Automatic doors are important for business
Automatic doors are becoming an increasingly common sight in a variety of businesses. There are many reasons for this, and many of them go far beyond just the convenience that automatic doors provide. Automatic doors offer businesses practical benefits, from enhancing accessibility in retail and hospitality environments to improving safety and efficiency in offices and healthcare facilities. We will go over why we think the importance of having automatic doors for your business and the benefits.
The UK automatic door industry continues to grow at a rate of around 5.5% each year. With so many benefits to automatic doors, it is no surprise that businesses are deciding to add this technology to their premises.
In an era where the customer experience is considered a crucial part of success for any business, it is important to consider every aspect of what makes your business more convenient and user-friendly. This even comes down to the small details, like how your customers exit and enter your building. Automatic doors are a great way to improve your customer’s experience from the moment they set foot in your business.
Here are 10 reasons why you should consider installing automatic doors for your business in 2025:
1. Convenience
Let’s face it. We all enjoy a bit of convenience in our lives. Automatic doors are extremely convenient, both for customers and employees. They make it easy for customers to enter and exit your business, without having to fumble with a difficult door handle or push open a heavy door. They also make it easier for employees to move in and out of the building, which can be especially helpful when carrying heavy items or dealing with large crowds.
And if you’re running a business, you want as many customers as possible to want to enter your store. The benefit of providing them with an easy way to come in and out should never be underestimated. Parents trying to manage young children while pushing a stroller will be among the first customers to appreciate the importance of having automatic doors for your business. Making this one adjustment to your building can have a positive knock-on effect on your future revenue.
2. Environmentally Friendly
In these times of climate change awareness, it’s important to make small changes that can positively impact the environment. Installing automatic doors is one of those changes. The retail industry typically spends 31% of its energy budget on heating costs. This huge percentage is made worse by practices such as open shop fronts and door propping.
Automatic doors can make a huge difference to the amount of energy consumed by your premises. If you have customers coming in and out of your building all day, it can be tempting to prop open your door to make business more welcoming. This results in a lot of energy being wasted as hot air escapes and cool air enters (or vice versa), causing your air conditioning system to work overtime.
Automatic doors can help to reduce this energy waste by automatically closing the door after each customer has entered or exited. This ensures that your premises maintain a steady temperature, allowing you to reduce your energy consumption and lower your carbon footprint.
3. Extra Security
Your livelihood is dependent on the security of your business premises. Automatic doors can provide you with an extra layer of security and deter potential burglars. They can be integrated into your security alarm system so that if the doors are forced open, the alarm is triggered. This can give you valuable time to call the police and take action to protect your premises. But apart from keeping unwanted people out, they can also keep people inside when necessary.
If you are unfortunate enough to experience an attempted robbery. Staff can control automatic doors to prevent someone from leaving with your merchandise. If you wish, you can even connect your automatic door to a CCTV system, that records every person that enters and exits your business. Electronic access controls can also be set up to restrict access to certain areas of your building unless an individual has the correct fob, key card, or entry code.
4. Improved Hygiene
In recent years, there has been an increased focus on hygiene and cleanliness in the workplace. Automatic doors can help to improve the hygiene of your premises by reducing the amount of contact between people and the door handles. It might seem like a small thing, but if every person who enters and exits the building is touching the same door handle. This will inevitably increase the risk of spreading germs. One recent study even discovered that a contaminated door handle can infect over half the people in an office within just a few hours. This situation can easily be avoided if nobody needs to touch a door to open it.
5. Improved Accessibility
If you ever have suffered an accident and needed to use crutches for a period of time. Then you will immediately understand the importance of having automatic doors for your business. Automatic doors are also a great way to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. They provide a barrier-free entryway for people who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or crutches. They can also be useful for people who have difficulty using door handles, such as those with arthritis. There are many hidden disabilities, that may not be immediately visible. If you have automatic doors installed. You can be sure that your premises are accessible to everyone and that you’re meeting your legal obligations to provide access for people with disabilities.
6. Aesthetics
Automatic doors can add a touch of luxury and sophistication to your business premises. They give the impression that you are invested in your customers’ experience and that you are willing to go the extra mile to make their visit as easy as possible. Automatic doors come in a variety of styles and finishes. So you can choose doors that complement the look of your business. If you’re looking to give your business a makeover, automatic doors should be high on your list of priorities.
7. Quick Evacuation
If you experience high rates of footfall, then emergency evacuation can prove to be a serious concern. Getting everybody in and out during an emergency, while trying to navigate a traditional doorway, could quickly turn into a chaotic and dangerous situation.
Automatic doors can help to speed up the evacuation process by allowing people to exit your building with ease. There’s no need to prop open an automatic door in an emergency. They can be configured to automatically open when the alarm is triggered. This means that people can exit quickly and safely, without impediment.
8. Added Safety
Automatic doors are much safer than traditional doors. They don’t require customers to push or pull on the door, which can lead to accidents. Automatic doors also have sensors that will stop them from closing if they detect something in their path, which prevents people from getting hurt.
Door-related accidents may not seem like an everyday occurrence, but if you’re running a business that welcomes a high number of customers each day. You may eventually be unlucky enough to experience one. By having automatic doors installed, you can help to reduce the risk of accidents and keep your customers safe. This cuts down on the risk of litigation and gives you peace of mind.
9. Fire Containment
The importance of having automatic doors for your business becomes clear during any emergency. As mentioned, they are essential during a mass evacuation, but they can be equally useful at containing fires. Fire doors are a legal obligation for many premises, but they are often left propped open by the people who use them regularly. It may seem strange that people would do this, even when faced with signage warning them against doing so. The reality is that many people find heavy fire doors to be inconvenient.
Automatic release fire doors can be an excellent solution to this common problem. They can be set to automatically shut when the fire alarm is triggered. Ensuring that the flames and smoke are contained, preventing the spread of the fire to the rest of the building.
10. Increased Customer Satisfaction
Automatic doors are just one of the many ways that you can make your business more customer-friendly. When customers can enter your premises with ease, it creates a positive first impression. This small detail can make a big difference in terms of customer satisfaction. Automatic doors are also a sign that your business is invested in creating a pleasant customer experience. If you go the extra mile to make your customers’ lives easier. They’re likely to remember your business fondly and recommend you to others.
11. Versatility
Automatic doors are extremely versatile. They can be used in a variety of different settings, including office buildings, retail stores, restaurants, and hotels. No matter what type of business you have, automatic doors can be a great addition. Even if you don’t have much space, automatic folding or sliding doors can be installed. This is a great option if you want to create a barrier-free entryway but don’t have the room for a traditional swinging door.
There are many reasons why you should consider the importance of having automatic doors for your business in 2025. From improved safety and security to enhanced accessibility and aesthetics. Automatic doors offer a range of benefits that traditional doors simply can’t match. If you’re looking for a way to improve your business, automatic doors are a great place to start. Are you ready to discuss your doors project?
Original Blog 2022, updated December 2024