Meet Danish SALTO Champion Jesper Jørgensen
Jesper Jørgensen works as a locksmith at one of the Danish SALTO installers, Bagger Låse & Alarm. He has installed SALTO access control on more than 10.000 doors since he started his career as a locksmith in 2007.
Jesper Jørgensen works as a locksmith at one of the Danish SALTO installers, Bagger Låse & Alarm. He has installed SALTO access control on more than 10.000 doors since he started his career as a locksmith in 2007. This probably makes him the most experienced SALTO installer in Denmark.
“I don’t think that there are any other locksmiths in Denmark who have installed more SALTO units than me. And I never get tired of it, because even though it has turned out to be many hundreds of locking systems a year, I fortunately only meet satisfied customers,” Jesper Jørgensen laughs.
A great system for almost any building
”SALTO is a great access control system for companies, housing associations, schools, nursing homes and other places where you want to keep track of who has access to both inside and outside doors,” says Jesper Jørgensen.
Easy to use
SALTO is with good reason the most popular access control system for many installers and customers in Denmark. And there are several good reasons for this, according to Jesper Jørgensen.
“First and foremost, SALTO is extremely user-friendly. It is incredibly easy to control who should have access and when the doors should be open or locked. It simply works very well,” Jesper adds.
Security at a reasonable price
SALTO is also very easy to install. The SALTO offline SVN escutcheons can be mounted on existing doors, and there is no need for hard wiring or connecting the doors through a complicated wiring system.
“With SALTO access control, I therefore find that it is possible to secure buildings at a reasonable price compared to other locking systems,” says Jesper Jørgensen.
Rising demand for access control
In Denmark there is a clear rise in the demand for automatic locking systems.
“The demand has been steadily increasing since I first started installing SALTO units in 2007. I have installed access control on many doors and buildings, but now I also see an increase in customers wanting to secure e.g. wardrobes, mailboxes or medicine cabinets, and SALTO also offers many simple and user-friendly solutions for that,” says Jesper Jørgensen.
SALTO is used as an access control system within many companies, housing associations, schools, hotels, colleges, hospitals and other public buildings. During the last year, around 35.000 SALTO units were installed in Denmark.
According to Sanistål, the Danish SALTO distributor, SALTO access control offers many advantages, such as:
- User-friendly software for handling key tags or cards.
- Quick overview of key tags and associated access rights.
- Can be installed on existing doors.
- Easy to remove key tags that get lost.
- Easy to make new key tags.
- SALTO’s key card can be used for payment in e.g. a canteen or the like.
The original article of above interview with Jesper can be found here.
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SALTO is revolutionizing door access control in the Home, Workspace, Hospitality, and Retail stores.
Whether you are looking for an access control solution for your residential building, workspace, home, hotel, apartment, retail environment, educational facility, critical infrastructure, or fitness clubs, SALTO is sure to have the custom solution for you.
Mechanical keys are definitely something we can leave behind in 2022. They get lost easily, are used by unauthorized personnel, can be copied, or have to be handed to others when they need it which isn't that efficient. SALTO is a revolutionary solution that enables their user to use technology instead of traditional mechanical keys with keyless technology, to open doors and facilitate greater and smarter access control.
Whether you are looking for an access control solution for your residential building, workspace, home, hotel, apartment, retail environment, educational facility, critical infrastructure, or fitness clubs, SALTO is sure to have the custom solution for you. We can tailor access based on any employee, user, or guest at any level required. We offer extra access to management and security services and can instantly revoke access. Our systems provide around-the-clock safety and traceable security for ultimate peace of mind.
SALTO offers a smart access solution for every industry application and was the early leader in cloud-based access control technology. They have become a major player in ACaaS (Access Control 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.
Some of our areas of expertise:
- Workspace: Give your employees, workspace users or coworking members the convenience of keyless smart office door locks. They can even open doors using their smartphone, a smart credential, or a code. SALTO enables their system operators and users to improve their workspace experience and simplify access control by leveraging the latest in access control technology.
We are proud to have optimized a solution for Erste Group, an Austrian bank listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. With 4500 employees and 16 million clients, Erste Group is one of the largest financial service providers in Europe. They required an innovative solution to complement their flexible working environment. Because their 4500 employees don’t work within an assigned workplace, they required the ability to lock away documents every day with their employee IDs serving as their key and credentials. GANTNER, a SALTO Group Company, provided a one-system solution to all their access needs. We offered 7000 multi-functional lockers. Staff could access any available locker but were restricted from accessing occupied lockers. This entire system uses GAT Relaxx software. HR uses this to assign credentials and access to employees at various levels. Personalized mailboxes, storage facilities, dining and cleaning areas were also secured using this state-of-the-art technology.
