Latest access control innovations attracted IFSEC visitors to SALTO
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.
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.
Kristin Pater, SALTO KS: “Industries can benefit from a great access control solution in more ways than they initially assume”
Managing who has access, when and to what is difficult, especially for big companies. And we’re not talking only about digital access to passwords or sensitive information - hardware infrastructures are also on the list of items to which access needs to be overseen.
Managing who has access, when and to what is difficult, especially for big companies. And we’re not talking only about digital access to passwords or sensitive information - hardware infrastructures are also on the list of items to which access needs to be overseen.
While password managers, both on the individual and enterprise level, are great for keeping track of who can access which sites and documents, they won’t work in the physical sense with, let’s say, doors. And a physical door into the building can also be a door to highly sensitive digital assets.
To talk about the importance of access control systems to the security of a business or individuals, Cybernews reached out to Kristin Pater, Marketing Manager responsible for the SALTO Systems product: SALTO KS.
What did the development of SALTO Systems look like?
SALTO Systems is a technology advance access control hardware and software provider and was ignited by the passion of a small group of enthusiastic and highly experienced professionals who were eager to provide a world-class access control system that would be simple to use and extremely efficient, giving users the ability to control all their access needs. Since their ground-breaking start, SALTO Systems have made a great impact on the way people around the world operate their businesses offering best-in-class access control solutions.
Can you introduce us to your access control solutions? What are their key features?
SALTO Systems not only offers hardware but also KaaS (Keys as a Service), such as the cloud-based access control solution SALTO KS. The main features are the ability to securely grant access or to send a Digital Key to anyone with a smartphone, making giving and receiving access much more user-friendly. The solution makes it easy to grant access to individuals or groups for selected locks and timeframes, to see who goes where and when, and if necessary, block users on the go.
The ability to integrate your existing app with the SALTO KS API is a game-changer for many industries. Their own app will be enhanced with all the benefits of SALTO KS by integrating our API or, depending on the business applications needs, building their own access control solution or by connecting with other building services.
In your opinion, which industries should be especially concerned about implementing access management solutions?
I don't want to say ‘concerned’ but I do feel a lot of industries can benefit from a great access control solution in more ways than they initially assume. Think of scaling your business, monetizing your space, and offering an overall smoother and more impressive customer experience. For instance, we have a lot of customers in the coworking and coliving industry who have been able to offer a greater tenant experience and build a community by installing SALTO KS.
How did the pandemic affect the physical security landscape? Have you noticed any new security issues arise as a result?
We have seen that during the pandemic, the demand for smart access control solutions skyrocketed. Because our solutions offer the functionality of opening doors with your phone, there is no need for physical contact. In combination with SALTO’s ‘BioCote locks’ equipped with antimicrobial coated technology, businesses can ensure a germ-free customer experience offering the greatest feature of all - peace of mind.
Additionally, there is an audit trail available that can show who went into which room in real-time, so it becomes easier to trace where someone got infected and when. This allows a space operator or manager, for instance, to contact everyone that might have been exposed to the virus.
What are the most common ways threat actors use in an attempt to bypass various access control measures?
We are keeping strict measures regarding our servers and firewalls and avoid being attractive to threat actors. The most common ways are trying to steal credentials from one of our end-users or use automatic scanners where they don't target SALTO KS specifically, they use a ‘crawler’ and see whatever they find.
What physical security measures would you consider essential for organizations nowadays?
Have a great open-source password management service in place.
What other aspects of our daily lives do you hope to see enhanced by technology in the near future?
It seems far-fetched but access control solutions like SALTO KS have the ability to help with important societal problems, for instance fighting off loneliness. Especially in elderly care, it can help families to get more insight on how many visits an older member of the family gets, for instance, to make sure there will be someone visiting every day. This can be an extra service that healthcare organizations could provide, tracking their employees and offering families some comfort. If a caregiver loses a smartphone or security credential, its access permission can be revoked instantly, maintaining peace of mind and saving costly lock replacements.
