ** ********'* system ** *** *****-**** ********** ***** Reader, * *********** ****** **** ***** and ******** *********** **** ******* ***** *******:

IPVM Image

**** ***** *********'* *********** $*** *******, ** ** * ********* ********** methods *** *********, ********* ***-******* **********/****** app, ***** ***** ***********, ** ***-********* sensing ****** **** ****** *** * non-HID ****** **.** *** **** ******.

*** ***** ******* ********** ** ****** than * ********** *** ** ****, the ******** ****** **** * ******** ring ** ****** ********* *****:

** ****** *** **** ******* ******** readers ******** *** **** ***********:

  • *** *******: *** ****** *** *** ** used ** ******* ****** ****** **** if *** ******.
  • *****: **** **** ******* ******** **** smartphones '**** ** **'* ** * purse ** ******', ********** ****** ******* to ****** ***** *** ******* ** hands *** **** ** ***** ***** items.
  • ****** *****/****: ** *******, ******** ******* **** with ***** ******** ********** *******, *** with *** ********** *********** **** *** format *****.
  • ********* **** ****: *******, ** ****** ** ************* unlock *****/**** ******** **** ** ******* using *** **** ********* ********* **** by *** '*****' *******, ******** **** option ************* ******* ********** ******** ** well.

*** ******** ******** ***** ***** ***** these *******:

******** ***** ** **** *** ********** data ** ********* **** ********** ** reader ** **********, *** **** ************* status *** *********** ** **** ** their *********** ********* ********. ** ****, there *** ** ***** ** ***********.

**** ******** ******** ****** *** ******, the '*****' ****** **** ********** *********** from *** *******/ ******* ******. *** 'Touch' *********** ** *** ******* *********** to ***** *********** ****** ******, *** is *** ************ *** ****-******** **********. However, *** **** ********** ************, *** Touch ******* ** ****** ** ** a ******** ****-**-*** ******* *** ***** that *** ***** ******* ***** ******* physically ********** *********** ** **** ******.

Smart *** ********** ********

**************** ***** * $*** ********** ********** ** to * *****, *** * ******* - ****** ********'* **-*** ********* ******* or ******** ******* ***** *******, *** is ** ********* ** ********'* ***** servers. *** ******** ***** ***** ***** a ****-**** ** *** ******:

*** ****** ***** ***** **** *** assembled ** *********** ***** ************* ******** ********** ***** (*** *** supported, *** *** ********) *** *** 4A ********* ** ***** ***** *** readers:

IPVM Image

************ ** *** ******* ** ******* through ** ******************* ****** ** * ********-*****. ** *** test, *********** *** ********* ****** ******** with ** ********** *****, ******* *****, or ******* ********.

********'* ************ ************** ******* *** ******** ** *** *******'* logos *** **** ******* *** ******* in ******** ********* ** *** *********:

IPVM Image

** ****, *** ** ******** ** many ** *** ****** ******. *** company *** ***** ** *** ************ ******** ***** ****** *******, *** *** ******* ********* * number ** ****** ******** ********** ********** like*****.***'* *******-******** ***** ****** ******************.

System *******

********'* ******** **** ** ** ** front, *** **** ****, *** *** cloud ***** ****** **** *** ******* ******* ******* ****** $** *** *****/ *** ****, discounted ** $** *** ***** ** purchased ********. ******* *** * ****** office **** ***** ** ******** ****** is $***, **** $** *** *****.

[Update *** ****] ******** ****** ******* ******

******** ******* ** **** ******* ********* on ******* ******* **** $** ** a '*******' **** *** $**.

***** (******* ****)

*) ** ***'* **** ****** ** we ***'* ******* ******* ****** ** our ********** ********

*) *** ******* ******* ****** ** $20 *** ******* ****** **** **** there ** * ***** ***** *****. This ***** ** **** ********* ******* than **** *** ********* ** ****** volumes

******* (****): $*** *** ******* *** Standard

****** (****):

$*** *** *-**** ***** **** *** power ****** & *********$*** *** *-**** panel **** **/*** ***** ****** & enclosure$400 *** ******** ***** ********** ** relays **** $** *** *****

*** ******* ************* * *** ****** ******** *** 'takeover' ************ ***** * ****** *******.

***********, ** ** *** ******* * forklift ******* ** *** ****** ******. We ******* ************* ******:

  1. ******** ****** * ***** ***** ****** control ****** **** *** ** * system ** ******
  2. ******** **** **** ****** ********* ****** systems ***** *** ****** ******* *******.

