BE Offices + Sentry Interactive: Mobilizing Access Control for Flexible Workspaces

Can you provide some insights into BE Offices journey so far?

Each space encapsulates our commitment to delivering state-of-the-art facilities, be it a gym, breakout areas, or meeting rooms. With steady expansion from 2 to 6 sites recently, we’re proud to have maintained our award-winning service level, even as we grow. Our ethos is rooted in transparency ensuring our clients experience no unexpected surprises and can enjoy a connected workspace experience where they can feel comfortable.

The modern workplace is evolving rapidly, what spurred BE Offices to embrace Sentry Mobile Access as part of this evolution?

The nature of workspaces today demands adaptability. As our operations grew and diversified, especially with the jump from 2 to 6 sites, we realized the increasing complexity of managing access for a diverse group, from tenants to visitors. Traditional access methods showed their limitations, from forgotten key cards and fobs to the challenges of granting contractors out-of-hours entry. Sentry Interactive, with its flexible mobile access solution powered by Doordeck, seemed to be the most convenient answer. It promised an easy and affordable upgrade to mobile entry without needing to replace our existing Paxton Net2 system. Providing the option to simply integrate with the existing access controller to avoid replacement of legacy system hardware.

What challenges did you anticipate during the integration process and how was the experience of integrating Sentry Mobile Access with your system?

Initially, integrating a new solution with our existing Paxton Net2 system did raise some concerns, primarily because we wanted to ensure minimal disruption and maximum efficiency. To our pleasant surprise, integrating Sentry Mobile Access turned out to be much smoother than we had firstly anticipated. One significant advantage with Sentry Mobile Access is its compatibility and seamless integration with systems including Paxton Net2. But what truly stood out was the ease of setup and installation of the new wireless NFC door tiles which are mounted next to the door you want to provide mobile access for. It was as quick and easy as we could have hoped for with the simple peel and stick application. This speed and efficiency not only saved us valuable time but also reaffirmed our decision to adopt Sentry Mobile Access as a modern solution for our access management needs.

Could you delve deeper into how Sentry Mobile Access integrates into the daily operations of BE Offices?

Sentry Mobile Access has seamlessly woven itself into our daily operations. In our head office, the integration has been profound, with over 50 doors now under Sentry Mobile Access’s umbrella. At our other sites, up to 6 doors are now Sentry Mobile Access controlled, a number we’re keen on increasing. The practical applications are varied. For our tenants, it’s a modern, tech-savvy way to enter. Contractors, often working out of hours, find the remote one-time passes invaluable. One of our directors, known for his penchant for cutting-edge tech, has even made the complete switch to the app, strictly avoiding the traditional access card. It’s not just about opening doors—it’s about opening up a modern, efficient, and user-friendly access experience.

How has Sentry Mobile Access redefined the access control experience for BE Offices’ and its users?

At a first glance, access control might indeed seem a minor aspect of the office experience. However, in reality, it’s one of the first interactions a user has with our space and can set the tone for their entire day. With Sentry Mobile Access, we’ve witnessed a transformation in this interaction. Gone are the days of frantically searching for a forgotten fob or getting locked out of the office. Now the experience for tenants and visitors is smoother and aligns with the expectations of a modern workspace. The convenience of Sentry Mobile Access, especially its feature allowing temporary access keys, is more than a novelty—it’s a reflection of our commitment to providing streamlined, modern solutions to everyday challenges.

How would you encapsulate the impact of Sentry Mobile Access on BE Offices?

Sentry Mobile Access has been instrumental in amplifying our commitment to innovation. It seamlessly blends with our mission of providing smarter buildings for our customers. The flexibility of providing temporary access keys, for instance, aligns perfectly with the unpredictable and hybrid working needs of today’s dynamic business environment.

With that in mind, how do you envisage Sentry Mobile Access shaping BE Offices’ future trajectory?

As we map out our future, Sentry Mobile Access has already established itself as an integral tool in our blueprint. Our current experience with the system makes us optimistic about expanding its presence across all our locations. We are in a constant state of evolution, always seeking out smart, efficient solutions for our clients and staff. Sentry Mobile Access’s alignment with this vision is undeniable. As we continue to grow and adapt to the ever-changing demands of the modern workspace, we foresee Sentry Mobile Access playing an even larger role, helping us achieve a more interconnected, user-friendly, and efficient workspace ecosystem.

Get in touch today to find out more about Sentry Mobile Access and our other connected workplace solutions!

Visit: https://www.beoffices.com/ to learn more about their developments in the flexible workspace market.

“BE Offices’ vision as a technology-first flex space provider runs parallel with our own, with us both prioritizing the integration of the most innovative and cutting-edge technologies. It has been an absolute pleasure collaborating with BE offices to deliver a truly connected workspace experience.”

Author – Guy Adderley, Director of Sales & Operations (UK and Europe)

William Bainborough

Board of Directors

William is an experienced British entrepreneur, founder, and accomplished board executive and advisor for a number of businesses. He is the CEO and co-founder of Doordeck, the world’s only true cloud-based access control aggregator. He is also the managing director and founder of Group Secure, a leader in providing security, CCTV, and access control solutions, products, and installation for high-net-worth individuals in the UK. 

