Salto Space

The combination of hybrid hospitality and smart access technology SALTO is helping to revolutionize the way hotels operate, by improving the guest experience, increasing operational efficiency and providing a more secure and personalized stay for guests.

The hospitality industry is constantly evolving, and the recent trend of hybrid hospitality properties is a prime example of this. Hybrid hospitality properties are a combination of traditional hotel services with the convenience and technology of short-term rental properties and working spaces for business travellers. This new model is changing the way guests think about and experience hospitality, and it's also presenting new challenges for hotel operators.

Hybrid hospitality properties offer guests a choice between hotel rooms or private apartments, which can be booked via an app or website. Guests have access to shared common areas that include restaurants, lounges and business centres as well as other amenities like gyms or swimming pools. This type of property is ideal for guests who want to feel at home while they're away from home, but who want to avoid dealing with the hassle of renting an apartment.

One of the key advantages of hybrid hospitality properties is their ability to provide guests with more control, service and customization experience over their stay. With the use of technology, guests can book and manage their stay from their smartphones, check-in and out at their convenience, have mobile access, connect securely to the WiFi network to work remotely, and even control the temperature and lighting in their rooms. This level of security, guest safety and keyless convenience is a major highlight for guests' experience and is a key factor in the popularity of hybrid hospitality properties.
 

This new model is changing the way guests think about and experience hospitality, and it's also presenting new challenges for hotel operators.

Here are four ways that hybrid hospitality properties are changing the way hotels operate:

1. It provides guests with more choice.
Hybrid hotels can offer a more flexible experience to their guests by offering multiple services under one roof. For example, they can offer public spaces where travellers can work or relax, while providing more private areas for travellers to rest after a long day of meetings or sightseeing. The ability to cater to both business travellers and leisure tourists makes hybrid hotels appealing to many types of guests looking for different types of experiences during their stay in the city.

2. It makes it easier for guests to work remotely​.
The rise in remote work has led to a growing number of travellers who want an amenity that enables them to keep working remotely while on vacation or on business trips away from home offices — whether it be through shared office spaces or private meeting rooms all working within a single access control technology that brings seamless Digital Key access to every door in an efficient, flexible, safe, and secure way.

3. It's about providing an experience.
Hybrid hotels are making use of smart access technology to provide a seamless guest experience, from check-in through check-out. As part of this effort, many hotels have implemented keyless and mobile entry systems like SALTO Hospitality solutions for their hotel rooms.

4. Combining the best of an office, a meeting room, a luxury hotel and a resort in an all-in-one property.
It should be noted that running a hybrid hospitality property also presents several challenges for hotel operators. One of the biggest challenges is maintaining the high level of service and security that guests expect from traditional hotels, while also providing the flexibility and freedom of a short-term rental property and coworking space. This requires a delicate balance and careful management of the property operations and its guests.

Ensuring that the technology used to support the hybrid hospitality model is reliable, secure, and user-friendly. Technical problems or security breaches can quickly erode guest confidence and negatively impact the property's reputation. It's essential for hotel operators to invest in smart access technology that is robust and well-supported in every property touch point and to have a contingency plan in place for when things go wrong.

By incorporating SALTO hybrid-integrated, virtually networked, wireless and cloud-based smart-locking technology into their operations, hotels can provide their guests with a convenient, modern and secure stay. It also helps the hotel staff to manage their operations more efficiently by reducing manual tasks and allowing them to focus on providing a higher level of service to their guests.

In conclusion, hybrid hospitality properties are a new and exciting development in the hospitality industry. While they bring many benefits to guests and operators, they also present new operational challenges that must be carefully managed to ensure success. With the right approach, however, hybrid hospitality properties have the potential to provide guests with an unparalleled level of control and convenience while also helping hotel operators to improve their operations and stay ahead of the competition.

Looking to learn more? Click here to discover more about SALTO’s access control solutions for Hospitality, and follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram for the latest updates.

Coworking is a revolution that's changing the way we work. With a more flexible, remote working culture, coworkers are reinventing the workplace experience, finding new opportunities, and boosting members’ community collaboration in these shared workspaces and hybrid workplaces. But the one thing that ties all of these people together is technology. This evolving technology delivers the power to provide an app where coworkers can book, pay, and manage meeting room reservations, or gain access to the space with mobile door access. 

Here are five ways Coworking technology will change your life and elevate your brand.

1. Smart-tech convenience

The future of coworking technology is bright. It’s one in which your members will be able to access your space with ease and without physical keys. By providing keyless options,  you’ll be able to give them a seamless member experience.

