Avigilon Alta's security suite with end-to-end access control solutions provides intelligent, flexible cloud-native and on-premises security. It supports an array of contactless access methods and keyless credentials for secure entry at every door. We're proud to pair Amilia SmartRec's Access Management with Avigilon Alta's products to instantly grant guest access at the right access point, at the right time.
To find out if Avigilon Alta is right for you, email us at success@amilia.com.
Ready to go live? Follow the Avigilon Alta go-live checklist to work through each phase in order before opening access to your facility. |
In this article
1. How Avigilon Alta integrates with Amilia SmartRec
Avigilon Alta automates facility access by syncing with SmartRec to detect participants who have registered for eligible activities or memberships.
Required: make sure the email field is mandatory on your registration forms for all eligible access items. Every participant needs a unique email to have a user record created in Avigilon Alta.
1️⃣ A participant purchases an eligible access item.
Each night before 12 AM, SmartRec initiates a sync. It looks at each Avigilon Alta access point, checks which memberships and activities are marked as eligible, and locates the Person ID of participants who have a qualifying purchase becoming effective the next day. For each one, a user record is created in Avigilon Alta and placed in the linked group. The participant then receives an email prompting them to download the Avigilon Alta mobile app.
If a participant registers for a same-day event, their user record is created immediately and the email is sent at that time.
2️⃣ Participants receive an email to download the Avigilon Alta mobile app.
The Avigilon Alta hardware does not read Amilia IDs. Instead, participants must use the Avigilon Alta app to unlock the gate or turnstile.
Alternatively, organizations can provide RFID tags that allow access without the mobile app. However, the system will still send an email the first time a user record is created. Participants can ignore this email if they have been issued a card or fob.
3️⃣ Participants scan in at the facility.
Upon arrival, participants simply wave their phone or RFID tag in front of the reader to gain access. If their activity or membership is not yet effective, they won't be granted entry.
All entry attempts made with the app or an RFID tag are recorded in the Check-in overview in SmartRec under the Event column as "Avigilon Alta", and in the Avigilon Alta Controller.
Entries via manual employee check-in or kiosk show the activity or membership name in SmartRec instead, and are not recorded in the Avigilon Alta Controller.
Check-in overview visibility is only available with the premium Avigilon Alta package.
4️⃣ Access is automatically revoked when no longer valid.
If a participant no longer has an active access item and is not registered for an occurrence on the same day or the following day, their Avigilon Alta user record is deactivated and access is revoked immediately.
If they later register for a new eligible activity or membership, their access is reinstated automatically, either:
immediately (for same-day access), or
the night before the item becomes effective (for future-dated access) to ensure they can enter the facility and appropriate time.
📊 Reporting: Download the Access Points report in SmartRec to view every scan over a period of time. In-depth details on scans made with the Avigilon Alta app and/or RFID tags are limited, so be sure to check out the Avigilon Alta Controller's Activity Dashboard and leverage the Reports section for more insights on those entries.
2. Key concepts before getting started
Understanding the difference between access management and access control is essential before setting up this integration.
Access management in SmartRec
Access management is a SmartRec feature that lets you control who can enter your facility based on what they have purchased. You define which activities and memberships grant entry and monitor check-ins from the SmartRec dashboard. Access management handles the eligibility rules: it determines who should be allowed in, based on their registration or membership status.
Access control with Avigilon Alta
Access control is what physically enforces those rules at the door. Avigilon Alta hardware reads credentials (a phone app or an RFID card) and grants or denies entry at your turnstiles, gates, and doors in real time, without any employee involvement. Time windows and schedules are configured in Avigilon Alta, not in SmartRec. On its own, Avigilon Alta has no visibility into who has registered for what. It only knows which group a user belongs to and what that group is allowed to open.
Together
The integration connects both systems. SmartRec determines eligibility based on purchases and syncs that information to Avigilon Alta. Avigilon Alta enforces it at the door. Neither system does the full job alone.
