ASSA ABLOY's success is deeply intertwined with its people-centric culture, where employees are viewed as the cornerstone of the company’s achievements.
The organisation's prominence in the provision of advanced access solutions and technology is supported by a robust culture of collaboration and humility, emphasising that individuals truly make the difference.
Within ASSA ABLOY, the workforce is a blend of long-serving veterans and new hires, creating a dynamic environment. Leadership encourages newcomers not to simply integrate but to contribute their unique strengths, ensuring a culture of innovation.
This fusion of seasoned knowledge and fresh ideas results in an agile and empowered company where employees are motivated to make meaningful contributions from the outset.
ASSA ABLOY distinguishes itself with a decentralised organisational structure that allows regional teams to operate with autonomy. This method contrasts with the centralised activities of many global corporations, as it enables rapid responses to local markets while fostering a culture akin to entrepreneurship.
Employees have the freedom to manage budgets and strategic directions, promoting innovation and instilling a strong sense of ownership and pride.
Innovation is driven by employees engaged at all levels of the security ecosystem, identifying needs promptly to tailor solutions or integrate pioneering startups.
Recent acquisitions such as Control iD, DoorBird, and Luxer One have augmented ASSA ABLOY's technological offerings while maintaining the innovative spirit of these new additions. The company’s foresight ensures it delivers advanced solutions in alignment with industry trends, refining ideas until the market is prepared.
A significant characteristic of ASSA ABLOY is the longevity of its employees, attributed to an environment that values and nurtures its workforce.
This supportive setting encourages professional development, autonomy, and collaboration, a strategy that has enabled the company to successfully retain talent despite competitive markets. The nurturing company culture promotes genuine relationships beyond professional confines, contributing to both morale and productivity.
ASSA ABLOY fosters collaboration through informal gatherings and open forums rather than rigidly structured meetings. This approach allows ideas to flourish naturally, enhancing connectivity among employees. Cross-departmental learning initiatives provide additional opportunities for personal growth and broader business understanding, supporting a globally inspired exchange of ideas.
The company prioritises cultural alignment in its recruitment process, seeking candidates who are humble, driven, and emotionally intelligent. This ensures new hires can seamlessly integrate and thrive within ASSA ABLOY’s collaborative environment.
Clear communication about the importance of teamwork aligns new employees with the practical realities and values of the organisation.
Faced with an ageing workforce, ASSA ABLOY actively recruits and nurtures young talent through programmes targeting graduates. Initiatives like the Rotational Development Program (RDP) cultivate future leaders by providing structured, cross-functional exposure, proving valuable within the industry and demonstrating the compelling opportunities within the security sector.
A cornerstone of ASSA ABLOY’s success is its consistent delivery of value to customers, characterised by reliable and responsive service.
Customers appreciate this dependability, reflecting a strong commitment to long-term partnerships beyond initial transactions. This relational approach effectively builds trust and fortifies the company’s reputation.
ASSA ABLOY is fundamentally not just a technology provider but a community dedicated to a shared purpose of enhancing global safety and accessibility. Its culture of autonomy and collaborative curiosity empowers employees to contribute meaningfully, ensuring the organisation continues to grow alongside the individuals who contribute to its success.
When people step into the world of ASSA ABLOY, one thing becomes immediately apparent: this is a company where people are not just employees, but the foundation of its global success. Behind the advanced access solutions, cutting-edge technologies, and international growth lies a culture rooted in collaboration, humility, and an enduring belief that people make the difference.
For ASSA ABLOY, people are not a corporate cliché; they are the company’s defining advantage. Across the organisation, there is a remarkable blend of long-tenured veterans and fresh talent. Many team members measure their careers with ASSA ABLOY in decades, yet new hires quickly find themselves welcomed into a culture that values individuality and fresh perspectives.
Balance between tradition and new energy
Leaders encourage new employees not to simply “fit in” but to bring their own unique strengths, ensuring the culture remains dynamic and innovative.
This balance between tradition and new energy creates a powerful environment. Veterans provide mentorship and stability, while newcomers bring fresh ideas and curiosity. The result is a company that grows stronger with every hire, a place where people feel empowered to contribute meaningfully from day one.
A decentralised and nimble organisation
What sets ASSA ABLOY apart from many large corporations is its decentralised structure. While most global companies operate with tightly centralised decision-making, ASSA ABLOY empowers its regional teams to act with autonomy.
This model enables the company to adapt quickly to local markets. For example, what works in Berlin or Stockholm may not work in Kansas City, and ASSA ABLOY embraces these differences.
This approach is more than a business strategy; it’s a cultural mindset. Employees are encouraged to think like entrepreneurs, running their part of the business as if it were their own. They manage budgets, make strategic decisions, and collaborate freely across teams and regions. This autonomy not only accelerates innovation but also instils a sense of ownership and pride across the workforce.