Smart tech is a must to improve your members’ experience and simplify your access control by leveraging the latest in coworking technology. By using smart locks instead of traditional keys or card readers, members can simply use their smart keycards or smartphone to gain entry into coworking spaces without having any physical “keys" at all. This provides them with greater peace of mind, knowing that they won't lose a keycard, for instance, which most workplaces require. Member satisfaction levels will improve overall, and this, in turn, translates directly into increased occupancy rates over time. 

Smart workspaces are office environments designed to be more efficient and productive, often incorporating technology and amenities to support remote work and collaboration. Together, hotdesk booking and smart workspaces can improve the member experience by providing more options for where and when to work, as well as a more comfortable and functional working environment.

2. Seamless Coworking experiences

Grant access permissions based on membership. Give workspace members the convenience of keyless office door locks, elevator access, locker security, POD cabinet access, and opening doors using a Digital Key on a smartphone or with a tag or a PIN. Integrate office access control systems with member services and create partnered access solutions that support client satisfaction, retention, and recruitment.

A seamless coworking experience will also allow you to link access to membership plans or time-based privileges or restrictions. Decentralized key management can improve user experience by providing more autonomy and flexibility for users and members. Each member is responsible for managing their own keys or credentials, which eliminates the need for users to request access from a central administrator and can also make it easier for users to access different resources, invite visitors, or host meetings without having to go through multiple levels of authorization. Centralize your coworking access control system with an all-in-one cloud-based solution – that can be managed remotely from anywhere – that includes a complete smart locking platform of thoughtfully designed, easy-to-install and retrofit, access control solutions. This will help you achieve reliable access control, physical safety, and simplify security plans to ensure your community, visitors, and working spaces stay safe.

3. Workplace flexibility with enterprise-grade security

Enjoy the flexibility of cloud-based technology, making it easy to scale your coworking space access control infrastructure. Add or remove new doors, access points, lockers, meeting rooms, phone booths, lift access, floors, or locations, anytime and anywhere.

Redefine your working space security and create a policy for access control with a SALTO-enabled comprehensive smart access coworking technology platform. Give authorized members 24/7 access and restrict drop-in visitors to regular business hours combining physical security with a best-in-class digital keyless experience.

If you prefer to stick with physical tags or keyfobs,’ we have automated the process for you to still provide a modern and efficient solution for your space with smart and seamless tag enrollment.

4. Technology integration is a must

Coworking spaces are no longer just a place to get your work done; they're part of the modern lifestyle. Members expect many additional services and benefits from their coworking space, including a healthy dose of social interaction, access to the latest tech, booking solutions, and even an environment of mindfulness. As such, it's important for you to know that having leading technology integration partnerships is not only common – it's also often required in order to attract and maintain members.

Tech integration is a key feature of coworking spaces, and it's only going to become more important as the industry evolves. Connecting the best working spaces Property Management Systems (PMS), building security, and business technologies to your SALTO access control can provide a seamless and integrated experience for system operators and members that includes ready-to-go integration features by third parties that can be seamlessly integrated into a running process. By linking these systems together, members can easily access the resources they need, whether it's reserving a hotdesk, gaining access, or using specific business technologies. This integration can also provide a more secure and efficient experience for operators, as access to resources can be controlled and monitored in real time. Moreover, by integrating these systems, data can be easily shared and analyzed, which can help make better business decisions and improve the overall user experience following Single Sign On (SSO) standards.

5. Data leverage

Data is the new oil, and it is valuable to make data-driven decisions to improve operational efficiency. If you don't have a strategy to take advantage of this, you're doing yourself a major disservice. It can be used to improve your business, booking rates, energy efficiency, coworking member experience – and if you're smart about it – your revenue.

Data can be leveraged in several ways, the first of which is to monetize access. Increase your revenue by monetizing access to meeting rooms and other available spaces within the office building or coworking space itself (in addition to the traditional membership fees). Use data analytics tools and real-time reporting to maximize your space utilization with real-time occupancy insights. This will provide you with a better understanding of how people are using your workplace with historical data to show occupancy trends and space utilization.

There’s no denying that coworking spaces are only becoming smarter. As more people choose to work remotely, coworking locations are becoming a go-to for those who want to collaborate with others and be part of a community. The advancements in technology that allow for collaboration and communication will only continue to grow, making it easier than ever before for coworkers from all over the world to share ideas and work together on projects.

Looking to learn more? Click here to discover more about SALTO’s access control solutions for Coworking and follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram for the latest updates.

Every two years the trade fair for security in Essen, Germany, is a big part of our joint efforts to put SALTO Systems on the (security) map. With every edition, the ESSEN security fair is getting more popular. With over 1000 exhibiting companies and more than 40000 visitors for the 2022 edition, this is almost an understatement. This year’s edition in September was a special version with all the SALTO group companies present after a period of not being able to see each other face to face. 

