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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 SmartRec's Access Management with Avigilon Alta's products to instantly grant guest access at the right access point, at the right time.

1. Before getting started

It’s important to understand the difference between access management and access control as you begin using the SmartRec and Avigilon Alta integration.

Access Management	Access Control
Access Management refers to the processes used by an organization to decide when, where, and how resources should be accessed. With SmartRec's Access Management solution, the check-in overview allows admins to monitor all visitor entries with security features that include participant profiles, tracking child pick-ups, check-outs, account balances and entry blockers.	Access control is a means of safeguarding and controlling your assets, people, technology, and information. Physical locked barrier: turnstiles, doors, gates, etc. By a person: front desk, security guard, etc. With credentials: website log in/password, etc.

In Avigilon Alta, you'll see the following terms:

Entry	Your turnstile, gate and/or door.
Schedule	Limits the time users can unlock your door.
Group	A container to classify your users, based on their purchases. Schedules are tied to groups to ensure no entry at random times of the day.
User	The record of a participant when they purchase an access-related item. One user per unique email. Learn more here.

2. How to activate Avigilon Alta in 4 steps

Step 1: Set up an Avigilon Alta account

To get started, one admin must create an Avigilon Alta account. For the login credentials, make sure to use an email address that isn't associated to any access-related purchases from your SmartRec store. We suggest using a generic email for your organization that isn't dependent on one person's credentials nor tied to an admin account in SmartRec.

After the initial account setup, use the same credentials to log in to the Avigilon Alta Controller (i.e., Control Center). This is Avigilon Alta's software interface through which you can create entry states, access schedules, zones, groups, etc. Their team will show you how to configure these settings.
By default, Avigilon Alta has a 'Remote unlock' setting enabled. This means that once a participant gains access to the facility, they could unlock your turnstile/door without being on site. This could be very useful for some staff, but might not be needed for participants. To turn it off, go to Administration > Account > Security settings and make sure the 'Enable remote unlock by default for new users' is turned off.
Take note of your organization's ID in the URL - in this example, the ID is 10277. You need this ID to activate the Avigilon Alta app in SmartRec.

Step 2: Turn on the Avigilon Alta app in SmartRec

In SmartRec, go to the Apps tab to search and select the Avigilon Alta app. Click the Configure button and input your organization ID, followed by the same login credentials used to log in to the Avigilon Alta Controller. This only needs to be done once. The integration stays active until you choose to Disable it.

Step 3: Install a webhook in Avigilon Alta

To see scans from an Avigilon Alta reader in Access Management, you must first have the premium package with Avigilon Alta. Once you do, you will be able to configure this webhook in the Avigilon Alta Controller. Here's how:

1️⃣ In the Avigilon Alta Controller, go to Configuration > Rules.

2️⃣ Click the “+” sign to add a rule.

3️⃣ Give it a name and a description (e.g., SmartRec – Check-in overview)

4️⃣ In the Trigger section, the Type is “Entry”; the Event is “Entry Unlocked.”

5️⃣ Configure the Actions section as follows:

Type: Webhook
URL: https://www.amilia.com/api/V3/webhooks/incoming/openpath/entryunlocked
HTTP method: Post

6️⃣ Hit 'Save' to create the rule. You should see a webhook in the Actions column now.

7️⃣ Click the rule to edit it and go back to the Triggers section.

8️⃣ Enable the '⬜ Use JSON editor' and copy + paste the text below.

{
  "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://www.amilia.com/api/V3/webhooks/incoming/openpath/entryunlocked",
        "body": "{{json event}}"
      }
    }
  ]
}

9️⃣ Save when finished.

Step 4: Use an Avigilon Alta access point in Access Management

The Avigilon Alta app must be configured if you want to create an Avigilon Alta access point.

To capture visitor entries in the Avigilon Alta Controller, go to the Access Management tab to create one or more Avigilon Alta access points. Select the activities and/or memberships eligible for entry.

Next, link a group (one group per access point). When participants purchase one of the eligible activities or memberships, their user record is created/updated in Avigilon Alta and automatically added to the group in the Avigilon Alta Controller. Based on your group configuration, users will have access to the entry(ies) based on the schedule tied to the group.

The 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.

3. How SmartRec & Avigilon Alta work together

Here's what happens when a participant registers for an eligible access item and what to expect when they visit your facility. Keep in mind some Access Management features are not compatible with Avigilon Alta. You can learn more here.

