Accessing Innovation: An Interview with the Minds Behind Auto Ingress

An interview with Muniraj and Ana Krishna, entrepreneurs & founders of Auto Ingress, an Australian company that specializes in designing and manufacturing automatic entrance systems

Meet Raj and Ana, visionary entrepreneurs and founders of Auto Ingress, an Australian company redefining access through innovative automatic entrance systems.

Their passion for cutting-edge design and engineering has positioned Auto Ingress as a leader in seamless, secure, and smart entry solutions.

What led to the decision to enter the Indian market in 2015, and how was the opportunity in the access automation space evaluated at that time?

Our decision to enter the Indian market was motivated by strategic vision and recognising a rapidly evolving market. While others in our sector looked towards Vietnam or China, we envisioned India as not only a manufacturing hub, but as a high-potential domestic market.

Keeping in mind our long-term strategy, we found that India’s economic trajectory, qualified English-speaking population and increasing appetite for tech-led solutions were an ideal fit for us.

Our growth in India isn’t just about volume, it’s about readiness for advanced infrastructure solutions. And for us, it was an opportunity to apply decades of Australian expertise to a market that is emerging and on the cusp of transformation.

What were the early challenges of adapting Australian-engineered automatic entrance systems for Indian infrastructure, and how were these addressed to align with local construction practices and regulatory frameworks?

It is always challenging to adapt a mature product to a nascent market. At first, the variations in construction techniques, building codes, and infrastructure readiness meant we had to be extremely flexible.

For instance, structural inconsistencies across sites required us to revisit installation methodologies. In parallel, we had to navigate our way through major policy changes, from GST to demonetization, all of which drastically altered our business landscape.

We overcame these by building a local team with on-ground expertise, investing in human resource training, and by tailoring products without ever compromising on quality or performance. Over time our systems became hybrid, based on Australian engineering but optimised Indian conditions.

How are smart, automated entrance solutions quietly transforming Indian infrastructure today — from airports and metro stations to luxury residences and commercial properties?

Access automation is becoming a standard element of contemporary infrastructure, that is usually installed quietly but with profound effects. In settings with high footfall such as airports, our systems are improving safety and flow.

For the residential market, especially luxury housing, automated doors are shifting from being a novelty to an essentiality, usually propelled by aesthetics, accessibility, and intelligent integration.

Hospitals, metros, and IT parks are also placing greater emphasis on contactless and compliant entrances, particularly post-COVID. What we are witnessing is not a trend, but an expectation transformation where automation is no longer futuristic but foundational.

In what ways does Auto Ingress balance global standards with local market dynamics, especially in terms of material sourcing, cost sensitivity, and end-user expectations?

Maintaining a high standard of quality is in our DNA and we can never compromise on it. That being said, we also understand that doing that in a price conscious market such as India involves making smart decisions. 

About 75–80% of our components are locally produced while still using our Australian specifications. We collaborate with trusted Indian producers such as Jindal Aluminium for our extrusions and keep only the most critical control components from Australia.

Our products are customised and not mass-produced, which allows us the flexibility to accommodate site-specific requirements and customer expectations without increasing costs. It’s a fine balance, but one we conduct with transparency and technical discipline.

What inspired two seasoned Australian professionals to build and scale a high-tech infrastructure business in India at a time when most industry veterans consider retirement?

We’ve never seen age or geography as limitations. The decision to scale in India was as much personal as it was professional. When circumstances called for it and when our Indian operations needed direction, we didn’t think twice.

We came to India ourselves, spent time on the ground, understood the nuances, and recommitted to the vision. What we found was a market full of energy, intelligence, and potential. It reignited our own passion for building something meaningful.

What role does the Smart Experience Centre in Chennai play in demonstrating automation technologies, and how does it support customer engagement, customization, and training?

Our Smart Experience Centre at Kilpauk is at the centre of how we engage with our market. It’s not merely a display room, it establishes a space where clients, architects, and partners get to experience our technology firsthand.

It is also a training centre where we demonstrate application-specific solutions and guide clients through the customisations available.

More importantly, it lets end-users to experience our systems in actual use and cover the gap between concept and application. It has become a place for learning, ideation, and collaboration.

How is demand for automated entrance systems evolving across sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, transport, and residential real estate in India?

The demand has diversified and deepened. Airports and metros were early adopters, driven by efficiency and compliance. But today, healthcare facilities seek touchless solutions for hygiene. Hotels and malls demand aesthetic integration.

And high-rise residences are fast recognising automation as both a convenience and a compliance solution, particularly for fire safety and accessibility.

We’re also seeing growing interest from business parks. What’s exciting is that this demand isn’t standardised but is sector-specific, functional, and changing fast.

What approach has been taken to build a pan-India distribution and support network, and how is local workforce development being prioritized in the process?

Our expansion strategy is based on enabling local talent. We have expanded our Chennai team and are increasing operations to meet the pan-India demand.

Each system we sell must be installed, calibrated, and serviced in the long term. So, we don’t intend to just build a sales channel but a support infrastructure.

We focus our efforts on training ensure our engineers and partners are completely aware of the product and its application.

Simultaneously, we are also shifting administrative and back-office operations from Sri Lanka to India to further deepening our footprint here.

How does Auto Ingress’s India journey reflect the broader narrative of India–Australia collaboration — particularly in areas of tech adoption, skill development, and value-added manufacturing?

Our entry into the Indian market has been very smooth due to the support and guidance from our trade facilitation partner, Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ).

This journey, in real time, is a study that sets an example of how collaboration can create scalable and sustainable impacts by bringing proven Australian technologies to India, training local teams, and now manufacturing with increasing levels of self-sufficiency.

It’s not just about trade; it is the transfer of knowledge and working together to create value. This is what concrete bilateral partnerships at the global level looks like, something that benefits both parties and one that is built on trust.

With expansion plans underway, what is the long-term vision for Auto Ingress in India, and how does the company plan to contribute to the next phase of smart infrastructure growth?

India is a key player to our global strategy. With our new facility that is expected to be operational next year, we’re preparing to scale manufacturing, expand exports to regions like the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and deepen our domestic market engagement.

We are investing in infrastructure, people, and processes and in a future commitment toward access automation in the development of infrastructure in India. Our goal is to go beyond just being a supplier and become a key partner in the smart infrastructure revolution in India.

Raj and Ana’s dedication to innovation and quality continues to drive Auto Ingress forward. Their entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence exemplify how technology can transform everyday experiences, setting new standards in automatic entrance system design and manufacturing.

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