When a participant arrives at your facility, they wave their phone or RFID card near the Avigilon Alta reader. The reader checks their credential against the groups configured in the Controller. If they belong to a group that has access to that entry at that time, the door unlocks. The scan is recorded in both the Avigilon Alta Controller and in SmartRec's check-in overview, where it appears under the Avigilon Alta event type.
Key terms in Avigilon Alta
Term | Definition |
Entry | Your turnstile, gate, or door. |
Schedule | Limits the times users can unlock a specific entry. |
Group | A container that classifies users based on their purchases. Schedules are tied to groups. |
User | A record created for a participant when they purchase an access-related item. One user per unique email address. |
How groups and access points work together
In Avigilon Alta, a group determines when and what a person can open. It defines the schedule and the doors. An access point in SmartRec determines who belongs to that group. It is where you select which memberships and activities grant access.
The SmartRec sync is what connects both systems. When the nightly sync runs, SmartRec looks at each access point, identifies which memberships and activities are eligible, finds the Person IDs of registered participants, and creates or updates their user records in Avigilon Alta, placing them in the correct group automatically.
The same participant can belong to multiple groups. For example, an employee who can access both the main entrance and the pool would be in two separate groups. Each access point links to exactly one group.
3. How to activate Avigilon Alta in 5 steps
Step 1️: Set up an Avigilon Alta account
Step 1️: Set up an Avigilon Alta account
An admin account using a generic organizational email will be created for you by Avigilon Alta during activation. This will give you your first access to the Avigilon back office. You can create more admin accounts under Users< Roles.
After setup: log in to the Avigilon Alta Controller (Control Center) used to create entries, schedules, zones, and groups. See more in step 4 below.
Take note of your Organization ID from the URL bar (e.g., 10277). You will need this in step 2.
⚠️ Email conflict: Do not use an email that already exists in SmartRec as a client or participant. If the same email is used in both systems, the SmartRec nightly sync will override any manually configured Avigilon access including the admin account that keeps the integration running.
⚠️Decide at this stage whether you will allow remote unlock for your users. Remote unlock is enabled by default for all new users in Avigilon Alta and must be configured before the integration goes live. See Additional settings in Avigilon Alta below.
Step 2️: Turn on the Avigilon Alta app in SmartRec
Step 2️: Turn on the Avigilon Alta app in SmartRec
In SmartRec, go to the Apps tab and search for Avigilon Alta.
Click Configure and enter your Organization ID and the same credentials used for the Avigilon Alta Controller.
The integration stays active until you choose to disable it. This only needs to be done once.
Step 3️: Install a webhook in Avigilon
Step 3️: Install a webhook in Avigilon
This step requires the Premium Avigilon Alta package. It allows scans from Avigilon Alta readers to appear in SmartRec's check-in overview.
In the Avigilon Alta Controller, go to Configuration > Rules.
Click the "+" sign to add a new rule.
Give it a name and description (e.g., SmartRec – check-in overview).
In the Trigger section: Type = "Entry"; Event = "Entry Unlocked".
In the Actions section: Type = Webhook | URL = https://www.amilia.com/api/V3/webhooks/incoming/openpath/entryunlocked | HTTP Method = Post.
Click Save to create the rule. You should see a webhook in the Actions column now.
Click the rule to edit it, go back to Triggers, and enable "Use JSON editor".
Paste the following JSON configuration exactly as shown:
{
"version": "1.0",
"trigger": {
"properties": {
"event": {
"enum": [
"entry.unlocked"
]
},
"required": [
"event"
]
}
},
"requests": [
{
"type": "http",
"blocking": true,
"preRequestDelaySeconds": 0,
"httpParams": {
"headers": [
"User-Agent: Openpath/Rules Engine",
"Content-Type: application/json"
],
"method": "post",
"url": "https://app.amilia.com/api/V3/webhooks/incoming/openpath/entryunlocked",
"body": ""
}
}
]
}
9. Click Save when finished.
Step 4️: Create sites, entries, groups, & schedules in Avigilon
Step 4️: Create sites, entries, groups, & schedules in Avigilon
Before creating an access point in SmartRec, you need to set up the structure in the Avigilon Alta Controller that SmartRec will link to. This is where you define who can open which door and when.