**** ****** *******, *** ******** ******** our ******* ********* *** *** ******* (just **** *****) *** ******** *** panel ********* *** ****** ****** ** that ** *** ******* *** *********** and ********** ** ****** ******* (***, Wifi ***), *** ***** ** ** need ** *** *** *** ****** system *** ** *** **** ********* to *** *** ******* ********, *****, gates, ***.

** *** *** *** ****** ****** and ** *** ******* *** ****** credentials ******* ****** ** ********* **** our *******. ** ***** ******* *** Low ********* ***** *** **** ********* cards **** *** *******. ** **** pass ******* *** ****** ********** ** the ****** ***** **** **** ***** and ***** ** ** ************ ** experience *** ****** ***** *** ***'* want ** **** ** ***** ********.

** **** ***** ******** *** **** details *** ******* ** *** '****** Gateway' ****** *** **** ****** **** they *******.

Two ****** **** *******

****** ******* *** ** ********* ** two *****, * ****-***** **** ***** 'regular' ****, *** * ******* ***** smaller ****:

IPVM Image

** *** *****, **** ***** ********* with ****** **********; **** ***** **** the **** ****-******* ********** *****, **** feedback *** *****, ***** *********, *** panel ****** **** *** ***** ** the ****. ******* *** ****** **$***** ****.

**** **** ***** *** **** ******* difference, *** '*******' ******** **** ******* matches *** ******** ********** *** ******* style ******* **-** ****** ****, **** ***********:

IPVM Image

********'* ******* *** ** ******* ******* or ******* ** * ****** **** size ***.

** ****, ******** **** *** ***** a ****** ********** ****, *** * separate ******* ****** *** ** ***** directly **** ** ******** ******. *** do ****** ******* ******* **.** *** HID ****** *******. ******** ******* ****** credential ***** *** **** ***** '****'******/******* **********. *** ******** *** ****** *********** must ** ********* *** *** ******'* Wiegand *****.

App *********

****** ***** ***** ****** *******, ********'* mobile *** ****** ********** ******* ****, and ** ****** ********** ** ************** controls. ** **** **** *** *** and ******* *** ******** *** *********** no *********** ** *********:

IPVM Image

*** ***** ***** ***** ** ******** of *** ***, ******* *** *** version:

** ***** ** **********, ******** ***** us ****** ******* **** ***** ***** to **** ***** '*****-***' ****** ******* to ***** *****. *******, *** ****** remote ******/******** ***** ** ******** ********* cannot ** **** **** *** ***.

Web *********

** *** ***** ****, *** ***** system's *** ****** ** ***** ****** configuration ** *******, *** ****** ****** door ******* *** ** ****** '******' or **** '********' ******** *** *********.

*** **** ***** *** *** ****** to ** ******** ** ****** ***, but *** ***** ******* ** ***** access **********:

Webhook ************

********'* *********** ******** ** ******** ** most ****** *******, ******** ** ********* with **** '** ******* ************' ** default, *** ******** *** *********** ********* (i.e.: ********) ** ***** ******* ** custom *******.

*******, ******** **** *** ********* **** video ************ ** ***** ******* *** of *** ***. ******** ************ ******* permit ******** ***** **** *-*****, ********* Azure, ** **** *** ************ ***** once **** *** ********* ********** *** logical ****** *** *****.