At the Essen fair, we could see the names of the group companies proudly presented on SALTO staff sleeves. Together, the companies form a collective of solutions that fit the needs of multiple verticals. The Essen security fair was the ideal opportunity to see first-hand the latest products and technology available and provided an opportunity to network and build partnerships with members and executives in the industry. 

While combining these companies, SALTO Systems remains the heart and soul of the company: including the founders that once started a small business in lock manufacturing. The ‘small business’ SALTO Systems once was, has grown out to be an industry leader in electronic locking and smart access with market-leading positions in key geographies and a diverse range of services with, currently, not only specialized in top-notch hardware but additionally the software which makes the hardware smart. It was a very special moment to see employees of all SALTO group companies intertwine: Clay Solutions, Cognitec, Contidata, Conlan, Bluefield Smart Access, Gantner, and Danalock were among the 120 people present from SALTO!

“SALTO has significantly expanded our range of products and services over the past two years through the acquisition of several technologically-innovative companies. At Security Essen, we’ve showcased the interaction of the different solutions of our Group companies live for the first time. - Axel Schmidt, Managing Director SALTO Germany.
 

With all these specialties combined, SALTO continues to push boundaries by expanding the envelope of what is possible and how the latest and emerging technologies can be used to create keyless buildings that are smart to own, operate, and manage. Think of face recognition, smart locker- and payment solutions, license plate recognition, and cloud-based access control. Besides expanding the company with the group companies, we have been growing our solutions with technology partners. By collaborating with all these partners we continue to develop the technologies and solutions that will help customers in various industries to drive intelligent building management and smart access technologies with more integrated and streamlined keyless and contactless solutions.

If you missed us at ESSEN  make sure to join us at one of our upcoming events. For details on these events – or to learn more about us – visit our events page here.

Don’t want to miss out on the latest from the world of access control? Follow us on LinkedIn and/or Instagram to stay up to date.

Modern access control systems are a crucial component of a comprehensive strategy for school, college, and university security–especially for life-threatening situations that call for emergency lockdown. Ask yourself these important questions when considering an access solution for education.

In the wake of an unforeseen security crisis, many educational facilities and institutions around the world are reexamining lockdown procedures and are conducting a thorough review of the capabilities of their school’s access control systems. And for good reason: investigations into recent tragedies have found that miscommunication, a lack of clear responsibilities and procedures, and insufficient building access for first responders were serious problems during these horrific events. 

School safety experts have been warned about the vulnerability of ineffective crisis management for decades. In recent years, billions of dollars have been spent on modernizing school infrastructure and building security, yet, today, an estimated one in four public schools in the United States lacks classroom doors that can be locked from the inside. 

Security measures in universities, colleges, and K-12 schools need to be robust and effective, yet unobtrusive. This can be a challenge for schools which have to be prepared for a variety of threats. Parents need to trust educational institutions to look after their children, so it is vital that they provide effective 24/7 security to ensure both students and staff are safe and protected at all times.

If your school district or organization is evaluating security, you should consider the following key questions when developing comprehensive lockdown procedures for any school or district. 

What are the best practices for lockdown systems in schools?

Because the size and characteristics of schools and districts vary widely across the country, a universal school safety plan or lockdown procedure does not exist. While each school might be better suited to a particular security system, require different hardware, or have specific vendor commitments, there is a set of “5P’s” that is universally applicable when it comes to security: Planning, Process, Protocol, Practice, and Prevention.
 

What are your procedures for school lockdown?

It sounds simple, but it’s vital to review your security procedures and protocols and develop a thorough understanding of every step. School administrators often want to focus on the capabilities of their access control systems and other security technologies first. But the first step should be planning and defining the process. Then, you should establish specific lockdown protocols–identifying exactly what happens (and doesn’t happen) during a live lockdown scenario. Access control systems are very important, but they are one component of an overall lockdown strategy. 
 

Who has the responsibility for instituting a lockdown and giving the all-clear?

Another crucial step is to identify not only who has lockdown responsibility and capabilities, but who is responsible for giving the “all clear” when the situation has been resolved. In addition, think about accountability: How do you measure the effectiveness of drills? This brings us to another of the 5P principles – practice. Did everyone do what they were supposed to do and at the right time? How do you know? Some access control systems give you auditing capabilities so you can objectively answer these questions. 

How will first responders access your buildings?

If all the doors to your building are locked in an emergency, how will first responders get into the school? This question is too often overlooked. Do your local first responders have physical keys to your schools? Modern access control systems offer the advanced capability of delivering mobile credentials that grant first responders immediate access for a specific amount of time, such as during a lockdown. 

What are the capabilities of your access control systems?

