It's no secret that the way we think about access has changed. When tapping your phone to pay for coffee feels second nature, it's no surprise that high-rise and mid-rise buildings are adopting the same contactless convenience.
Here's the reality: 79% of Gen Z and 67% of millennials already use digital wallets for everyday transactions. These aren't early adopters—they're your primary renter demographic. And with roughly 35% of American households renting, the expectation for smartphone-based access control isn't just a preference anymore.
It's becoming table stakes.
That's where Apple Wallet and Google Wallet credentials step in, bridging the gap between what residents already do daily and how they enter their buildings.
Let's get specific. Digital wallet access control isn't another app residents need to download and remember to open. Credentials are stored directly in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet—the same secure platform holding their credit cards, boarding passes, and transit cards.
When a resident is granted access, they receive a credential that installs directly into their wallet. To enter? Simply tap their phone on an NFC-enabled reader at any access point—lobby doors, parking garage gates, elevators, amenity spaces.
No fumbling for keys. No app to launch. No forgotten fobs.
For properties already investing in gate access control or upgrading their apartment security system, this integration represents the natural evolution of mobile access control.
Property managers often worry that convenience comes at the cost of security. With digital wallet credentials, the opposite is true.
Physical credentials have a well-documented problem. According to Anixter, legacy 125 kHz proximity cards can be cloned in less than 5 seconds with cheap equipment available at retail kiosks. Even higher-security smart cards get lost regularly, creating constant replacement cycles and security gaps.
Digital wallet credentials eliminate these vulnerabilities through multiple layers:
For properties evaluating fingerprint door lock systems or other biometric access control solutions, wallet credentials offer comparable security with dramatically lower hardware costs.
For property owners focused on NOI meaning and bottom-line performance, digital wallet access delivers measurable returns.
Eliminating physical credential costs: Traditional access control creates ongoing expenses—fob replacements, reprogramming fees, and administrative overhead that add up quickly across a portfolio. Digital credentials cost nothing to issue and nothing to replace.
Reducing administrative burden: Mobile access control platforms integrate directly with property management software like Yardi, RealPage, and Entrata. Credentials automatically deactivate when leases end. New residents get access without staff touching hardware.
Driving occupancy through amenity demand: According to the 2024 NMHC & Grace Hill Renter Preferences Survey, 67% of renters are either interested in or won't rent without keyless smart locks. Smart thermostats (72%) and video doorbells (65%) round out the top smart home demands—signaling that tech-forward access isn't a luxury, it's expected.
Rent premium potential: According to SmartRent research, app-based access solutions can boost rent 5% above average rental rates. A separate Schlage survey found 61% of millennials are more likely to rent an apartment specifically because it comes with electronic access.
The mobile access control credentials market tells a clear story—valued at $295 million in 2022 and projected to surpass $750 million by 2028, according to Security Journal Americas.
Several factors explain the acceleration:
Industry standardization: New interoperability standards like Aliro enable wallet credentials to work across access control vendors, eliminating lock-in concerns.
Demographic shift: Gen Z is projected to become the largest renter demographic by 2030. When comparing a condo vs apartment, younger renters evaluate technology amenities as seriously as location.
Post-pandemic expectations: Residents who experienced contactless access don't want to go back to fumbling with physical credentials.
For properties planning capital improvements—whether security camera installation, intercom system upgrades, or comprehensive access control solutions—building toward wallet credential compatibility makes the investment more future-proof.
Upgrading doesn't require ripping out existing infrastructure. Here's a phased approach:
Phase 1: Audit and assess. Catalog every access point—main entrances, parking, elevators, amenity spaces, package rooms. Identify which readers already support NFC and which need upgrades.
Phase 2: Select your platform. Choose access control systems that support wallet credentials natively, integrate with your property management software, and provide centralized management across multiple properties.
Phase 3: Phased rollout. Start with highest-traffic access points where residents experience the greatest convenience benefit. Run parallel systems during transition.
Phase 4: Full migration. Expand to remaining locations, phase out physical credential issuance for new move-ins, then incentivize existing residents to switch.
The end state: no physical credentials to manage, issue, collect, or replace. Just secure, convenient, smartphone-based access that residents already know how to use.
Digital wallet access reflects a fundamental shift in how high-rises and mid-rises operate—blending technology with smarter, safer experiences for everyone involved.
For property managers, it eliminates daily operational headaches. For regional managers overseeing commercial access control systems across portfolios, it provides visibility and standardization. For property owners tracking net operating income, it directly impacts the bottom line.
The demographic reality is clear. The technology is proven. The ROI is quantifiable.
Apple Wallet and Google Wallet credentials are becoming must-have amenities that drive occupancy, resident satisfaction, and NOI. That's the future. And it's here.
Ready to explore how smartphone-based access control products can transform your multifamily community? Learn more about modern access control solutions that meet residents where they already are—on their phones.
Gatewise offers a simple and modern gate entry system that provides residents with a mobile app and managers with a cloud-based management portal.