*** **** ****** ****'* *-*****, *** we *********** ** ****** **** *** link ** **** ****** *******:

IPVM Image

***** **** '******** ********' *******, ******** offers *** ***** ********* ******** **** the *** ****** *** *** ** software ************:

IPVM Image

** *******, ** **** *** *** to ******* ****'* *** ******** (**** share/instant *********)***** ********* ***** '******' ******** ** *** controller:

*******, ***** ****** ******* *** ***** integrations *** *****, *********** **** ******* a ******* *** *** **** ** confirmation ** ******** ** *******. ********** in *****'* ****, *** **** **** channel ****** *** ***** ***** *** commands ********** ** ***** *********** ** Openpath.

***** *********, ********'* *********** *** ******* custom, *** ***** *********** ** ***** security ************ ******* **** ****** ******** development.

********* ** ***** ********'* ******** *** be *** ******** ********* ****** ****** in ********* ******* **** **, ********* and *************** **** **** *******, *** securing **** ** ******** **** ***********.

[Update: ******** *** ***% ******]

**** **** ****** *** *********, ********'* resell ******* ******** '****** ** ********'. However, **** *** ************* ******* ** Openpath's ******** ** *** ****** *** matured.

******** ************ ************* ********* **** ** ****:

******** ** *** ******* ** ******* on **** ** ********* ******* *** direct *******, ** **** **** ******* up ****** *********** *** ********** *** over *** *******. *** ******** ******* is ******* **** ****, *** ** 2019 ** **** ** ***% ******* based. **** **** *** ******* **** will ******** ********* ********* ******* *** training ** ****** ***** *** ******* as ** **** ****** ***** *** user **********.

***** ******* ********** ** ******** ******** sales ****** ** *** ********, *** how *** ********** ******* ************ ******* for ***** ******** ** *******:

******* ******** **** *** *** ******** for **** *** **** *********** ** the ******* ********* *********. ** *** flexible *** **** **** *** ****** to **** *** ******** ******* ********** and **** ** *** ********* **** (and ** **** *** **********), ** if **** ***’* **** ******* ** place ** **** ********* ** * monthly ***** (**** ***’*), ** *** bill *** ******** ** *** ****** price ******** *** *** ******* ******* through *** ***** ****** *** **** pay *** ********** ***** **********.

Openpath **********

*******, *** **** ******* **** ****** success *** *** ** ****. ******* barriers ** *** *******'* ****** *******:

  • **** ******: ******** ** ****** ****** *** hardware *** ******* ******* ***** ************* than ** ******* ****** ***********.
  • ********* *****: [*** ****** ***** ******: ***** News *** ************] * *** *** is **** *** ****** ****** ** surveillance ** ********** ****** *********, *********** operating ** * ********** ******. ** contrast, **** ***-*** *********** ************* *** ***** *********** *****, ** *** *****-*********** ***** integration.
  • **** ****: ***** **** **** **** ********'* mobile *********** ******, *** *** ***** key ********* *** ******* *** ****** system ********** *****.
  • ****** *** ******: ******* ******* ** ********'* ******* engineering ****** ********** *******. ******* ******** like *** **** ***** ************* *** not ********* ***. ***** ******** ******* the ******** ********* ****** ****** **** connects ** *******:

IPVM Image

Threat ** *** ******?

** ******** ** ******* ********, *** of ****** ******* ********* ** ***'* parent **** *****, *** *** ******* typically ********* ** *************** ********** ******/********** *********.

*******, ******** ***** **** ******* ******* HID ** ****** *********** *** ***** based ****** *********.

***** ***'* ***********, ***************** ********, *** ****** ******* ** ******* cloud ********* ************************, ** ************ ****** ******* ***** for ***** ****** ******. ********, ** the ****** *********** *****, *** ****** lacks *** ************ ****** ***** **** hold ** ******** ***********, **** ***** gambits *** ******** ** ****** ***** as*** ******** ****** *** ******.

********'* ************** ******-*****, *** ******** ** reach ****-******* *** ************** ******** ********* customers ***** ***** ** ** ***** disruptive.

[********* **** ******:Openpath **** ********]

******** ***** ************ '*********' ** ***** ********, ******** *** users ** ********* ********* *****, *********, or ****** ********* ********:

*** ******* ** ****** **** **-******* or **** '**-**' *** ****** ******* (like** **** *****) ******** ******** ******* ** *** be *******/**********/******* ********, **** ** *** app **** ** *** ** *** local *******.