It is also very important to understand what your access control systems are capable of as well as what they are not capable of. Can one person lock down the exterior and interior doors of an entire school from one location? Can they do so from their mobile device, or do they have to be in an office or a certain room? Will your access control system function even if your network is down, or if the school has lost electrical power? Try to envision as many scenarios as possible. 

Do you also focus on Prevention?

Finally, the last of the 5P’s is prevention. As part of that, your access control system should restrict – or prevent – entry to school property by any unauthorized users.

Coliving Consultant and Community Experience Specialist, Leah Ziliak is one of the world's leading experts in the industry. In the second post of our 6-Part Coliving Blog Series, Leah shares how the Hybrid Hospitality trend is changing the way we think about travel and hospitality. 

Working from the rooftop of a trendy hotel in Cape Town with 200 Mbps internet, a dedicated call room, and a barista serving up the perfect flat white, it's easy to see just how much the hospitality world has changed over the last decade. Remember when the 'business centre' of a hotel meant a couple of clunky desktops facing a beige wall with a printer?

With a coworking space, community events, group fitness classes, and even a mini movie theatre and a popcorn machine, this is more than just a hotel; it's an experience.  A Hybrid Hospitality experience.

Hungry? Scan a QR code at your coworking desk and the cafe downstairs will deliver your falafel wrap and cold-pressed juice right to you. Bored? Download the community app and you’ll see a list of social events to choose from. Stressed? Book a massage using your smartphone and easily access the spa with keyless entry. 

So, what exactly is Hybrid Hospitality?

Hybrid Hospitality is essentially a blend of the traditional hotel experience, with elements of the coworking and coliving spaces as well as

restaurants, wellness, retail and more. With Hybrid Hospitality, people can live, stay, eat, drink, work and socialise all in one dynamic space. Hotels, hostels, restaurants, bars and other hospitality venues are making the shift to create multifunctional spaces that foster connection and enhance the overall guest experience. 

Hybrid Hospitality is a growing trend, and for good reasons; it’s enabling hotels to expand their offerings, bring underutilised spaces to life, connect guests to a community, and draw in a whole new demographic.

So, why are we seeing such a massive push toward Hybrid Hospitality?

1. Consumer Trends: 
   
   In recent years, the hospitality industry has seen a shift in consumer trends. Millennials especially were looking for more out of the hotel experience and wanted to be part of a connected, engaging environment.
   
   Traditionally, hostels offered a great community experience, but were lacking when it came to high-quality spaces and superior hospitality experiences. On the flip side, hotels offered great spaces and excellent hospitality, but lacked any sort of community or connection.
   
   Because of this, we saw innovative hostel brands listening to those needs and creating a more elevated experience, offering work-friendly environments, well-designed spaces, private room options, and expanding the typical backpacker demographic.
   
   We also saw hotel brands focusing on community, events, neighbourhood integration, keyless access solutions for increased flexibility,  and rethinking common areas to create an experience that went beyond just a comfy bed and room service. 
    
2. The Pandemic Effect:
   
   Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve seen an even greater expansion of the Hybrid Hospitality trend. The number of remote work opportunities has grown exponentially, meaning that people have more freedom to choose how/when/where they work. The work-from-anywhere movement has had a massive impact on the hospitality industry.
   
   Why take just a weekend trip, when you can bring your laptop and make it a month-long trip? Providing guests with ‘live-and-work-friendly’ spaces enables brands to cater to these longer-term stays.
   
   We’re also seeing a rise in remote work retreats and workations, with some companies offering travel perks to their employees, such as the ability to spend up to 6-8 weeks working from a location abroad. Employees are more mobile than ever before and the hospitality industry is ready to act as a home away from home for this new business traveller.
    
3. Digital Nomadism:
   
   With the rise of remote work, we’ve also seen an increase in long-term travellers. Digital Nomads often give up their homebase altogether and choose to live from different hotels, hostels, and coliving spaces around the world.
   
   It used to be that business trips and vacations were the only reason to leave home, now for an estimated 35 million digital nomads around the world, ‘home’ is constantly changing and can be anywhere in the world. Extended travel was once only a privilege for the super wealthy, but has now become an opportunity for the everyday remote worker. Hospitality brands are adapting to the needs of this growing demographic.
   
   Hospitality brands are adapting to the needs of this growing demographic who have a different set of requirements than your typical vacationer. Digital Nomads are incredibly well-travelled, tech-savvy and place a high value on freedom and flexibility within their living spaces.
    
4. Expanded Amenities:
   
   For many years, ‘hotel amenities’ were limited to a few different things - bathrobes, a gym, tiny bottles of shampoo and overpriced laundry services. But, in the modern-day hospitality world, it can (and should) be a whole lot more. And, as more and more forward-thinking brands provide these extras to their customers, expectations will be higher.
   