Our daily lives will change for the better a lot in the upcoming years, and these changes will be all related to technology.
What are some of the security tools you believe everyone should use nowadays?
SALTO KS offers a Digital Key which enables users to ‘tap’ doors open with their phone. It’s a feature that is equally as cool as it is secure, and in my opinion, it's also something that no business can live without.
Share with us, what’s next for SALTO?
Besides being one of the largest lock manufacturers out there, SALTO aspires to be one of the largest ACaaS companies too. By offering cloud-based access control solutions such as SALTO KS they are well on their way. Keep an eye out for more cool features and products by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
How SALTO’s energy efficient smart access solutions contribute to building sustainability
Sustainability starts with building entry systems.
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.
Our commitment to sustainable practices.
SALTO is committed to designing and creating environmentally sustainable smart locking technology. By quantifying the environmental impact of our electronic door lock models, we ensure our partners and customers meet the standards required for their projects both now and in the future.
SALTO signed up to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to aligning its operations with Ten Principles universally accepted in the areas of human rights, labour safety standards, environment, and fight against corruption, and adopting measures in support of the objectives of the U.N. 's SDGs.
Find out more about how we accelerate our own progress to net zero while helping our customers do the same here.
Contact our sales teams who are happy to start your sustainability journey embracing sustainability as opportunity.
Follow SALTO on LinkedIn or Instagram to keep up with the latest news in the world of access control.
Live with andcards: Smart Solutions to Transform Coworking
Lunch-time sessions, we focused on a topic that concerns the integration of technology, its impact, and its significance.
Last year, we launched a brand new series of Instagram Live sessions with our Technology Partners around the world. In these lunch-time sessions, we focused on a topic that concerns the integration of technology, its impact, and its significance.
To kick off this series, our Community and Partnership Manager Caterina Maiolini met with Igor Dzhebyan, CEO of andcards and our very own Christian Schmitz, Global Lead of Shared Living and Workspaces at SALTO Systems. During the afternoon chat titled Smart Solutions to Transform Your Coworking Experience, the trio discussed the most significant changes in the coworking industry in the last decade, the role of technology in the evolution of flexible workspaces, the technology integration between andcards and SALTO Keys as a Service, and the importance of access control as a solution for coworking space members.
Read ahead for the highlights of their live lunchtime chat, or click here to re-watch the IGTV video.
A Transformation Within Coworking
Following an introduction of Igor and Christian, Cate dives straight in, asking about the changes to the coworking industry over the past decade.
In Christian’s view, coworking has evolved from the 1.0 version to 2.0. He attributes the acceleration of the coworking trend to the pandemic and notes how we will soon see the 3.0 version of coworking evolve. As the pandemic has vastly increased remote working, the purpose of workspaces has also changed. Christian emphasizes this change by highlighting a view held by the majority.
“When I go to a workspace, I go there not only to work but also for the communal life and social aspect, which makes it different from working spaces,” he said.
Igor, who agrees that coworking has transformed in the last decade, believes that a coworking space is more than just a workspace. It’s also a type of service platform. Yet, many people don’t understand this aspect of coworking spaces. As a result, Igor thinks it’s essential to help everyone understand the many advantages of flex working, ensuring that this trend reaches the mass market.
Remote working has seen enormous growth over the past two years, increasing the number of coworking spaces. According to Christian, technology has enabled this growth. Likewise, Igor explains how technology allows consumers of coworking spaces to take advantage of their membership benefits 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The benefits of technology in the coworking industry is seen through the integration between andcards and SALTO KS, which enables a seamless customer journey.
Productivity and Coworking
On working outside of a traditional office environment, Christian raises an important point: What is the level of productivity like in coworking spaces?
According to Igor, coworking spaces help build a sense of belonging and allow people to feel like they are part of a community. He explains that research shows a sense of belonging that positively impacts productivity. Consequently, coworking spaces boost productivity levels. Cate adds to this point by mentioning how being in a coworking space allows for increased levels of collaboration, which has a positive effect on mental health.