******** **** *** *** ** ****** cost ** *** ****** ** ******, but **** ********** *** ************* ** the ***.

********** *** *********, ******* ****, *** childcare **********, ******** ***** ** ** appealing ******* **** ******** ****** ****** users ***** **** ***** ****** ********* do ***.

[***** **** ******:Three **** *** ************]

******** *** *************** ************** ***** *********:

*** ***** ************, *** *** ****** pulls ****** **** ******** **** *** video ******., ********* **** ******, ********** events, ********** *******, *** **** ********.

Comments (20)
Avatar
Cary Menage
Nov 21, 2018
IPVMU Certified

HID should also be worried about RBH Bluelilne readers, When I worked for major international integrator I had the pleasure of in person demo, very easy enrollment, no middle ware etcm and I think they are very competitive cost-wise...:

RBH - Bluetooth and NFC Readers

(1)
UE
Undisclosed End User #2
Nov 28, 2018

Could IPVM do a mobile reader shootout?

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Nov 28, 2018
IPVMU Certified

That's an interesting idea.  Testing 3rd party readers from HID/Farpointe/AptiQ wouldn't be difficult, but some of the proprietary systems (like Openpath) might drive complexity.

With that said, which products/platforms would be most valuable to test?

(1)
Avatar
Cary Menage
Dec 04, 2018
IPVMU Certified

I would find it valuable to compare Bluetooth/mobile readers and how the credentials are enrolled and replaced and their costs etc...

Avatar
Dennis Raefield
Nov 27, 2018
Security Integration, inc.

Wow.  Only $40-50 per month per door!  Can't wait to sign up!  We sell Feenics and have to work hard to get the monthly pill swallowed, which is half this price.

I truly believe the direct-to-end-user market is fraught with issues.  End Users, excepting a small minority of truly IP/IT connected millennials, will overwhelm the support capabilities of the manufacturer.  Do they think integrators exist just to make huge markups?  Integrators handle all the pain and anguish of clients with no technical skills, who still want their doors to open.

I am impressed with the OpenPath design, but their go-to-market strategy is underwhelming.  I am not interested in getting a referral from them while they keep the material sale and the monthly RMR.  I get to do the "installation" and take the service calls, complaints, and retraining issues?  Again, sign me up for that great business model!

Feenics designed their system to overcome the one fear of all Cloud-based solutions:  What happens to my system if the cloud services company (OpenPath) goes out of business?  The customer and integrator are left with an expensive, proprietary "Brick" on the wall.  Talks to nothing else.  Readers are proprietary. Scary

Feenics backup plan is that it is Mercury-hardware based, and we, the integrator, in an emergency or bankruptcy of Feenics, can run down and install a standard system that easily talks to the existing Mercury board from Feenics, and the COTS readers on the wall.  This overcomes the resistance to startups disappearing or going out of business.  OpenPath puts the end-user and customer at risk.  Your warranty and investment are only as solid as the amount of cash OpenPath has left in the bank...

I am happy to see some new entrants in the market, and they seem to have the preliminary technical side done well.  Time will help them add features and integration to video, etc., but getting their go to market strategy refined is essential for their success.

Thanks for a fair and complete report.

(5)
(1)
(4)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Nov 27, 2018

Great synopsis ... I agree with your statements concerning the perils of a business model built upon pushing the installation part out to "partners" and keeping the material and RMR profits in-house.  We are starting to see this in the newer access control/managed premises companies that are selling hosted solutions into multi-family housing and such, like Stratis and their competitors.  

These companies are hatching from outside the normal physical security mixing bowl, so their approach to deployment and support is definitely different than what many are used to.  I can see the "partner" installer approach working in situations where someone like OpenPath basically hands a large install opportunity to an integrator that may also include other significant sales opps for the integrator, such as a VMS system/cameras, or significant locks/locksmith work.  