   Today, amenities can mean providing guests with opportunities to socialise through community events and connecting to the city in a more authentic way. Many hybrid hospitality brands are also looking to serve as a neighbourhood hub and integrate more effectively into the local community.
   
   Amenities can also mean implementing tech-driven services like digital check-in, keyless entry, and the ability to make restaurant or spa reservations from your smartphone to create a flawless overall experience.

In general, this new wave of guests are looking for much more from their hospitality experiences and brands are finding unique ways to provide increased value to their customers by offering flexible workspaces and tech-driven solutions such as a digital key to access the facilities on-the-go. 

With endless hospitality options out there, why not spend your money with the brands that truly align with who you are and what you need?

The Hybrid Hospitality model not only benefits consumers who now have a myriad of interesting choices at their fingertips, it clearly benefits the industry as well. By providing these unique customer-centric experiences, hospitality brands are able to generate new revenue streams, optimise their spaces, create brand loyalty and appeal to a much wider range of guests.  Not to mention, they’re able to enhance their entire guest experience in a very forward-thinking way.

The coliving concept is not simply a fad that will be fast forgotten - it’s an exciting time for the entire hospitality industry, but it’s also a key turning point for brands that want to stay competitive and relevant in the future. There are plenty of spaces in the world where you can get a quiet night’s sleep and a decent meal. But, the brands that are standing out above the rest are the ones who are creating something truly unique - both functional and engaging. It’s a whole new modern hybrid world out there and the smartest brands are here for it.

Salto Systems offers cutting-edge smart access technology to businesses for a complete smart building experience.

We are now thrilled to announce that we are offering other best-in-class technology leaders the opportunity to partner with us for an integrated and improved customer offering.

Why to become a Salto Technology Partner?

Salto’s Technology Partner program empowers best-in-class technology companies to link into our access control Technology Platforms and integrate and certify their solutions within Salto's smart locking product portfolio.

As such, we are looking for third-party systems to integrate with our smart access technology architecture with the aim of improving any type of facility’s operations in terms of efficiency, flexibility, and security. Our aim is to provide you and your customers with the ultimate smart keyless living experience. 

Technology partners will benefit from these integrations by delivering comprehensive solutions that unite smart access control, security, building automation, software, property management software, operations, and more, in an all-in-one integrated technology platform.

In a nutshell, by partnering with Salto, companies can offer improved access control solutions for their customers and overall operations enhancements for complete building management.

Salto offers a range of solutions to technology partners

Through the SaltoTechnology Program, our partners will have access to the following solutions:  

• Smart access experience, delivering seamless, keyless building experiences to users.
• Wireless technology for electronic locking solutions via an on-premise network or the cloud. 
• Mobile device access and digital key solutions.

• Secure and robust performance across all products. Salto is trusted by industry-leading companies worldwide and offers this peace of mind to potential partners.

Salto’s Two Main Solutions

Salto was the early leader in cloud-based access control technology and has become a major player in keys-as-a-service providers over traditional access control solutions, accelerating digital access transformation projects. The Salto portfolio now includes world-class software management, cloud solutions, and mobile applications for businesses of all types and sizes.

• Salto Space: Technology partners can benefit from Salto’s stand-alone, virtually networked, wired, and wireless online smart access control platform
  
  Salto Space is a fully-integrated, stand-alone wire-free smart-locking platform and web-based software management system that brings seamless access to every door in any building in an efficient, flexible, safe and secure way. 
  
  Our partners are offered a smart access control on-premise platform that’s designed to work in a wire-free environment. 

Click here to learn more. 
 

• Salto KS: For a truly unique offering, Salto’s technology partners can make use of a scalable and flexible cloud-based smart access control solution with best-in-class real-time capabilities.
  
  Salto KS offers proven reliability and recognized stability for our technology partners. This service provides higher functionality and performance than what is possible with a traditional mechanical key access solution. 
  
  Our Salto KS cloud-based access control product range offers a flexible solution that requires no software installation with remote management capabilities and endless integration possibilities for our partners.

Click here to learn more. 

Technology partners: bringing excelence to customers

Technology Partners benefit from a wide product range across numerous industries

Salto Systems offers cutting-edge solutions across a range of industries, including; Commercial, Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Coworking, Shared Living Spaces, Corporate Smart Offices, Fitness Centers & Gyms, and Residential.

Our current partnerships include a broad range of integrated systems, such as Property Management Systems, Check-in Solutions, Mobile Apps, CCTV Security Cameras and Video Surveillance, Intercoms, Room Management Systems, Time Attendance, Booking, Management software, Visitor / Identity Management, Elevator / Lift Control, and Point of Sale software.

Technology partners are not limited by their industry by any means. SALTO Systems is confident that we can find a smart access solution for virtually an interested technology leader.
 