Access Control for Coworking Spaces
Shifting the focus to the integration between andcards and SALTO KS, Cate asks, “How important is access control as a solution for coworking members?”
“Ensuring a smooth and positive customer journey is very important in building a successful business,” Igor notes. “In general, our company’s mission is to put coworking space services into a smartphone, and that’s what we really want to do with andcards. SALTO’s Digital Key solution is similar in that it allows a person to access spaces using their smartphone. I think that’s what customers want to have: 24/7 access to their membership benefits. I believe that we can give them just that with our integrated solution,” Igor explains.
“The new generation thinks with a smartphone in their hand,” insists Cate. Indeed, a generational shift has meant that the younger generation is now growing up with smartphones. As a result, there is an increasing move towards mobility, which is also driving the coworking trend.
Andcards x SALTO KS Integration
On a final note, Cate, Igor, and Christian discuss what’s in store for the andcards and SALTO KS partnership.
“We will continue to build upon what customers need, what the market needs, and where we’re headed. We’re driven by our mission and vision to build a coworking space in a smartphone: We have a bank in our smartphone, we have other services in our smartphone, and now we have a coworking space in our smartphone,” Igor says.
The customer will remain at the centre of the andcards and SALTO KS integration. Christian stresses this point as he explains that “a tech company can always build nice tech integrations. However, without having the customer at the centre, and letting them decide what they really need, a company risks driving the boat in the wrong direction.”
In summary, the future of our integration, which is undoubtedly promising, will be based upon the needs and wants of the real and current market.
Stay tuned for updates on our partnership with Coworkies by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram!
Looking for more? Click here to discover more on SALTO’s access control solutions for Coworking and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates.
SALTO KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control systems are easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Shared Living Spaces, Retail, and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks help make your business more secure and efficient. Integrate smart locks into your access solution and start easily managing wireless access control now!
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!)
Coworkies' one-of-a-kind book launch and partnership with SALTO
The book offers a comprehensive understanding of coworking in all its capacity on a global scale, with carefully curated stories of people, spaces and products that are actively transforming the workspaces of today.
We first crossed paths with our community partners Coworkies in 2018, the start of an exciting journey into coworking and its many possibilities within the world of access control.
Pauline Roussel and Dimitar Inchev, Coworkies Co-founders, are the power team behind the unique book about coworking, community & design: Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces, the first of its kind in the global coworking community. The pair invited us to join their coffee-table book project, co-led by our very own Christian Schmitz, Global Lead of Shared Living and Workspaces and Caterina Maiolini, Community and Partnership Manager.
The book offers a comprehensive understanding of coworking in all its capacity on a global scale, with carefully curated stories of people, spaces and products that are actively transforming the workspaces of today. It also acts as an engaging and interactive guide of how people build new work environments through collaboration, interior design and community activities.
In October 2021, we were proud to attend Coworkies’ successful book launch event in Berlin which brought the coworking community together for the first time since the pandemic. Following the event, we interviewed Pauline, Coworkies Co-Founder. Amongst other topics, we discussed the global impact of the book, the relationship between cloud-based access control and coworking spaces and the partnership between Coworkies and SALTO systems.
Read ahead for our conversation and some highlights of the event!
1. Congratulations on the launch of your book! Can you briefly introduce “Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces” to our new readers?
Thanks for your kind words! “Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces” is a coffee table book we’ve launched after travelling the world of collaborative workspaces for the last 6 years, visiting over 430 of them across 48 cities around the globe.
It features 250 unique spaces, communities and interiors and gives the teams behind those new work environments an opportunity to share their incredible stories with the world.
2. What does it mean to you to see the book being embraced by the global coworking community and beyond?
It’s such a special feeling to see people from all walks of life embracing the book.
When we started to work on the concept, we knew we wanted it to be as inclusive as possible. What does inclusive mean in this context? It means that whatever prior knowledge readers have on coworking and new ways of working, the book has been designed as a journey they can build for themselves, choosing where they want to start and what they want to learn.