Oddly enough, this model is more successful when the projects are large, since everyone has a worthwhile critical mass in the project, so their deployment model could actually work best in the large markets/cities, and suffer in the smaller, secondary markets. This is is contrast to the usual norm for start-ups, that often have to rely on gaining some traction in small/medium projects or finding an integrator to ride in a secondary market. I don't think the OpenPath install model is anywhere near as attractive for an integrator in these cases for the reasons you (Dennis) stated so well.

So, the question is whether OpenPath will be successful in gaining projects in the large markets where the hassle of dealing with external installation companies as well as their revenue model related to material profits and RMR will bear fruit.  If they are successful, there are some integrators that could make a lot of money without having to invest a while heck of a lot in direct selling expenses.

But yes, the $40-50 per door is a tough pill to swallow, especially without integration or monitoring.

 

(1)
Avatar
David Delepine
Nov 27, 2018
Brivo • IPVMU Certified

Just wanted to give everyone a couple of updates about Openpath that I was told by one of their executives in a recent conversation. We are one of their dealer/resellers and have been doing a good amount of work for them through the referral program.

First they are moving away from the direct sales model in favor of a more traditional dealer channel. They are continuing to market directly to end users but are then turning the entire deal over to an integrator partner. I can confirm this, the first couple of jobs we received from them were labor/locks/wire only but on the last 3-4 referrals we have been able to sell and keep a fair margin on all the Openpath gear as well. They do bill the client’s directly and then give the integrator 20-40% of the amount they collect, depending on dealer level.

Second as for the 40-50/mo/door they are implementing a lower cost plan for those who only need a basic feature set (still includes their cool readers and app) and have less than 100 users. The new plan should be around 25ish/mo/dr and I believe is either available now or will be soon.

I do share the concern of others about the cloud only option for the system, and I have pressed them many times for some kind of stand alone capability. That way if the client cancels subscription or in the event of Openpath’s unlikely demise the equipment can still function.

(6)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Nov 27, 2018
IPVMU Certified

That's great feedback.  Thanks for sharing it.  I'll also reach out to Openpath and get comment on the 'lower cost' monthly option.

Avatar
Dennis Raefield
Dec 04, 2018
Security Integration, inc.

Great news from David Delepine about OpenPath changing their go-to-market strategy.  I may be an old war horse, but I know there are certainly many models of direct sales to end-users.  I just think access control is not yet plug and play, and the assisting, helping, coaching, training, servicing that end-users need to use their systems mandates integrator involvement for now.  Remember when you couldn't add a printer to your office environment without an IT person connecting it to the company network?  Whoops, it is now plug and play.  But just not yet in access control.  It will happen, and integrators need to know we are a target for obsolescence by technology.

Sounds like OpenPath is moving to correct their out-of-industry approach and involving integrators in both material profit margins and RMR.  NOW I am interested.  I think even $25 a month per door is still too high.  Works for a one door cell phone tower, for sure, but not a 20 door medium office suite.  The reader is sure cool!

Keep listening OpenPath.  The market needs disruptors.

(1)
Avatar
James Segil
Dec 19, 2018

Hey there Dennis. Thanks for your thoughtful comments - we greatly appreciate them and value your feedback. To build on to David's point above I wanted to officially confirm that we have a channel sales model (we always have). Brian from IPVM was kind enough to update the article to reflect this as well. Since our launch in May 2018 we have been signing up integrators across the nation and sell through them to the customer. We have been building up our business by marketing directly to tenants and landlords in an effort to drive leads to our channel partners. For the first 6 months of our business post launch we have had to sell some systems to smaller customers directly in an effort to respond to demand prior to having established system integrator relationships but our model has always been Channel and we should be 100% channel sales by 2019. We have invested and will continue to invest in lead gen and pass those leads along to our SI channel partners to help them grow their business with us. Throughout the posts above you and others have brought up a few other points that I wanted to make sure and respond to, so I will do so below.