The four key configurations to complete are covered below. Site and entry setup will be done with your Avigilon Alta representative during activation. Avigilon Alta offers flexible configuration options beyond what is listed here , your representative can help you explore what works best for your facility.
1. Create your site
A site represents a physical location with a real postal address. It contains your zones and entries. You need at least one site before you can add entries.
Typically you will have one site per building where you have an Avigilon Alta presence. The postal address enables the Avigilon Alta app to use geolocation to provide a contextualized experience for users based on their proximity to the site.
2. Create your entries (within the sites)
Add each physical door, turnstile, or gate in the Controller. Name them clearly as participants see these names in the Avigilon Alta app.
3. Create your schedules
A schedule defines the time window during which a group can unlock an entry. Creating schedules first means each group is fully configured in one step when you get there.
🔗 Avigilon reference: How to create user/access group schedules
4. Create your access groups and assign the schedule
A group segments users by access rule. When you create a group, assign the schedule you just created and link it to the relevant entry. A participant is placed into a group automatically when SmartRec syncs them, but the group needs to exist first.
Avigilon reference: How to set up Access Groups | How to assign schedules to users/access groups
Concrete example: Aquatics centreYour facility has a pool open to registered swim class participants from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Monday to Saturday.
When SmartRec syncs a participant registered in a swim class, they are placed into the "Swim class participants" group automatically. They can only access the aquatic centre door during the scheduled window. Not after hours, not on Sundays, and not any other door.
If your facility also has a fitness room open to members on a different schedule, that is a separate entry, a separate schedule, a separate group, and a separate access point in SmartRec. |
Step 5️: Create an Avigilon access point in SmartRec
Step 5️: Create an Avigilon access point in SmartRec
With the app configured, go to the Access Management tab in SmartRec and create one or more Avigilon Alta access points. This step is where SmartRec and Avigilon Alta are formally connected.
The access point is where you define eligibility on the SmartRec side, selecting which memberships and activities grant access to a door. Avigilon Alta does not hold this eligibility information. It only knows which group a user belongs to and what that group is allowed to open. SmartRec is what determines who gets placed in that group, based on the access point configuration.
Select the activities and/or memberships eligible for entry.
Link one group per access point. When a participant purchases an eligible item, their user record is created/updated in Avigilon Alta and added to the correct group automatically.
Add your physical entry point(s) so scans appear in the check-in overview and Access Points report.
ℹ️The entry(ies) you select here work with the webhook, meaning the scans at the entry point will appear in Access Management's Check-in Overview as well as the Access points report. If you don't add an entry point, you'll still benefit from the integration's user and group management functions (create user, add group, delete user, etc.), but the Avigilon Alta scans won't appear in SmartRec.
4. Additional settings in Avigilon Alta
The settings below are not required to get the integration running, but are worth reviewing before your first participants arrive. Depending on your facility setup and how you plan to manage access, some of these may be important to configure.
4.1 Disable remote unlock for participants ( recommended)
By default, Avigilon Alta enables remote unlock , meaning employees can unlock a door without being on-site. This is useful for certain employees, but should typically be turned off for regular participants.
To disable: in the Avigilon Alta Controller, go to Administration > Account > Security Settings. Set "Enable remote unlock by default for new users" to No.
⚠️ Important: This setting applies to new users at the moment they are created. If remote unlock is still enabled when the first sync runs, all employees created during that sync will have remote unlock active. Disabling it afterward will not affect users who have already been created. Make sure this setting is turned off before your access points are saved and the integration goes live.
🔗 Avigilon reference: How do I set remote unlock to be disabled by default? (Avigilon support)
4.2 Entry unlock methods
Avigilon Alta supports multiple ways for participants to unlock entries. Configure these based on your hardware setup and participant needs.