For instance, if someone has no prior understanding of what coworking is, the first part of the book will be very helpful and will bring him/her up to speed for the rest of his/her journey.
On the other hand, people who already operate coworking spaces might want to dive right into concrete knowledge and examples, choosing the type of learning they seek among the ones we’ve highlighted through the tags reading system we’ve developed.
3. What was the biggest challenge faced and best highlight experienced in creating the book?
Without a doubt, the biggest challenge for the book was the pandemic.
This is not something we’ve shared a lot so far but we actually started working on the book at the end of 2018 and our initial intention was to release it in early 2020. But then, COVID-19 entered the world and it had a huge impact on coworking spaces. Although we were almost ready to roll, we thought that releasing a book in the midst of the pandemic without even talking about it would diminish its entire purpose.
So, we started all over again.
We reached out to the spaces featured in the book to ask them how they were adapting and what was their outlook for the future so we could update their stories and be the closest possible to the reality they were living when the book came out.
The idea was not to create a book all about COVID-19, which means we had to find the right balance between stories that would talk about it and stories that would cover other topics.
But in the end, the pandemic was also an opportunity for us to reconnect with spaces, to be close to them in hard times and support them, remotely, with knowledge, connections and moral support too.
4. What do you want people to take away from “Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces” and how do you see the future impact of the book?
Very often, people believe that if they are not freelancers or startupers they don’t belong in coworking spaces. That belief has driven our mission to “make coworking better” by educating more people and companies on its principles, but more importantly, to the different shapes coworking takes.
So, to answer your question: we hope that by flipping through the book, readers will feel that coworking is, as we often say, “the same dish everyone cooks differently”, and that it serves so many more communities than just freelancers and startups.
5. How have access control solutions impacted the coworking industry? Why did you choose to join forces with the team at SALTO Systems?
On the operators’ side, access control solutions have allowed them to (1) design better experiences for their users but also, (2) relieve some of the operational work that is often very heavy on coworking teams. Being able to provide easy-to-manage solutions allows them to focus more on creating value for their members and less on managing lost keys :)
On the users’ side, access control solutions allow them to live better experiences within spaces. No need to carry yet another key or fear losing it. Right now and more often than not, users can access their workplace from the comfort of their smartphones and that’s convenient.
As said previously, having the aim to “make coworking better” also meant that the book needed to be full of resources operators can use to evaluate where they stand in terms of community, operational management and experience offered. Joining forces with SALTO Systems means that the book can offer unique insights, coming from experts (you guys!), who have a far deeper understanding of the topic than any of us, and who can help our readers to learn from your experience and expertise.
We feel grateful to Christian Schmitz, your Head of Coworking, Coliving and PBSA, for having shared so much in the book about using access control systems to enhance the overall members’ experience.
6. How did SALTO Systems cross paths with you in the making of the book?
It all happened at the Coworking Spain Conference back in 2018.
(If Manu Zea, the founder of coworking, is reading this, thanks again for inviting us back then!)
We were invited to speak and share our story with participants and SALTO was one of the sponsors. We had never crossed paths with you guys before but meeting at the conference felt like fate. When we started telling the team on-site about our ambition for the book and showing them the concept behind it, they got so excited that they immediately connected us with the right people within your team.
The rest is history :)
7. Can you describe the relationship between the coworking community and SALTO Systems?
We always feel so happy when we tour around a space and see them using SALTO Systems. You guys have such a vast array of options. You can really support spaces at any given part of their [a user’s] journey, which is amazing.
Whether they [a user] are starting with one space or growing tremendously, SALTO Systems is there to make their life easier when it comes to designing their “access control systems strategies”.
Beyond the technology, SALTO Systems has an incredible team of passionate people, dedicated and committed to integrating access control systems into community strategies, using it as yet another way to bring people together because as you guys say so well, “Community is the key”.