Technology Partners have online access to Salto’s customizable smart access technologies

Salto Systems offers an online platform for partners to customize their access solutions. Our technology partners will benefit from our extensive product portfolio for their systems integration, which includes:

• Electronic Locks and cylinders for Doors: We have an extensive range of electronic door locks that make use of wireless, keyless, card access technology, as well as a range that makes use of a keypad with a unique safety code.
• Wall Readers and Controllers: Control access with sleek, easy-to-fit wall readers that offer contactless, keyless access and control.
• Locker Locks: Safely store contents with electronic locker locks that make use of pre-programmed keyless technology to give authorized users access to the locker content.

Become a Technology Partner today

Contact Salto Systems, and we will not only demo how our product works, if you’re interested in becoming a technology partner, we’ll also discuss a truly unique integration solution. 

We are confident that our innovative and customizable technology will be able to support our certified Technology Partners so they may better their service offering. 

Technology Partners can look forward to becoming a SALTO certified technology partner to deliver even more innovation for their brand, bringing their customers so much more in the keyless living experience. 

Learn more about becoming a technology partner and sign up today

Access control plays one of the most critical roles in protecting people in educational environments. It can be used to secure and control every kind of door found throughout a campus and student accommodation, delivering peace of mind for students, staff, visitors, and parents.

From student dorms to university campuses across the world, they have all begun to take advantage of advances in mobile and smartcard technology. With this comes the ability to integrate the physical security needs of students and staff into a student card or digital key on a smartphone. By integrating electronic access control into students’ smartphones, SALTO Systems provides the most convenient and secure access for students and staff, and better control for system managers.

Let's simplify your operations, connect to your existing management tools, and ​​make access control simple and secure, helping you grant specified access to your staff, suppliers, customers, or even delivery services.
 

Y Suites delivers PBSA across Australia

Y Suites offers purpose-built student accommodations (PBSA) across multiple cities in Australia. The company’s focus is on well-being and creating a lifestyle for studying, friendships, and fun. They go out of their way to deliver a comfortable and safe experience. Y Suites is developed and owned by Wee Hur Capital of Singapore. Their primary mission is to “provide a home away from home for our students.”

The facilities at Y Suites are impressive and include shared kitchens and lounges, meeting rooms, a sky lounge, music and dance studios, gym and yoga facilities, and more. Y Suites works to ensure they deliver all of the amenities that a student could imagine.

With student experience and welfare top of mind, it was key that the Y Suites multi-site developments have a robust, operationally efficient, and integrated electronic access control system to meet student, staff, and visitor security needs across campuses with one single student card, smartphone app, or keyfob. The primary purpose of the solution was to increase student, staff, and guest security and peace of mind. 

Y Suites management focused on ensuring student safety in a way that enhanced the student experience with a seamless solution that adds convenience, and one that avoided having to replace, maintain, label, and securely store multiple keys. An electronic solution provides the opportunity to reduce operational costs and increase efficiency, oversight, and security, and is much more efficient and safer than having to replace lost or stolen mechanical keys.

The challenge Y Suites faced as they sought an electronic access provider was to find a technology that could meet the variety of the operational, integration, and safety requirements they had. They wanted the ability to program access times, zones, and access points for students, staff, and visitors. They also needed to edit access privileges, including durations in real-time, for visitors and short-term guests, contract and temporary workers, as well as staff and students. 
 

The SALTO smart access technology: Sustainable and smart keyless access student experience

Y Suites chose SALTO’s smart access technology to achieve the right balance between free-flowing access and safety

“In order to fulfill our duty of care, we have to be able to monitor and control the way that the buildings, individual rooms, and shared facilities are being accessed. We need a system that gives our students easy access, whilst at the same time enables us to ensure their safety and security,” said Y Suites Development Manager Wing Fai.

“The system has to allow us to automate processes and manage facilities” remotely in order to control costs without compromising on quality of service. Fai said. “We’re very environmentally conscious and so also need to manage energy consumption and reduce the environmental footprint of our buildings.

“All of which means that we need an EAC partner with innovative technology, the ability to integrate with our PMS (property management system) and a national and international presence. That’s what led us to choose SALTO.”

"SALTO’s Technology Partner program empowers best-in-class technology companies to link into their access control technology That’s what led us to choose SALTO".

Wing Fai

Y Suites Development Manager

SALTO’s Living Spaces Manager for Oceania Cedric Duigou described the solution that SALTO designed for Y Suites as perfect for the student and staff-focused properties.

“We used a range of SALTO technology elements incorporated into a single, easy-to-manage system that controls access to the base building and all the shared and individual spaces via a combination of wire-free, wireless, and wired online access points by balancing security with accessibility and advanced technology,” said Duigou. “The system is fully integrated with RMS, which is the PMS. This integration streamlines the student registration with student details captured once and shared between RMS and SALTO.”
 