- Hospitality: With SALTO Hospitality solutions, you can extend smart access across your property. Our digital systems provide seamless access to the guest rooms,
entrances, perimeter access doors, elevators, gyms, conference rooms, parking lots, and more. Provide the modern, easy access option guests increasingly expect with digital keys or sustainable guest key cards giving convenient instant, and safe access improving guest journey.
SALTO has developed advanced and aesthetically designed hospitality-specific electronic access control solutions that set a new standard in the industry– from back-of-house organization to guest room management – with one easy to use system for hotels that can be Integrated with in-room, check-in, PMS, guest apps and complete building management systems.
SALTO optimized South Africa’s tallest building, The Leonardo, with smart access control. This mixed-use commercial building features 232 luxury apartments, eight penthouse suites, nine conference areas, restaurants, shops, and a spa. To future-proof this building, developers chose SALTO to optimize all 55 floors. This technology also meets the aesthetic of the luxury property. More than 400 electronic locks were installed, and this access control solution was integrated with the Bosch Video Management System for added video surveillance. Our revolutionary JustIN Mobile access control allows guests and staff access with an iOS or Android device. This makes entry touchless and convenient. Everything is managed from the security control center and access is easy to grant and is as simple to revoke.
- Residential: SALTO enhances luxury living experiences with integrated, super-smart electronic locking systems. Our technology is ideal for apartments, residential housing, multi-family communities, vacation rentals, home care, and more.
Dockside Apartments is a hotel and apartment block in London. They rely on our advanced technology to keep guests and homeowners safe. With many apartments being used as vacation rentals properties, there was a need for reliable locking solutions with access granted as needed. With SALTO’s XS4 handle sets and wall readers, guests could check in and out seamlessly, offering a hotel-like experience.
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Retail: In a retail working environment, it’s crucial to be able to define who can enter or exit through which access points. It’s a necessity to track your staff, suppliers, or delivery services with keyless and mobile access. SALTO offers this as a solution along with the ability to remotely open doors and empowers employees with convenient, smart key access to the locations they need, add or revoke authorizations in real-time or offer quick and easy onboarding.
Sleepworld in Ghent, Belgium, utilizes our systems to eradicate mechanical key management between store staff and managers. Now an employee or manager calling in sick no longer impacts anyone’s access to the store. Our SALTO KS system provides access on the go to all required employees. Employees could be divided into groups with some granted special access as needed for limited timeframes. Plus, management could track the opening times of stores to check efficiencies.
After reading this article you still need convincing that you can offer the ultimate customer experience by combining security and convenience? Why not contact us today to discuss a custom solution for your facility and let one of our representatives explain what we can do for you in more detail.
We look forward to securing your building with our advanced technology and making your life easier in the process (and that of your staff, guests, and family while we're at it!)
Reduce plastic pollution one guest keycard at a time
In SALTO’s pursuit of making the world more sustainable, we are proud to present the new ‘Eco Guest Key Cards’.
In SALTO’s pursuit of making the world more sustainable, we are proud to present the new ‘Eco Guest Key Cards’.
In SALTO’s pursuit of making the world more sustainable, we are proud to present the new ‘Eco Guest Key Cards’. Instead of using single-use plastic guest key cards, our customers now have the opportunity to contribute to the circular economy by changing to sustainable paper-based and wooden alternatives. Opening smarter doors keyless with a clean conscience.
There’s an increasing awareness of sustainability which we accommodate by introducing FSC-certified wooden key cards, made from wood fiber, to our credential portfolio. This way we enable our customers mainly in the hospitality business to offer their customers a more environmentally friendly stay.
The sustainable cards have proven to be equally durable compared to the traditional plastic guest key card, but, unlike plastic, bamboo and wood is a renewable and biodegradable resource that produces no pollution. The cards are entirely made from recycled FSC-certified paper or wood, and therefore contain 0 plastic while maintaining 100% of its structural integrity. Its quality, size, aestatic appeal and durability are so similar to its plastic carrier, the paper-based guest key cards are an excellent option for any business in hospitality that want to contribute to the circular economy.
“SALTO is committed to sustainability and we care about the environment. We have been an early adopter of emerging environmental initiatives that use more renewable resources and less paper, plastic, and fossil fuels in the access control industry” - Aznar Sethna, SALTO Systems Chief Sales, and Marketing Officer.
Just like traditional plastic key cards, the SALTO contactless guest key cards are embedded with a NXP MIFARE Ultralight® C RFID chip that is fully compatible with SALTO smart locks.
“Climate change is a threat that none of us can afford to ignore. SALTO sustainable cards is a clear and decisive statement that the SALTO Hospitality industry is ready to take on this challenge. And that's only the beginning! energy-efficient data management, the efficiency of cloud infrastructure, or IoT solutions to connect innovative SALTO products and services are all part of our Hospitality initiatives contributing to sustainability.” - Nora Urquiza, SALTO Hospitality Global Lead Manager
The bamboo and wooden guest key cards are available in 4 different manufacturing materials, from bamboo, cherry to black walnut, and the paper key cards can be branded with your own logo, so there is no excuse to use plastic anymore.
Want to go green? Contact our sales teams who are happy to help you introduce sustainability into your business.
Read more about SALTO’s quest to support the circular economy here.
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The New Normal for Hospitality in the 2022 Post-Pandemic World
COVID-19 has forced the Hospitality industry into reconfiguring hotel operations—but has also provided an opportunity to transform them.
COVID-19 has forced the Hospitality industry into reconfiguring hotel operations—but has also provided an opportunity to transform them.
Even before the emergence of Omicron, the hospitality industry was continuing to evolve in response to COVID-19. Almost two years into a pandemic that has claimed more than five million lives—and affected billions more—pandemic-induced changes in guest behaviour have forever altered hotel business.
People who travel for pleasure want to get back to doing so. But this will imply a new normal. Even though domestic travel has surged, international travel and business travel are still impacted given pandemic-related border restrictions and concerns about health and safety.
With hope towards the future as we emerge from the pandemic, 2022 will be a year hospitality can look forward to in shaping its future rather than just grinding through the present and merely surviving. The new normal will be different. However, that does not mean going back to the conditions that prevailed in 2019.
During the COVID-19 global health crisis, one area that has seen tremendous growth in digitization, meaning everything from online customer service to remote working to supply-chain reinvention to the use of digital key technology. These practices have resulted in minimizing if not eliminating altogether the practice of handing over access control credentials and oftentimes the need for human interaction. This has drastically improved hospitality operations and guest safety as it not only eliminates the risk associated with potential exposure to COVID-19 but it also gives hospitality operators and managers an easier way to manage access. Giving guests the ability to manage their full stay (check-in, check-out, extending a stay, accessing the gym, self-service locker) from their smartphone, for example, gives guests full control and improves their experience.
There’s no going back.
The great acceleration in the use of technology, digitization, and new safety guidelines for hospitality businesses will continue beyond the pandemic. If hotels and the like have not yet incorporated electronic access, with the capability of offering smartphone access or digital keys, they should do so now. The benefits are endless, including:
- Combine easy-access with a secure digital key technology to access guest rooms, meeting rooms, and floors via elevators using a smartphone.
- Offer a contactless guest experience that includes mobile check-in and check-out.
- Smart guest rooms offer personalized modern comfort (lights, heating, and air conditioning) through in-room technology integrations.
- Integrations with unified property management systems deliver greater automation and process optimization from the guest room, guest services doors to the back-of-house.
Protecting individuals and assets is a unique challenge for every hospitality business today:—luxury to midscale hotels, independent and large chain hotels, cruise ships, and convention and conference hotels.
With SALTO smart access technology, hotels can guarantee safety for guests, visitors, and staff, and be best prepared to face today’s unique security challenges. SALTO has achieved reliable security thanks to flexible and robust integration capabilities with third-party hardware and software providers. Together we have created a security ecosystem that provides safe, convenient, and seamless guest access throughout the property.
SALTO provides data on real-world guest and staff movement patterns, providing valuable intelligence to drive smarter security protocols and improve overall access flow.
With SALTO Hospitality solutions, you can enable guest safety and service innovations creating value-added opportunities to drive business for your hotel, enhance the guest journey, and reconfigure hotel operations.
Intelligent & Secure lock openings with Digital Key
Make your doors smart with Salto’s digital key electronic locking technology.
Salto’s smart door locks allow users and system administrators to send and receive Digital Keys that can open any door or gate equipped with a Salto smart lock, cylinder, wall reader, padlock, or locker lock using their iOS or Android Bluetooth LE or NFC-enabled smartphone.
Mobile access control solutions offer users a keyless experience, providing instant and mobile access without compromising security or convenience. By combining various technologies, Salto's smart locking solutions evolve from traditional access control to ACaaS (Access Control as a Service), enabling users to manage access rights quickly, wirelessly, and without keys. This offers greater security than mechanical keys by introducing digital keys and replacing traditional physical keys or smart credentials.
Implementing mobile credentials and digital keys.
Digital Keys are available across smart access technology platforms from Salto.
Designed to secure any door in a building and make access control more effortless and secure than ever, Salto Space offers a flexible access control platform with a unified software and hardware platform.
Experience unified, scalable security, integration support, and limitless features to manage your buildings’ operations with a virtually networked, data-on-card based locking system.
Salto KS (KaaS: Keys as a Service) is a scalable cloud-based Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) solution that’s built to fit your business needs, today and tomorrow.
Salto KS smart access offers multiple ways of opening doors, including digital keys. It supports a wide range of keyless access methods to improve user experience and the security of any type of building. It also delivers advanced security features on a fully remote and wireless cloud-based smart access management platform.
Salto Homelok - All-in-one smart access solution for residential living
Salto Homelok enables modern keyless living for residents, streamlines operations for managers and owners, and improves security across all types of residential properties.
A cloud-based smart access platform with intelligent, wire-free and virtually networked electronic locking SVN technology optimises hybrid deployments and enables the smart building ecosystem without needing infrastructure.
Benefits of mobile credentials for Access Control
Salto’s digital keys eliminates losing keys, added expenses, and frustration.
- Digital Key: Increases flexibility and improves security. Easy, efficient, and intuitive automated key delivery.
- Bluetooth LE, NFC and Apple Wallet: Proven mobile and secure technology to create a unique keyless experience anytime, anywhere, and on any device.
- Smarter access: Send or receive a Digital Key to open any door. Grant access or block users easily to specific timeframes and/or locations.
- Improved operational efficiency and significant cost savings: Traditional mechanical keys can be expensive to replace and maintain, and the cost of key cards or physical credentials can quickly add up. Operators can instantly manage access permissions to grant, disable and revoke access to optimize user experience and enhance security management.
- Mobile and card-based access control systems are the most secure way to give access to the right person at the right time.
JustIn Mobile Digital Keys: Using your smartphone for access
JustIN Mobile eliminates the need for physical keys or cards and all the associated costs and access management hassles.
The JustIN Mobile technology replaces the need for a physical access card by securely sending a room key “Over the Air” (OTA) from Salto’s Space, KS or Homelok smart access platforms to a registered and verified iOS or Android device. The phone then uses Bluetooth LE or NFC to send a signal to the door’s electronic locks.
Leverage the performance and usability of the fully native Salto JustIN Mobile key delivery experience into your mobile app. With the JustIN Mobile SDK, which is available for both iOS and Android, you can integrate JustIN Mobile for a fully customised mobile digital key integration into any third-party application. The JustIN Mobile SDK makes it easy and secure to incorporate smartphones into your access control solution.
Give workspace members, hospitality guests, or multi-family house residents the convenience of going keyless using their smartphones, enabling community-based access control solutions supporting user satisfaction, security, and safety.
Can’t get enough? Click here to learn about Salto’s smart access solutions.
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Strategies for implementing smart access control systems in Higher Education and campuses
Q&A with Ron Shaffer, Technology Business Development for Education, SALTO Systems
Q&A with Ron Shaffer, Technology Business Development for Education, SALTO Systems
There are a lot of choices when it comes to access control systems campuses could use. What should drive the decisions of higher education leaders in this area?
Many decision-makers don’t take the most important factor into account: the end-user experience and student journey. It is the experience of your campus users—students, faculty, and staff—that matters most when deciding what type of smart access control systems to implement. Other important factors to consider when deciding on access control systems include:
- Whether a system is easy to use, has an intuitive design, and provides clear user feedback
- The regulatory compliance, quality, and compatibility of the hardware to fit any door and any access point with a complete, electronic locking platform
- The long-term reliability of the system, full support and any ongoing administration requirements
What are the most overlooked aspects of implementing access control systems on campuses?
Think about it in terms of “Day 1” versus “Day 2.” During the Day 1 phase, higher education leaders are focused on the features of the system, the initial installation costs and whether the new system meets their current needs.
During the Day 2 phase, new questions arise concerning the complexity of the interface, network dependency, monthly or yearly user or access point fees, credential compatibility and other ongoing costs. As time goes on, institution leaders may ask more questions, such as:
- How are my users, staff, visitors or students affected during a network outage?
- Is access still permitted in a power outage?
- Is the system scalable to meet future growth within our current network environment?
- How do we maintain IP addresses, network switching and routing design?
These questions are often overlooked at an earlier stage, but it’s important to consider these Day 2 issues in the decision-making process. Look to the future and Day 2 with a school access control system that will support growth both in physical locations and staff/student services.
What are some best practices when implementing a new access control system?
Research, research and research! Kick the tires and ask a vendor for an onsite demonstration installation or trials—and use it without any company representative present with a brand and certified installers ensuring support is always available to deliver top notch security for schools.Take this opportunity to put the system through its paces. Test and explore every scenario your team can think of.
Look for a system that includes the following features:
- Extensive students cards and credential compatibility
- Access points that allow for growth, such as lockers, cabinets, exterior gates, parking gates, glass doors, emergency exits and panic bars, cylindrical and mortise applications
- Wire-free, wireless and wired applications
- Emergency preparedness and Crisis responsiveness features incorporating electronic door locks for schools improves security for schools and an overall crisis management plan.
- Easy I/O data integration with custom or third-party systems
- Mobile iOS and Android applications for remote access assignment
What trends are you seeing on cutting-edge higher education campuses today?
One emerging trend is providing self-service offerings such as kiosks and mobile access credentials or digital keys to campus users. These provide the ability for a student to cancel their lost or stolen card through a portal, change a pin code, and request a replacement, all on their own and without involving staff.
Many higher education leaders who are using mobile credentials are looking to make the most out of this technology and to eliminate the risks and costs of lost keys, finding ways to customize their existing app to their brand, and ensuring compatibility with iOS and Android devices that utilize Bluetooth and NFC for access control communications.
The future of access control is here, and mobile credentialing offers a level of security, convenience, and self-service that enhances the end-user experience.
Contact us if you have any questions on the SALTO product range or visit our education website located here for information on all things SALTO. We look forward to help you!
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SALTO Systems develops and manufactures advanced and reliable wireless electronic locking and access control smart solutions that provide a smoother, more comfortable, and secure daily life for the people using our systems. We bring added value to our clients, making it easier for decision-making and smarter management of facilities. Our goal is to not only be within the top three companies in our sector in the world,but also tobe your number one smart electronic access control provider. As an organization, we intend to create an ecosystem of end-users clients, partners, collaborators, and suppliers with whom we build long-lasting, win-win relationships guided by closeness, flexibility, integrity, and trust.
Salto ProAccess Space Software: Broadcast Notifications
Program your Salto ProaAccess Space access control management software to send broadcast notifications in the event of a lockdown emergency.
Program your Salto ProaAccess Space access control management software to send broadcast notifications in the event of a lockdown emergency.
No one wants to think of the unthinkable happening – an intruder in a school, inclement weather, and the like – but it’s best to be prepared, of course, in the event something does happen. Salto electronic smart access platform has the capability to enable AMOK lockdown mode, where authorized users can quickly and safely lock all locks in a building. Salto ProAccess Space software includes broadcast notifications, making it quick and easy to send immediate communication in the event of an emergency lockdown or pre-configured event.
Streamlined Communication for Safety and Efficiency
In an emergency situation that calls for a building lockdown, ProAccess Space can be pre-configured for security personnel to quickly send broadcast notifications to multiple recipients with just a click of the mouse. For non-emergency scenarios, broadcast notifications can be sent out on an as-needed basis to share updates on temporary issues that might affect only certain areas of a building or user groups.
The ability to send broadcast notifications is an excellent tool as it provides the power to quickly and easily contact as many recipients as needed. This is an important feature for any electronic smart access control deployment but is particularly helpful for universities, schools, healthcare, corporate smart offices and the like.
About Broadcast Notifications
- Push Notifications – Send broadcast notifications via email. It is an action representing an occurrence or detection of some condition. Every alarm event has a trigger and once triggered an alarm event automatically executes one or several actions. Push notifications are a superior way to communicate with users as they are from secure and trusted email accounts and users recognize it as such.
- Customized Grouping – Create custom broadcast notification groups based on specific criteria. Notifications can be sent to only those matching these criteria. For example, in this pandemic era, these broadcast notifications can be sent to groups of individuals who accessed a certain room where an individual who has tested positive for COVID spent time.
- Webhook Local Branded Website/Custom Templates – Send broadcast notifications via your brand website or internal channel so that all credentialed users will know that the notification is from a trusted source and won’t question its authenticity in the event of an emergency.
The logic is quite simple:
- this Alarm notification has to be defined in the Alarm events section;
- it sends information via HTTP/HTTPS;
- its logic is similar to an Event Stream. When something happens (audit trail information).
Benefits of Broadcast Notifications
- Immediate email notification sent to all system operators in the event of an emergency lockdown.
- Generalized and customized recipient group configurations.
- Real-time notifications sent to specific groups via secure and trusted methods (mobile app, branded email template).
- Use for emergency notifications or for targeted needs like contract tracing.
Contact us if you have any questions on the Salto Space management software or visit our Space platform product website located here for information on all things Salto. We look forward to helping!
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Salto Systems develops and manufactures advanced and reliable wireless electronic locking and access control smart solutions that provide a smoother, more comfortable, and secure daily life for the people using our systems. We bring added value to our clients, making it easier for decision-making and smarter management of facilities. Our goal is to not only be within the top three companies in our sector in the world, but to also be your number one smart electronic access control provider. As an organization, we intend to create an ecosystem of end users, clients, partners, collaborators, and suppliers with whom we build long-lasting, win-win relationships guided by closeness, flexibility, integrity, and trust.
What is the Next Generation of Smart Locks - What is it?
In a new video collaboration by SALTO and Group337 we dive deeper into what we believe "The Next Generation of Smart Locks" will be.
In a new video collaboration by SALTO and Group337 we dive deeper into what we believe "The Next Generation of Smart Locks" will be. The purpose of this collaboration is to spark a conversation—a change. We are hoping to help start a new language for the industry, and if we agree that the smart lock industry has entered into its next generation, we should agree we need to look, say, and act next generation.
In part 1, we are diving into the difference between smart, connected, motorized, and mechanical and what the next generation of smart locks will need to stay relevant.
In part 2, we will tackle the value beyond locking and unlocking. And in the finale, part 3, we reimagine door openings and our relationship with entering and exiting.
We plan to cover the different verticals such as single-family, multifamily, and commercial locks. We will speak to all of them generically and high level enough that what we discuss applies to all use cases. There are fundamental functionality and value creation that work across all verticals in the Next Generation of smart locks, and we want to cover them here.
Of course, this is just the beginning, and we can't cover it all in such a short amount of time, but we will do our best.
All right, let's get into it part one.
It is important to note a clear difference between smart, connected, motorized, and mechanical locks. Unfortunately, we sometimes mix them all and conflate their abilities.
If we are honest, most of the electronic locks on the market today are not smart. What they are, is connected. We went from mechanical to motorized, motorized to connected, and we still haven't gotten to what we all want, which is smart.
But we are getting there. One of the most significant barriers to our industry boarding a rocket ship and seeing that hockey stick growth and adoption we all expected to see by today is that we have not innovated the smart lock (enough). We have only iterated the mechanical lock. Motorized and connected were feature iterations off of mechanical. So think about it, we as an industry said, "what if the door opened itself? Well, if it's locked, that won't work, so let's automate the unlock function." So we went and took the same mechanical lock that we had before, updated it a bit, and integrated a motor into it.
Is it an advancement? Yes, no doubt. But it was not very smart.
Then the market and ecosystem said, "We'd like to take your motorized lock and have our system lock and unlock it. We want to control it." We also said, "wouldn't it be cool if we could lock and unlock via our phone or watch?" 100%.
And we were happy to do it, so we took the same motorized lock and added some radios and gave the ability for it to connect to other systems... introducing the connected lock.
Some marketing departments and analysts got excited and dubbed it "smart locks," but unfortunately, once the cool factor wore off and the inability to drive a consistent experience became a reality, what we ultimately had was a connected lock that, frankly, wasn't so smart.
But that is ok because, like many things, the market is shifting. New technology is being introduced.
As a result, new players are interested in the market, and end-user demand has increased, resulting in a renewed interest in smart locks.
So what does the next generation of smart locks look like?
- It is a reimagined platform—all of it, including the hardware.
- It is not a feature of a mechanical lock like a brass finish. It is its entity.
- Some use cases and end game functionality are unknown, which is ok because it is part of an ecosystem. It is an ingredient to a much larger solution.
- It is a software product with hardware that supports the experiences desired by end-users versus administrators and installers.
- It has safety at the core and safety as table stakes. It is a given and includes cybersecurity as well as hardened physical security.
- A team supports it focused on it day in and day out, not as a side hustle.
- It is a product line understood by leadership with the same importance and expectations as its mechanical brothers and sisters.
- Business plans are not predicated solely on yesterday's metrics.
- Distribution and hardware sales are not the only measures of success. It is time for a new spreadsheet.
- Hardware is used to grow the platform's adoption to unlock software potential exponentially, not get in the way of said growth.
The smart lock is this and many other things. But, more or less, the smart lock of today and tomorrow is a complete re-imagination. And those with curiosity and imagination will unlock it.
Contact us if you have any questions on the SALTO product range or visit our website located here for information on all things SALTO. We look forward to helping!
Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest product features, updates, and news from the industry.
SALTO Systems develops and manufactures advanced and reliable wireless electronic locking and access control smart solutions that provide a smoother, more comfortable, and secure daily life for the people using our systems. We bring added value to our clients, making it easier for decision-making and smarter management of facilities. Our goal is to not only be within the top three companies in our sector in the world, but to also be your number one smart electronic access control provider. As an organization, we intend to create an ecosystem of end users, clients, partners, collaborators, and suppliers with whom we build long-lasting, win-win relationships guided by closeness, flexibility, integrity, and trust.
Digital Keys: Generating value for hotels and their guests; a win-win.
One platform, many channels. That is the power of a great guest experience app for hotels. These apps enable a direct communication line with individual guests so hotels can send out personalized offers and elevate the customer experience, increase guest loyalty and boost revenue for their business.
One platform, many channels. That is the power of a great guest experience app for hotels. These apps enable a direct communication line with individual guests so hotels can send out personalized offers and elevate the customer experience, increase guest loyalty and boost revenue for their business.
By incorporating Digital Keys into your guest app you can make an even bigger impact.
What is a digital key for hotel?
Access control solutions that offer the Digital Key feature, such as Salto’s Justin Mobile or Salto Keys as a Service, can be implemented as a standalone app. However, national and international hotel groups choose to embed the functionality into a branded guest mobile app, which is integrated with the hotel’s Property Management System (PMS). Research shows that when guests can find their key within the hotel app, download rates increase, and the in-app purchase rate goes up to an estimated average of $140 per room per year.
How does hotel digital keys works?
A Digital Key is stored in the hotel guest app on the guests mobile device. When presented to a lock, it uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) to open the lock. With Digital Keys the hotel administrator can grant designated access to guests, employees, or even delivery services whenever it’s appropriate for them to enter. The convenience of being able to open doors with Digital Keys is undeniable.
“Many of our loyal ‘Honors’ members are business travellers who are incredibly tech-savvy., We are thrilled our hotel is able to offer them this cutting edge Digital Key technology and give them an easier, more convenient stay.”
- said Rupert Hallam, General Manager, Hilton Adelaide.
The Hilton experience
Hilton Adelaide in Australia partnered up with Salto Systems and implemented the solution to their system. This gave the hotel the ability to integrate Digital Keys into their ‘Hilton Honors’ guest app. Within 24 hours of arrival, Hilton Honors members who book direct through Hilton’s channels can digitally check-in, choose their exact room from a digital floor plan and request a Digital Key through the Honors app. Hilton Adelaide will notify guests through the app as soon as their room is ready. Honors members with previous stay history can then head straight to their room when they arrive, pressing the virtual “unlock” button on the app when they’re within five feet of their door.
“With the app, Hilton Honors members can take advantage of a seamless and contactless experience. Digital Check-in and Digital Key allow guests to go straight to their selected room, bypassing the reception.”
- Rupert Hallam, General Manager, Hilton Adelaide.
Benefits of digital room keys for hotels
Hygiene and safety is, now more than ever, on top of mind for the hospitality sector. By incorporating Digital Keys into their business, hotels eliminate plastic cards being passed from hand to hand. The guest receives their key before arrival and can check-in without any (physical) contact at the reception desk. Together with the antimicrobial coating of the BioCote®, Salto lock range, you are guaranteed the highest form of hygienic protection..
Besides the hygienical benefits, there are more advantages of implementing Digital Keys into your hotel experience:
- Guest experience: with their key sent to them in advance, the guest can go straight to their room and start enjoying their hotel experience. From the hotel app guests have information at their fingertips; from concierge services toor spa treatment bookings and other in-app purchases.
- Flexibility: Digital Keys include information such as expiry date and time and authorised access. The Digital Keys can be very easily reprogrammed if the guest extends their stay, re-rooms or books a facility such as the hotel spa. Providing them with the access they need without any hassle.
- Cost and time efficiency: Hotels save costs of producing and sanitising plastic cards. With fewer guests using the reception, they can operate with less staff and potentially without the need of a 24/7 manned front desk.
- Up-selling opportunities: When Digital Keys are embedded into a guest app, hotels can present real-time and personalised offers on room service or spa treatments.
- Reporting: Retrieve full audit trails for new requirements such as contracting, and visibility of actual and attempted access.
- Insights: Having Digital Keys integrated in guest apps give hotels valuable data on the behavior, preferences and lifecycle of the guest, making it easier to optimize their hotel experience.
How to select the best digital key for your hotel?
For you to be able to get most out of integrating Digital Keys with your guest app you need to be aware of the following points when selecting the right access control partner for your hotel experience:
- Compatibility: Not all PMS providers integrate with mobile guest apps. Be sure to investigate whether your preferred PMS provider is able to integrate encrypted Digital Keys and push them to the guest experience app.
- Compatible Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) access points: Look for providers who offer a ‘turnkey’ solution that can be used for every access point:from guest to back-of-house. Some hotels, especially those that host a mix of residential and commercial are equipped with seperate systems. For instance one for the guest rooms and another for the base building (including, for example, lifts and car parks), which could turn out to be inefficient and cost increasing. Contact our Salto professionals to inform you about the possibilities for your business.
- Smart wireless locks: Not all access points need to be wired. Wireless on-line and real-time locking reduces installation costs. Find your ideal lock in the Salto lock configurator.
The future of the hospitality sector looks promising again after a period of setbacks. Operators are harnessing the power of Digital Keys to keep their (returning) visitors feel safe and secure.
Want to elevate your hotel guest experience? Contact the Salto team here, our professionals are more than pleased to guide you in your process of finding the perfect access control fit for your hotel.
SALTO Systems develops and manufactures advanced and reliable wireless electronic locking and access control smart solutions that provide a smoother, more comfortable, and secure daily life for the people using our systems. We bring added value to our clients, making it easier for decision-making and smarter management of facilities. Our goal is to not only be within the top three companies in our sector in the world, but to also be your number one smart electronic access control provider. As an organization, we intend to create an ecosystem of end users, clients, partners, collaborators, and suppliers with whom we build long-lasting, win-win relationships guided by closeness, flexibility, integrity, and trust.
Does the BLESA Bluetooth security flaw affect my SALTO access control installation?
BLESA vulnerability does not affect SALTO Systems access control and BLUEnet based platforms nor SALTO Mobile Keys technology.
Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and IoT devices are now using Bluetooth software stacks that are potentially susceptible to a new security flaw. Referred to as BLESA (Bluetooth Low Energy Spoofing Attack), the vulnerability was identified over the summer and is said to impact devices running the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.
For those who are not aware, BLE is a compact and smart version of the traditional Bluetooth that is designed to be more energy-efficient to conserve battery power without compromising on the connectivity. Due to its battery-saving features, BLE has been massively adopted over the last years in many IoT and wireless smart devices.
According to the research, the BLESA vulnerability manifests itself during the pairing and bonding process – the client and the server have authentication to pair with each other’s devices. It is a process that is part of the standard security of the BLE technology, which SALTO devices do not use in any case during the access control platform network configuration or communications in any of the SALTO smart access platforms (SALTO Space Data-on-Card, SALTO KS Keys as a Service or SALTO Danalock) and smart door locking solutions.
Defending against most Bluetooth attacks usually means pairing devices in controlled environments and network architecture, but defending against BLESA is a much harder task, since the attack targets the more often-occurring reconnect operation.
When SALTO implemented BLE technology into its access control platforms to achieve smart-locking communication between the network and devices of the system, we decided to use SALTO security measures instead of standard BLE security measures, adding an additional security layer. We did this specifically to avoid the risk of being affected by these types of attacks from the mainstream standard.
In summary, regarding the recent BLESA Bluetooth spoofing attacks, this vulnerability DOES NOT AFFECT SALTO Systems and BLUEnet based technology platforms (SALTO Space, SALTO KS), nor SALTO Mobile Keys (JustIN, KS) products and communication, nor products of the Danalock platform.