8. What were the highlights of the book launch in Berlin and the online community launch?
The Berlin book launch felt so magical for so many reasons! First, Berlin is our home, so being able to host an in-person event after everything we’ve all been through was quite something.
Then the venue: The Student Hotel, which is featured in the book, was just the perfect place for us all to reconnect. Spacious, beautiful, flexible, centrally located. Working with them in preparing the event was a stress-free experience and they really helped us focus on what matters: bringing people together.
Due to the context and COVID-19, we had no idea how many people would actually show up to the event. It’s one thing to get a ticket on Eventbrite or say “attending” on Facebook and it’s another to come and attend. So seeing close to 100 people throughout the night come and celebrate this life achievement was just incredible. Above all, their eagerness to (re)connect with one another was super nice to witness. Many people shared that the book launch was their first in-person event since the pandemic started. We feel very grateful that they chose our event as their first!
Last but not least, the cake you guys surprised us with was (quite literally!) the icing on the cake.
I (Pauline) really didn’t expect it. When I saw it coming, I almost felt like crying. Such a nice gesture and it was very yummy too. Thanks again to you and the team for contributing to the night in the way you did.
9. Can you give us a glimpse of the next steps for you and Coworkies? What would you like to accomplish next with SALTO Systems?
Right now most of our efforts are focused on the book and its promotion - so expect to read and hear about it across many outlets worldwide!
As per what we would like to accomplish next with SALTO Systems, there are many things we are currently discussing together, from events to an eventual volume 2 of the book — many doors are open :)
Stay tuned for updates on our partnership with Coworkies by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram!
Looking for more? Click here to discover more on SALTO’s access control solutions for Coworking and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates.
SALTO KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control systems are easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Shared Living Spaces, Retail, and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks help make your business more secure and efficient. Integrate smart locks into your access solution and start easily managing wireless access control now!
Increase social value with Technology Partner Sowebuild
One of SALTO’s Technology Partners,Sowebuild, offers community services and solutions backed by strategy, management, and their very own technology called ‘Buildr Apps’
One of SALTO’s Technology Partners, Sowebuild, offers community services and solutions backed by strategy, management, and their very own technology called ‘Buildr Apps’ - a community experience platform and engagement app for residential and commercial real estate investors, operators, and building residents.
We’ve asked the co-founder of Sowebuild, Sander Willems, and Laura Henke, who is in charge of Marketing and Content, about their integration with SALTO’s cloud-based access control solution, SALTO KS, and how this integration helps to increase social value in real estate.
Continue reading to find out more about this valuable integration:
How is the integration between Buildr Apps and SALTO KS improving the lives of end-users?
It primarily saves time and prevents frustration amongst tenants who want to make use of shared workplaces, work spots, and meeting rooms. Users can book a room and automatically get authorized access to their space with a single click on a button via the app, which acts as a remote control and extension of their daily natural work routine.
In addition to that, it also helps end-users to be and feel safer around their living and/or working places, especially in regards to the COVID-19 rules, since operators can decide to give or deny access based on occupancy and cleaning status of shared spaces.
What triggered Sowebuild to work with SALTO?
My partner Rick Scholsis one of the Dutch Ambassadors for the Co-Liv network and got to know Christian Schmitz of SALTO Systems through it. Since we share a passion for community and are both very active around the subject of shared living and coworking, conversations between our companies arose naturally.
We felt that SALTO could be a perfect and much-needed extension/integration to our technology. Looking at the current situation, our collaboration became even more meaningful as it helps us to keep both operators and tenants safe and the overall user experience seamless.
Success comes with a proper strategy and conscious, continuous nourishment, treating residents as if they were your own kin. - Co-founder of Sowebuild, Sander Willems
Why do you feel it’s so important that tenants have a say in the management and development of their own space from the get-go?
Because tenants (read: people!) who are involved in the development of their own working and living environment naturally feel more connected to it. Generally speaking, this means higher engagement, more inclusion, and a sense of responsibility for the place they are living or working in (and the people they are sharing it with). On an operator level, this usually results in a higher social value of the properties and better retention rates which heavily enhance sustainability and NOI growth.