Method | Description | Where to configure |
Unlock by hand (in-app tap) | User taps a button in the Avigilon Alta app to manually unlock. | Avigilon Alta mobile app |
Wave to unlock (proximity) | User waves phone near the reader, no tap required. Sensitivity (near/far) is adjustable. | Sites > Entry > Edit Entry |
RFID / access card or fob | User waves a physical card or fob. Useful for children or participants without smartphones. | Avigilon Alta Controller > Credentials |
🔗 Avigilon reference: Set up Wave to Unlock | Improve Wave to Unlock reliability on Android | Avigilon Alta Help Center
💡 Tip: Proximity and wave settings are hardware-specific. Your Prologik installer can help calibrate the right settings for each entry point. Amilia can guide you to where these settings are in the Controller, but calibration is handled by Prologik support.
4.3 Other useful Avigilon Alta settings
Entry states: configure how entries behave : unlock by hand, by proximity, or on a fixed schedule.
Entry schedules: lock entries automatically during holidays or after-hours.
Lockdown plans: pre-configure a lockdown that immediately secures all entries in an emergency.
Access groups: organize users by schedule and entry permissions. One group = one set of access rules.
5. Situations that need extra planning
The integration handles standard participant access automatically. Below are situations that require extra planning. Review any that apply before go-live.
5.1 Giving access to employees (two options)
⚠️ Email conflict: The email used for an employee's SmartRec account must NOT be the same as the Avigilon Alta admin account email. If these match, the nightly sync will deactivate the admin and break the integration. Always use a dedicated generic email for the Avigilon Alta admin account.
There are two ways to giving employees Avigilon Alta access. Understanding both will help you plan before go-live with Prologik. See some scenarios further down to determine the best approach.
Option A: Create a membership in SmartRec for employees for access
Option B: Create employee directily in Avigilon Alta
Option A | Option B |
Manage employee access through SmartRec (employee membership).
Create a free employee membership with no expiration date. Assign it to employees. The integration automatically creates their user record in Avigilon Alta and adds them to the mapped group. | Create employee user records manually in the Avigilon Alta Controller, or use the bulk import tool. Assign mobile credentials, assign to multiple groups, and configure individual permissions like remote unlock. |
Pros:
Cons:
| Pros:
Cons:
|
Choosing the right approach
Scenario | Recommended approach | Why |
All employee access the same doors on the same schedule | Option A (SmartRec membership) | Simple setup, no manual Avigilon management required. |
Employees need different door access (e.g., pool vs. front desk) | Option A with multiple memberships, or Option B | One group per access point means separate memberships per access rule. |
Employees need remote unlock or portal admin access | Option B (Avigilon Alta directly) | Remote unlock and admin roles are configured per user in Avigilon Alta. |
High employee turnover, simple offboarding is a priority | Option A (SmartRec membership) | Canceling the membership automatically removes Avigilon access. |
5.2 Manage access for participants without an email
Avigilon Alta requires a unique email address to create a user record. This creates challenges for children who do not have their own email, and for organizations serving mixed-age groups.
The core challenge
The integration creates one Avigilon Alta user per unique email address.
If a child has no email in SmartRec, no user record is created automatically.
If a parent's email is used for both the parent and the child in SmartRec, only one user record is created, whichever purchase becomes effective first. The second participant will not receive their own access credential.
Option 1: assign the parent's email to the child
Best for: organizations where all or most participants are children.
This works best if the parent does not plan to register themselves to any activities/memberships with the organization. Link the parent's email to the child's profile in SmartRec. The parent receives the Avigilon Alta app credential and can use their phone to check in their child.
⚠️ Limitation: If the parent later registers for their own adult activity, their email is already tied to the child's profile. They cannot check in independently. Only use this approach if parents will not also be purchasing access items for themselves.
Option 2: use a +plus email address
Best for: small organizations with a mix of children and adults.