What goes on behind closed doors? Smarter security and student safety with innovative smart student room comfort and control technology.

SALTO’s all-in-one platform gives student accommodation managers operational efficiency. 

• Easily manage access of student residences on-the-go 
• Open doors remotely 
• Restrict access 
• Live event access to audit trail data in real-time is easy and more intuitive with web-based software to view entry and exit activity - this also enables better duty of care as there is the possibility to be alerted when a student has not been active
• Manage access across multiple sites and locations in real-time and from one location
• Deliver access via the technology staff and students use daily: smartphones and student ID card
• Modern sustainable student living reducing energy consumption

To help achieve the right balance between free-flowing access and safety, operators can take advantage of SALTO’s wire-free, seamless, and smart keyless security to improve the safety of student living. 

Contact SALTO with any questions on the SALTO product range or visit the SALTO education website for information on all things SALTO. Follow SALTO on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest product features, updates, and news from the industry.

A busy exhibition stand at IFSEC 2022, which returned in-person to London Excel on 17-18 May after a three-year gap due to the global pandemic, provided an excellent forum for SALTO Systems to showcase its latest innovations to an enthusiastic gathering of security and facilities professionals.

“Fully attended exhibitions are making a welcome return with the entire security buying chain once again coming together in a face-to-face environment including manufacturers, installers, integrators, distributors, consultants and end-users,” said Ramesh Gurdev, Managing Director SALTO UK.

IFSEC provided the ideal venue for visitors to the SALTO stand to explore the latest keyless access control hardware, revolutionary software and smart locker solutions including the latest Gantner product offerings, as well as the opportunity to foster more business opportunities.

Great interest was shown in all of SALTO’s smart access control solutions including SALTO Space and SVN-Flex, XS4 Original+, Neoxx Padlock and JustIN Mobile, with the new SALTO Homelok all-in-one cloud-based smart access solution for residential living proving particularly popular.

Q: How did SALTO get started in the electronic access control business?

Javier Roquero - SALTO Systems CEO:

“We started with a small group of 6 or 7 people and having created the company we started in a small apartment in San Sebastian in Northern Spain, the European version of the American garage! Then we moved to small industrial premises and in September 2001 we assembled and manufactured our first electronic lock and now we have a state of the art factory that this year will manufacture one million locks.”

Q: Tell us a little bit about how SALTO go to market in the UK and what industries you work in?

Ramesh Gurdev, Managing Director SALTO UK:

“We provide our specialist product through partners in the UK and offer on-premise systems, cloud-based systems and systems with mobile applications as well as normal credentials, and work in the areas of hospitality, residential, student accommodation, commercial, airports and the Ministry of Defence so we have a wide range of clients. We also showcased our joint partnership with Gantner from Austria which is proving to be a very popular solution as well as parcel locker solutions.”

Q: Two of the fastest growing sectors people are talking about are multi-family and build-to-rent, what can SALTO offer to these industries?

Iñigo Unanue, SALTO Global Residential Lead: 

“At IFSEC we presented our latest innovation in the residential area which is SALTO Homelok. This is designed to improve the digital experience for property managers and residents in the multi-family and build-to-rent arena. Another innovation for us is the partnership we have developed with Apple so we can send digital keys to the Apple wallet for users of the Homelok platform.”

Q: SALTO has one of the broadest product portfolios in access control worldwide, and has now acquired Gantner Electronic Austria Holding GmbH; tell us what it brings to the company?

Steve Warner, Gantner Business Development Manager: 

“Gantner is an Austrian company that specialises in access systems, electronic locking and locker systems, cashless payment, cash register, and billing systems, staff time recording systems as well as ticketing and management software for leisure facilities. For example, if you have members of staff that need access to a group of lockers, say the first-aid locker, everyone in the office would be able to get to that locker, open it and take out the first aid kit. In addition, we can allocate lockers to individual members of staff and put them in personal locker mode so individuals have their own locker. Added to that we have the option of our battery range which is really good for retrofit if you have an existing locker bank and want to modernize it with the latest technology.”

Q: Can you summarize what returning to IFSEC after a three-year gap was like?

Javier Roquero - SALTO Systems CEO:

“One of the main success factors of SALTO, and I know that everyone says the same, is the human touch and the people working in the company and for us, that’s what delivered a successful IFSEC exhibition.”
 

Look for SALTO Systems at these upcoming 2022 show events: Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC) in Orlando-USA, June 27-30; and ESSEN Security in Germany, Sept. 20-23.

Follow SALTO on LinkedIn or Instagram to keep up with the latest news in the world of access control.