In regards to our financial viability, we have raised $27M to support our launch and growth and are backed by well reputed investors with a management team proven at building real market leading companies. Not sure how much Feenics has raised or for that matter anyone else in this space, as they don't all publicly disclose that like we do. We have a fully funded business plan and are transparent about our funding, management team experience and financial backers so please feel free to research us at www.openpath.com/about. Furthermore, almost every critical piece of business technology has moved to the cloud whether its your accounting software, your sales software or your security software so a move to the cloud for this category of technology has been a long time coming. The recurring revenue stream on the cloud based software alone can cost justify upkeep of our platform in perpetuity and there are many examples of cloud solutions being maintained ongoing even as companies are bought and sold.

I see your perspective on the Mercury board example and its a valid point. Part of our challenge in working with any of the legacy platforms for panels, credentials, software, etc. is that its almost impossible for our customers to enjoy quick and timely product enhancements for features that really matter when we are constrained to the product development timeline of many other component vendors. If for instance, we wanted to constrain our features to only those supported by the Assa-Abloy portfolio of Mercury/HID/etc., we wouldn't be able to support the innovation you see coming out from our R&D shop. Features like Touch friction-less access and pricing like $40 per month with unlimited users are not possible when constrained by the product development cycle and licensing costs of Assa and like companies. Furthermore, while Mercury positions itself as an open platform, try to find a single API on their website and try to build an integration with them and you’ll see that is far different than your experience with us. Our entire solution is built on an open API framework and all the integration capabilities are available for free, open and documented online for any vendor or integrator to use and build on. Mercury’s closed system integrates with a short list of vendors you are required to choose from. We are in the industry for the long haul and want to both improve the customer's experience and reduce the overall cost so that access control is easier to use, deploy and more affordable for everyone. You will see us announce some new deployment capabilities soon that make it even easier to use Openpath to add mobile and cloud capabilities to an existing system without having to pull out the old one.

Finally - in regards to pricing the first thing I will say is that we are very open to feedback and trying to find the right price/features balance to win the market over. With that in mind, we are shortly rolling out a $20/month/door (MSRP) package with basic functionality to complement our $40/month/door (MSRP) package with standard functionality. Since our mobile credentials are included at no additional costs (unlimited mobile credentials), this ends up being a good value bundle, especially for landlords. For larger deals with tens or hundreds of doors we offer custom pricing that has so far worked out well with our channel partners and we haven't been losing big deals over price.

We seek pricing and feature feedback from the market and would love to hear more from you directly on this. I welcome you and others to partner with us in our efforts as we are eager to work with you, learn from you and together build and offer awesome technology to our customers. Please feel free to reach out directly to me james@openpath.com and I would be delighted to discuss one on one.

Thanks!

James Segil

President & Co-founder, Openpath

 

(2)
(2)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Dec 18, 2018
IPVMU Certified

Openpath has moved away from 'direct' sales and claims they will be '100% channel reseller based by 2019'.

The report has been updated to reflect this:

[Update: Openpath Now 100% Dealer]

When this report was published, Openpath's resell program included 'direct to customer'. However, this has substantially changed as Openpath's business in the market has matured.

Openpath Founder James Segil recently clarified this to IPVM:

Although to get started we brought on 100s of customers through our direct channel, we have been signing up system Integrators and installers all over the country. Our indirect channel is growing very fast, and by 2019 we will be 100% channel based. That said our support team will continue providing technical support and training to anyone using our product as we care deeply about end user experience.

Segil further elaborated on Openpath hardware sales belong to the reseller, and how the subsequent monthly subscription portion for cloud services is handled:

Channel partners sell all the hardware for sure and also participate in the monthly recurring component. We are flexible and give them the option to bill the customer monthly themselves and mark up the wholesale rate (and we bill the integrator), or if they don’t have systems in place to bill customers on a monthly basis (some don’t), we can bill the customer at the retail price directly for the monthly service through our cloud portal and then pay the integrator their percentage.