Create a unique email for the child using plus-addressing: parentsemail+childname@gmail.com eg john.smith+luca@gmail.com. Emails sent to this address are delivered to the parent's inbox (the original e-mail). This gives the child a unique email, allowing the integration to create a separate user record.
Works with Gmail and Outlook. May not work with all email providers.
Practical for small numbers of children; not scalable for hundreds of participants.
Option 3: bulk import and RFID cards
Best for: large groups of children, organizations issuing physical access cards.
Export your participant list from SmartRec (Personal ID, first name, last name — note who has no email).
Create a CSV with a unique placeholder email per child and a card number for each.
Import the CSV into the Avigilon Alta Controller using the bulk import tool.
Distribute physical RFID cards or fobs to children and parents.
ℹ️ Linking manually created users to SmartRec: If a user is created manually in Avigilon Alta, link them to SmartRec by entering the participant's SmartRec Personal ID into the External ID field in Avigilon Alta. Once linked, the integration will manage that user going forward as long as they have an active eligible purchase.
Option 4: manual front desk check-in
Best for: supervised facilities or as a fallback when no credential is available.
Front desk employees verify the child's registration in SmartRec and manually open the turnstile or door via the Visitor Check-in feature in Access Management.
Summary: choosing the right approach
Situation | Recommended approach | Key consideration |
Child-only org, parent checks child in | Option 1: parent's email on child's profile | Parent cannot have separate Avigilon access. |
Mixed-age org, small number of children | Option 2: plus email per child | Works with Gmail/Outlook; not scalable at volume. |
Large group of children, issuing RFID cards | Option 3: bulk import + RFID | Most scalable; requires admin time to distribute cards. |
Supervised facility or last resort | Option 4: manual front desk check-in | No automation; an employee must be present. |
5.3 Limited access and time-based restrictions
Setting up time-based access restrictions requires that your Avigilon Alta groups and schedules mirror the structure of your Amilia activities. Without this configuration, participants may have access at unintended times.
How to set up time-based access
Create a group in Avigilon Alta for each distinct time slot (e.g., Morning activities, Evening activities).
Define a schedule for each group (e.g., Group 1: 6 AM – 10 AM; Group 2: 5 PM – 9 PM).
In SmartRec, create a separate access point for each group, linked to the corresponding activity or membership.
Group | Schedule | Access point in SmartRec |
Morning activities | 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Morning activities – Front door |
Day activities | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Day activities – Front door |
Evening activities | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Evening activities – Front door |
Employees: day shift | 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM | Employee membership (day) |
Employees: night / admin | 24/7 | Employee membership (night/admin) |
⚠️ Important: One access point in SmartRec maps to one group in Avigilon Alta. If you want one membership to grant access to multiple doors or time windows, you need multiple access points and multiple groups. Plan your door-to-group mapping carefully before implementation.
🔗 Avigilon references: How to set up access groups (Avigilon Alta) | How to create group schedules (Avigilon Alta)
5.4 Managing multipasses with Avigilon Alta
Limitation: Avigilon Alta does not support deducting a pass with each entry scan. Organizations using multipasses need a secondary validation step.
✅ Recommended solution: secondary kiosk for multipass validation
The participant uses their Avigilon Alta credential (phone or RFID) to scan and unlock the entry.
The participant then scans their multipass at a SmartRec kiosk, which deducts one pass from their account.
💡 Best practice: If multipass tracking is required, use unlimited individual multipasses for participants who also need Avigilon Alta door access. This avoids the deduction limitation while preserving automated entry.
6. Troubleshooting : A participant cannot access the facility
Verify | How to verify | Escalate to |
Active eligible purchase? | Check SmartRec account for an active activity or membership linked to an Avigilon Alta access point. | Amilia Customer Care |
Unique email in SmartRec? | Confirm no other participant shares the same email address. | Amilia Customer Care |
Active user record in Avigilon Alta? | Search in the Avigilon Alta Controller by email and check that status is Active. | Amilia Customer Care or Prologik |
Correct group assignment? | Verify the user's group matches the group linked to the SmartRec access point. | Prologik |
Bluetooth and location enabled? | Ask participant to check phone settings. Both are required for wave-to-unlock. | Participant self-service |
Access window currently active? | Check group schedule in Avigilon Alta. | Prologik Support |
6.1 The integration is not syncing
Verify the Avigilon Alta app in SmartRec is still active (Apps tab > Avigilon Alta).