The participant buys an eligible access item

Each night before 12am, Avigilon Alta syncs with SmartRec to detect if an activity and/or membership becomes effective the next day. If so, it creates a user record for registered participants and sends them an email to download the Avigilon Alta mobile application. An email is only sent the first time the user record is created.

If the participant registers for an event occurring the same day, the user record is created immediately and the email is sent.

An email is sent to download the Avigilon Alta mobile app

The Avigilon Alta hardware won't read Amilia ID's. Instead, an email is sent to eligible users (i.e., participants) to download the Avigilon Alta app. With the app open on their phone, it'll unlock the gate/turnstile if they're eligible for access.

Alternatively, participants can be provided with RFID tags that unlock the gate/turnstile if they're eligible for access. They don't need the Avigilon Alta app, although an email to download the app is still sent (the first time their user record is created) should they wish to do so.

The participant visits your facility

When participants arrive, they need only wave their phone or RFID chip in front of the reader to unlock the gate/turnstile. If they're registered for an activity or membership that isn't yet effective, they won't be granted entry.

In SmartRec, all entry attempts are recorded in the Check-in Overview.

If participants use the app or an RFID tag, 'Avigilon Alta' shows under the Event column. If an admin uses the Visitor check-in field in Access Management to manually check-in a participant, or the Kiosk is available for the participant to check-in themselves, the activity/membership name shows under the Event column.

In the Avigilon Alta Controller, only entry attempts made with a phone or an RFID tag are recorded.

After the event...

If the participant isn't registered for an occurrence the same day/the next day or the access item is no longer effective, Avigilon Alta deactivates the user record and revokes access. If they're registered for another access-related item that becomes effective in the future, their user record is reinstated the night before (or day of) and they'll have access when they arrive on the premises at the proper time.

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.

This illustrated flow will help you visualize how it works when an access-related item is eligible the same day of purchase or on a future date.

4. Frequently Asked Questions

What Access Management tools can be used with Avigilon Alta?

✔️ Subscription activities are supported.

❗ Only individual memberships are supported. Entry can only be granted to one user at time. Since Avigilon Alta requires each user to have their own unique email, it's not possible to use family memberships or family multipasses

❗ ❗ Multipasses must be used with caution. Avigilon Alta doesn't support deducting a multipass with each use. We recommend using individual, unlimited multipasses when granting access with Avigilon Alta technology. Please reach out to support@amilia.com if you have any questions.

Who should use Avigilon Alta?

Avigilon Alta's access control solution is best for these types of organizations:

Cares about who has access to certain facilities for security purposes. The mobile technology can't be shared between users.
Prefers the simplest of setups - the hardware consists of a small reader on a door and is compatible with most turnstiles on the market.
Looking for solutions during an emergency - admins can unlock doors remotely + set up a contingency plan in the Avigilon Alta Controller.
We recommend this solution to unsupervised facilities, gyms open 24/7, recreation centers that cater to participants of all ages or offer fitness classes for Mom (or Dad) & Baby, etc. Contact us at partnership@amilia.com to find out the best fit for you!

Can multiple people share the same email for access?

This isn't possible. Each user record in Avigilon Alta is linked to one unique email, and refers to the email address in the participant's personal info in SmartRec personal. If no email is indicated in a child's personal info, the account owner's email will be used.

If an adult and child share the same email and both register for an eligible access item, only one user record is created for the participant whose event is effective first. A duplicate user will not be created for the second participant.

We understand that many children don't have their own email address. Remember, you can simply check-in a participant through Access Management's visitor check-in or the Kiosk (if it's available) should they not have a user record in Avigilon Alta.

How do I set up the Avigilon Alta mobile app?

An email is sent to download the app the first time a participant registers to an eligible access item. It may still branded as 'OpenPath', which is Avigilon Alta's previous name. The setup must be performed on your mobile phone. Here are the requirements:

Bluetooth must enabled
Location services must be enabled
Android phone - Android 6.0 or higher
Apple iPhone - IOS 13 or higher, and iPhone 6S or newer
Apple Watch Series 1 or newer, on 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.

How do I create a user in Avigilon Alta ?

If you'd like instructions on how to create a user in Avigilon Alta, please download this short guide that walks you through the steps.

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