Staying ahead of the curve
Innovation at ASSA ABLOY is fuelled by people who are embedded in every part of the security ecosystem, from end users to architects, consultants, and channel partners. These frontline connections help the company identify needs early, whether it’s adapting existing products, building new solutions, or acquiring innovative startups.
Acquisitions are central to the company’s growth, bringing in both technology and entrepreneurial talent. Recent examples include companies like Control iD, offering facial identification biometric solutions, DoorBird, with its intelligent IP-based intercom systems, and Luxer One, with its smart package management solutions.
These pioneering businesses joined ASSA ABLOY to gain resources for expansion while preserving the innovative spirit that made them successful. At the same time, company leaders anticipate industry trends, ensuring ASSA ABLOY consistently delivers forward-looking solutions. Even when ideas prove to be ahead of their time, they’re not discarded; instead, they are refined until the market is ready.
This blend of internal expertise, acquisitions, and visionary leadership allows ASSA ABLOY to stay at the leading edge of access technology, continually moving the industry forward.
Why people stay
Longevity at ASSA ABLOY is no accident. Employees remain with the company for decades because they feel valued, trusted, and supported. Leadership invests in people by providing autonomy, professional development, and an environment where contributions matter. Managers describe their teams as “running their own business,” fostering accountability and pride.
This commitment to people is more than words. Leaders emphasise collaboration, ensuring that employees know they are wanted, invested in, and given the freedom to bring their best ideas forward. Even in a competitive job market where competitors regularly recruit talented individuals, ASSA ABLOY retains a significant percentage of its employees, which speaks to the strength of its culture.
And while the business demands results, the environment is far from rigid. Teams laugh together, tease one another, and build genuine relationships that make the workplace enjoyable. This sense of camaraderie strengthens bonds and fuels productivity, proving that serious business and fun can coexist.
Collaboration and connection
At ASSA ABLOY, collaboration takes many forms, from monthly leadership meetings without PowerPoints or rigid agendas to casual ice cream socials and food truck gatherings that bring employees together. The philosophy is simple: create spaces where people can connect authentically. Meetings focus on open dialogue rather than scripted presentations, allowing ideas to flow naturally.
Professional development also plays a key role. Employees are encouraged to engage in cross-departmental learning, building relationships beyond their immediate teams, and gaining a broader understanding of the business. Being part of a global organisation provides additional opportunities for collaboration across regions, where lessons from one market often inspire innovation in another.
Hiring for culture: humble, hungry, and smart
When it comes to hiring, ASSA ABLOY looks beyond résumés and technical skills. The company is deliberate about finding people who embody three traits: humble, hungry, and smart. Humility ensures that employees remain grounded and collaborative, even in competitive roles like sales.
Hunger reflects drive and motivation; the willingness to go above and beyond when no one is watching. Smart encompasses not just intellectual ability but also emotional intelligence, the capacity to work well with others.
Candidates are told upfront that teamwork is non-negotiable. Those who prefer to operate solely on their own may succeed elsewhere, but not at ASSA ABLOY. This clarity ensures that new hires align with the company’s values and thrive within its collaborative culture.
Investing in the next generation
Like much of the security industry, ASSA ABLOY faces the challenge of an aging workforce. To address this, the company has launched programs to attract and develop young talent. By recruiting on college campuses, ASSA ABLOY has built a pipeline of early-career professionals who bring fresh perspectives to the business.
For example, over the past two years, 11 graduates have joined through a structured onboarding programme, gaining exposure to different sales roles and regions before settling into permanent positions. The company also offers a Rotational Development Program (RDP), a two-year, full-time curriculum designed to develop future leaders in Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain.
This investment in young professionals has paid off, with directors across the country competing to bring programme graduates into their teams. The initiative not only strengthens the company’s future workforce but also demonstrates to younger generations that the security industry offers meaningful, impactful careers in life safety.
Consistency and customer trust
What excites ASSA ABLOY’s leaders most about the future is the company’s ability to deliver consistent value to customers. Whether working with channel partners, end users, or influencers, ASSA ABLOY is known for its reliability. When issues arise, the company is recognised for its responsiveness and dedication to seeing problems through to resolution.
Customers value this consistency. They know that beyond the sales pitch lies a true partnership, backed by teams who are committed to long-term success. This reputation is one of the company’s greatest assets and a source of pride for employees at every level.
A culture of purpose and possibility
At its heart, ASSA ABLOY is more than a technology company. It is a community of people united by a shared purpose: making the world a safer, more accessible place. ASSA ABLOY’s culture thrives on autonomy, collaboration, and curiosity, and the people stay because they are empowered to contribute, grow, and enjoy the work they do alongside colleagues who feel more like family.
From seasoned veterans to fresh graduates, every individual has a role to play in shaping the company’s future. And as ASSA ABLOY continues to expand globally, innovate technologically, and invest in its people, one thing remains constant: the belief that its greatest strength lies in its culture and the extraordinary people who call it home.