Environmental awareness among hotels, workspaces, residential living, and most smart buildings is driving significant change in the industry. Sustainability practices are now widely viewed as critical factors in the successful facility management of smart corporate and hospitality buildings.

Smart building strategies include energy efficient access control solutions. Electronic locking systems can help solve challenges in operational efficiency, security, maintenance costs, occupancy, and sustainability. 
 

What energy consumption solutions are in place to reduce the impact on the environment?

Energy usage is one of the highest operating expenses for work spaces, shared living spaces, residential and the hospitality industry. In recent weeks, the prices of gas, coal, and electricity have risen to their highest levels in decades. The energy crisis is due to an ongoing shortage of energy across the world, which is affecting many countries. 

• On average, 90% of wasted electricity usage comes from the guest room, which can be a property’s most unmanaged resource.
• A room heating, ventilation, and air conditioning  (HVAC) system can represent 70-90% of that wasted electricity!

Smart access control and in-room sensors can bring a completely new level of intelligence to a building, and, in the process, provide information that can improve efficiency and operations. Sensors are able to detect a wide range of events and can seamlessly integrate with incumbent access control and energy-saving devices.

The SALTO Universal ESD system, plus existing integrations with SALTO technology partners, allows any type of building to optimize energy consumption by turning off lighting and adjusting climate control systems when guests or users are not in the room for extended periods.

The hotel industry has historically had a significant impact on the environment through its consumption of both energy and water. As the industry is bouncing back from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting sustainable initiatives is of growing importance to the hospitality industry. An energy management system can reduce a property's energy costs by 15-40% with an estimated three-year return on investment. Without such a system in place, a hotel may be at risk of unnecessarily consuming exorbitant amounts of energy.

Using smart technologies and energy efficiency programs to save energy in buildings.

A key element in a comprehensive energy efficiency program involves specifying equipment, data-driven methodology to analyze building energy consumption, and energy efficiency savings estimates and products that meet certain energy efficiency standards and sustainability policies. SALTO solutions, technology, and products meet all of these requirements. 

In innovating to meet social and environmental challenges, SALTO’s Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), recently achievement of a silver rating in the EcoVadis evaluation ranking and 100% carbon neutrality for our factory headquarters and global office networks are some examples of sustainable innovation examples. These achievements are a major step forward in making keyless smart access technology sustainable.

We've partnered up with one of the best guest experience coliving consultant, Leah Ziliak to launch a 6 part monthly blog post series . We're kicking off the series with our first blog post 'What is coliving?'. Happy Reading!

As a coliving expert and consultant in the industry, I'm often asked, "What exactly is coliving?

What is coliving?

The term ‘coliving’ can mean a lot of different things, so it’s easy to be confused. When I talk about coliving to friends, family and colleagues outside of the industry, I get some puzzled looks. Some imagine I'm part of a hippie commune, while others picture me living out an extended version of college dorm life.

Why would a professional woman in her 30s choose to live with housemates, instead of alone or with a partner? If you’ve found yourself wondering the same, let me start by telling you that modern-day coliving is a much more elevated experience than you might think.

So, what does exactly coliving mean?

In its simplest form, coliving is when a group of three or more unrelated people live together in one place. But the term has come to encompass a wide variety of living arrangements and situations over the years. From housing co-ops to hacker houses to student housing to high-rise community living, coliving has evolved to meet the needs of a new wave of people looking for communal living arrangements.

Interested in getting a glimpse of what coliving can look like? Imagine this...

You're living in a high-rise coliving in the city. You have a 9th-floor room all to yourself but pop downstairs to grab a coffee in the community kitchen. You hop on the community app and see that there's a Movie Night scheduled later that day and click 'Attend.' You use your smartphone for keyless entry into your kitchen storage unit to grab a muesli bar, and settle into your favourite spot in the coworking area to start your workday.

Examples of coliving spaces

You work remotely and book a room for a month at a coliving space in Spain. You’re staying in a quaint village by the sea in a historic apartment with a group of 10 other colivers. During the day, everyone works or studies quietly in the dedicated coworking area. At 5 pm, someone's pouring glasses of Tempranillo on the terrace and starting a skillshare event on SEO Strategies, before you all head out for tapas. Maybe you’ll stay another month or two? It sure beats working from your home office.

This is also coliving.

Modern-day coliving can present itself in a lot of different ways, with these being just two examples of many. There are coliving villages, coliving retreats, rural coliving, long-term residential coliving spaces and short-term destination-based coliving spaces. There are also coliving spaces intended for niche communities.

With so many different types of shared living spaces all over the world, there's a coliving space for anyone and everyone. And while they certainly all have their differences and are intended for different demographics, each of them prioritises the same things: