The End-of-Year Scramble: Why December Is the Best Time To Fix Your Access Problems

December hits differently for every business.
Some are slammed with customers.
Some are running skeleton crews.
Everyone is juggling holidays, schedules, deadlines, and some version of “let’s just get through the next few weeks.”

And tucked inside all that chaos is something most leaders overlook.

December is the month when your access problems show their true colors.

Let’s break it down.

Your team is stretched thin

People take time off.
Shifts get swapped.
You rely on part-time help, volunteers, seasonal staff, or whoever can jump in last minute.

This is when the cracks show. Keys go missing.
Codes get shared.
Doors get left unlocked because no one is sure who’s closing up.

If you’ve ever dealt with a staff change and realized someone still had access, you’ll relate to what we covered in The Employee Left, the Risk Didn’t. One small gap can lead to a bigger problem.

More traffic means more risk

Holiday season brings a spike in foot traffic across gyms, salons, coworking spaces, churches, event venues, and retail stores.

More people moving in and out makes old access habits harder to manage.
Shared codes. Extra keys. Temporary helpers.
It’s a lot to track.

If a lockbox is still part of your routine, take a quick look at Ditch the Lockbox. It explains why these shortcuts add more stress than they solve.

You need flexibility, not more tasks

December is full of schedule changes.
Special hours. One-off events.
Vendors coming by before you even get in.

Your access system should support all of that without pulling you away from everything else you’re trying to juggle.

Remote access makes a difference here, and we unpacked those benefits in Manage Access Remotely.

Being able to unlock a door from your phone or give someone time-based access takes the pressure off your team.

December actually is the best time to upgrade

It feels counterintuitive.
You’re busy.
Your team is busy.
Everyone’s thinking about wrapping up the year.

But December exposes every weak spot.
And that makes it the perfect moment to fix things before January hits.

One reason businesses finally make the switch is they get tired of spending money on issues they shouldn’t have in the first place. We highlighted these recurring costs in The Hidden Key Costs.

You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Even upgrading one problem door can make a big difference.

Start the new year without the same access problems

If December feels messy, that’s exactly why it’s the right time to rethink how people get into your building.

A smoother start in January begins with choices you make now.
Your team will feel it. Your customers will feel it.
And you’ll feel the stress drop.

If you want help planning what to upgrade or how to structure your setup, reach out anytime.