(1)
JH
John Honovich
Dec 19, 2018
IPVM

Also, OpenPath is hiring a lot of sales people right now across the US, just hearing that from various contacts. Is access control hot now? ;)

(1)
Avatar
James Segil
Dec 19, 2018

Yes Access Control is HOT! We are hiring sales people all across the US so if folks would be interested in being part of our team please email us at careers@openpath.com. You can visit our website as well at openpath.com/careers to see all of our open job postings.

(1)
JH
John Honovich
Jan 11, 2019
IPVM

OpenPath has illicitly used IPVM in a marketing promotion, specifically this line from the report:

However, Openpath stands to strike and gain success where HID is weak, namely in mobile credentials and cloud based access offerings.

This violates our terms of service and we do not allow / authorize any manufacturer to use IPVM in marketing.

Also, we have changed / softened this line to:

However, Openpath could gain success against HID in mobile credentials and cloud based access offerings.

Avatar
James Segil
Jan 12, 2019

John and Brian - just wanted to publicly apologize for the snafu on my side. I sent an email out highlighting some of the best parts of 2018 for Openpath and referenced your report citing that line mentioned above. I didn't read the terms of service before hand and now having had this pointed out to me will make sure not to do anything like that again. Thanks for your understanding and sorry once again.

(2)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
May 13, 2019
IPVMU Certified

[Update May 2019] Openpath Lowers Service Prices

Openpath emailed us with pricing revisions on monthly service from $50 to a 'starter' plan for $20.

Doors (monthly MSRP)
1) We don't sell direct so we don't publish pricing except to our integrator partners
2) Our monthly pricing starts at $20 and quickly scales down from there on a tiers based model. This makes us less expensive monthly than them for customers at higher volumes
 
Readers (MSRP): $250 for Mullion and Standard
 
Panels (MSRP):
$700 for 4-door panel with 12V power supply & enclosure
$850 for 4-door panel with 12/24V power supply & enclosure
$400 for Elevator board supporting 16 relays plus $50 per month
 
Furthermore, we do not require a forklift removal of the legacy system. We support two deployment models:
  1. Openpath offers a stand alone access control system that can be a system of record
  2. Openpath also runs hybrid alongside legacy systems using our Mobile Gateway feature.
With Mobile Gateway, the building installs our readers replacing the old readers (just like proxy) and installs our panel alongside the legacy system so that we can provide the reliability and redundancy of triple connect (Ble, Wifi LTE), but there is no need to rip out the legacy system and it can stay connected to all the locking hardware, doors, gates, etc.
 
We run off the legacy wiring and we can support the legacy credentials already issues to customers with our readers. We offer support for Low frequency cards and High frequency cards with our readers. We just pass through the legacy credential to the legacy panel with this setup and there is no interruption of experience for legacy users who don't want to give up their keycards.
We have asked Openpath for more details and pricing on the 'Mobile Gateway' option and will update when they respond.
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Sep 05, 2019
IPVMU Certified

[September 2019 Update: Openpath Adds Lockdown]

Openpath added configurable 'Lockdowns' to their platform, allowing app users to configure different doors, buildings, or global lockdowns remotely:

The feature is unlike many on-premise or even 'wi-fi' LAN access systems (like ZK Teco Atlas) lockdown features because it can be engaged/disengaged/cleared remotely, even if the app user is not in the local network.

Lockdown does not add or change cost of the system as tested, but adds management and configuration to the app.

Especially for education, medical care, and childcare facilities, Lockdown could be an appealing feature that Openpath offers mobile users where many other mobile platforms do not.

ZH
Zac Herrera
May 14, 2021
ITZ Networks

Nice report but too old now 05/2021, openpath controllers are very different now (more mature) and have a lot more features and options, the hardware's pricing is a bit higher for obvious reasons. (Disclosure: I am an installer and do not work for OP)

(1)
(1)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
May 17, 2021
IPVMU Certified

Hello Zac: Thanks for the comment!

We are going to do a new test of Openpath. Information like pricing and features will be refreshed. Our coverage of Openpath has continued since this test, including these recent reports:

(1)
Avatar
Brian Rhodes
Apr 09, 2022
IPVMU Certified

Just a note: We have published an updated test for 2022: Openpath Access Control System Tested