Confirm the Avigilon Alta admin account is still active in the Controller and is not linked to any expiring SmartRec purchase.
Check that the webhook in Avigilon Alta is still configured and pointing to the correct Amilia URL.
If the issue persists, contact Amilia Customer Care with: your Avigilon Alta Org ID, the affected user's Avigilon Alta User ID, and their SmartRec Person ID.
6.2 Who to contact in the case of an issue
Issue | Contact | Notes |
Participant lost access or not synced | Amilia Customer Care (chat) | Provide Org ID, User ID, and Person ID. |
Hardware not reading credentials | Prologik | Your hardware installation partner. |
Avigilon Alta app issues | Prologic Support | Their equivalent of Amilia Customer Care. |
Entry schedule or group configuration | Prologik or Avigilon Alta Support | Amilia does not configure Avigilon Alta settings. |
SmartRec access point or membership configuration | Amilia Customer Care or your CSM | — |
Integration feature requests | Your Amilia CSM | — |
✉️ Prologik contact: Dominic Vigneault dvigneault@prologiksecurite.ca
7. Frequently asked questions
What access item types are supported?
All activities: ✅ Supported.
All personal memberships: ✅ Supported.
Multipasses: ⚠️ Use unlimited individual multipasses only. Avigilon Alta cannot deduct a pass per entry scan.
Can multiple people share the same email for access?
No. Each Avigilon Alta user record is tied to one unique email. If two participants share the same email in SmartRec, only the one whose eligible purchase becomes effective first will receive a credential.
What happens if I create a user manually in Avigilon Alta?
That user will retain access indefinitely unless you manually deactivate them. The integration will not manage their access. Link them to SmartRec via the External ID field to bring them under the integration.
How do I set up the Avigilon Alta mobile app?
An email is sent to download the app the first time a participant's user record is created. The app may appear branded as "OpenPath" — that is Avigilon Alta's previous name.
Phone requirements:
Bluetooth must be enabled.
Location services must be enabled and set to "Always allow" when approaching the reader.
Android: version 6.0 or higher.
iPhone: iOS 13 or higher, iPhone 6S or newer.
Apple Watch: Series 1 or newer, watchOS 4.2 or higher.
Setup instructions
Click on 'Set up phone'. Bluetooth must be on. You will be asked about location services. Location services must be on and set to 'allowed' when you approach the turnstile/door.
You don't need notification settings nor the fitness tracker. Once setup is complete, the screen on your mobile should look like this, with the organization's name showing:
You can then wave or place your phone/RFID tag close to the reader at the turnstile/gate/door to check-in and gain access.
What is Prologik's role?
Prologik is Amilia's hardware partner for Avigilon Alta. They handle hardware installation, access card orders and shipping, and on-site configuration. Amilia handles the software integration side (SmartRec app setup, webhook configuration, access points). For hardware and Avigilon Alta Controller questions, contact Prologik first.
Primary contact: Dominic Vigneault — dvigneault@prologiksecurite.ca
Why does the Avigilon Alta admin account need to stay active?
The admin email used to configure the integration acts as the API bridge between SmartRec and Avigilon Alta. If this user is deactivated — or if their email exists in SmartRec with an expiring purchase — the integration will stop syncing. Always use a dedicated generic organizational email for this account.
Does placing a block on an account in SmartRec remove access in Avigilon Alta?
No. Placing a block on a SmartRec account does not affect a user's access credentials in Avigilon Alta. To remove someone's access, the purchase linked to their Avigilon Alta access point must be cancelled. If the purchase remains active, their credential in Avigilon Alta will remain active regardless of any blocks applied in SmartRec.