William established his first business at just seventeen and brings 20-plus years of in-depth experience and industry knowledge. He has a proven track record for building businesses from the ground up—and then leading them to profitability and a successful exit across a myriad of sectors including hospitality, retail, security, telecommunications, and e-commerce. William’s leadership, vision, and experience in creating cutting-edge SaaS-based technology platforms will prove invaluable for Sentry Interactive moving forward.

Denis Hébert

Denis Hébert

CHAIRMAN & CEO

Hébert began his career at Honeywell International where he held several leadership positions including Managing Director for the Automation and Controls business in France and eventually President of the NexWatch Corporation from 1999-2002. Hébert led HID Global as President & CEO over a transformative 12-year period from 2002-2015, where he provided strategic guidance and grew the business tenfold through a mix of strong organic and acquisitive growth. Most recently, Hébert was President of Feenics Corporation which is a cloud-based access control company that was successfully sold to ACRE LLC at the end of 2021. Hébert also served on the Board of Directors for the Security Industry Association (SIA) from 2009-2020 and was nominated to be Chairman of the Board for SIA from 2016-2018. He is currently Chairman of the Board for Nightingale Security based in Newark, CA.

Stephen Taylor Matthews

Board of Directors
Stephen is a very accomplished attorney, member of the Texas State Bar, licensed commercial real estate broker, and an avid philanthropist. He is an experienced executive board member, serving in leadership positions for more than 20 community councils and corporate boards—ranging from Boy Scouts of America to the ABBA Business Leaders Council, and most recently the American Bank BOD, the Real Estate Council of Austin, and the Marbridge Foundation BOT. With more than 35 years experience, Stephen and his firm, Barrond & Adler, L.L.P. are devoted to eminent domain cases in Texas.

Jon Davis

Board of Directors

Mr. Davis is an Experienced corporate board member, having served on boards of public, private equity-backed, and venture-backed companies. Jon possesses deep industry expertise in dairy, food processing, food technology and manufacturing, and food, beverage, and entertainment services. 

During Jon’s tenure of 25 plus years, he’s led operations, research and development, and mergers and acquisitions. He’s served as CEO and has been the founder and active board member for many successful enterprises—from startups to billion-dollar corporations. While COO and CEO of Davisco Foods International, Jon built a state-of-the-art cheese plant which was awarded the United States Dairy processing plant of the year in 2005 by Dairy Foods magazine. Currently, Jon is active with several non-dairy projects, including investments in local real estate, the Wayzata Brewworks, and his latest venture the new CōV restaurant in Edina’s Galleria.

Joe Caldwell

Founder and Chairman of the Board

Joe is an American entrepreneur, investor, and accomplished executive. He has co-founded, founded, and led many successful businesses, including US Internet, a leading fiber internet service provider, Securence, a leading provider of email filtering software, and Ravon, an industry-leading digital voice communications service. 

It was Joe’s venture, Municipal Parking Services (MPS), that inspired him in 2020 to start Sentry Interactive, an advanced touchless and staffless detection platform.

Caldwell currently serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board for Municipal Parking Services (MPS), a global tech company based in Austin, TX responsible for inventing and patenting technologies that assist in parking and security enforcement.

Joe was named one of Minnesota’s 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders for the past two years—and is a seasoned corporate board member. He’s served on boards of public, private equity-backed, and venture-backed companies—and has deep industry expertise in all aspects of digital technology.

Jason Bohrer

Jason Bohrer

Board of Directors

Jason Bohrer is one of the visionaries behind our mission to bring people back together safely and securely, in any environment, through Sentry’s advanced digital communications and detection platform. With over two decades of senior leadership experience, Jason’s track record of success spans across sales, operations, product innovation, strategy, and technology for domestic and global companies like Bexar Technology Partners, CPI Card Group, HID Global, and Motorola, Inc. Prior to launching Sentry Interactive, Jason was actively involved with several key technology transitions across multiple industries, including the contact and contactless EMV transitions in the U.S. payments industry and the adoption of smart card and mobile technologies in the global access and identity market. Jason was an inaugural member of the University of Chicago Executive Institute and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. He also serves as the Executive Director for two industry-leading not-for-profit organizations: the Secure Technology Alliance and the U.S. Payments Forum.
Brent Terry

Brent Terry

Chief Operating Officer
Brent Terry leads the operations and solutions organizations at Sentry. This includes all product innovation, development, and operations management. A veteran in the technology space, Brent has more than 30 years of experience across a myriad of industries, like physical security technology and building automation, SAAS, hardware and software product development, internet, digital TV, interactive TV, digital media, telecommunications, and medical products and services. Prior to Sentry, Brent has spun up successful startups and led high-performing teams for some of the biggest global, Fortune 500 companies, including ARRIS, Conerco, Motive Communications, SeaChange International, and IBM. Brent holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Louisiana. He also is the committee Chairman and Program Director for a non-profit organization responsible for the rollout of smart cards for physicians and first responders.