On the other hand, the end-user feels seen, heard, valued, and appreciated, which motivates them to take responsibility for their shared space and invite others to do so as well (ambassador) – it doesn’t really matter whether we talk coliving, cohousing, or coworking.
What do SALTO and Sowebuild have in common?
Sowebuild and SALTO are both advanced, fast-paced software providers: companies that are very much needed at this time and will be highly requested in the near future not only due to the current changes in the real estate market but also in the world.
Besides that, we are both active members of the ever-evolving community, coliving, and coworking debate, shaping the future of shared housing and flexible working.
What are the three most essential aspects in building communities in the PropTech sector?
- Community managers/facilitators should have the time, space, and tools to focus on the facilitation of their members; organizing the community itself, as well as events; and realizing valuable social connections.
- Give members the opportunity to orchestrate their own lives, to be effective in what they do, thrive in what they enjoy doing, and foster close relationships with people and businesses around them.
- Elevate the experience by creating an environment of inclusion. Build a place rather than a space, that is based on interconnected membership and shared values. The effects and results of building a real community go far beyond the experience of the physically built space itself.
How do you analyze user behavior and how do you use your findings to upgrade your services?
We analyze social behavior within our community module, analyze actions and transactions in our online services module, and we aim to measure the temperature of residents’ happiness by Net Promotor Score, reviews, surveys, and in the future with AI technology.
These indicators are used to provide community managers the opportunity to allocate social interaction at the right moment and place to facilitate members better in supply and demand of local products and services.
What are the most valued features that Sowebuild offers its users?
To name two of our most successful modules:
- Community (newsfeed, events, profiles, live chat)
- Bookings (meeting rooms, services, and perks; food and products; shared items)
Though we are increasingly adding features, functionality, and analytics to our platform, we’d like to stress that the success of building a sustainable community has nothing to do with solemn technology and the number of features that you offer. Because the community is built around values of inclusion, not just or only around amenities and perks.
Connecting with residents personally is 10 times more effective for your people to feel happy than adding a gadget. We’ve seen this over and over again in the places that we serve. Success comes with a proper strategy and conscious, continuous nourishment, treating residents as if they were your own kin.
What is something people might not know about Sowebuild, but they should?
Communities are built best with the right balance of strategy, management, and technology. Often clients come to us requesting “an app for their building” with the idea of leaving with a product, but they often appear to stay with us helping them to build their community to its full potential, both online and offline, where technology is just a fraction of what we do. We have community experts and managers in our team that help facilitate various kinds of places where people live and work. So we are active in different verticals of real estate and take our learnings from the different markets to serve a general goal: building a strong community.
We know you are likely thinking, “yes, in an ideal world community is most important but often a delicate challenge that is difficult to grasp in reality, and ideas are often easier than their practical implementation.” We hear you! That’s why we listen and observe. We are driven to prove “community success” and the eventual ROI for property investors and operators. We see this aspect as our personal mission, to find the right metrics and optimize spaces ensuring a sense of belonging, wellbeing, and happiness for our client’s end users.
At this moment, around 15 people work at Sowebuild and we are preparing ourselves to expand internationally. To set out this course in a sustainable way, we are always on the lookout for the right partners to join us in this journey. Whether you are a possible integration partner, potential client, or interested in investing in our company’s growth, please reach out to us to learn how we can collaborate, we’d be happy to visit.
Let us build more thriving communities together!
What would you like to see for the future of this integration with SALTO KS?
First of all, I would like to thank Menno Ruimschotel for taking the time and having the patience to work on this assignment meeting our client’s expectations. As he is taking a higher position at SALTO Systems, I would like to wish him all the best in the future.
Furthermore, I enjoyed the collaboration with Björn de Vries and his team, for being helpful in getting the tools connected and integrated well. I would like to see the collaboration in this project as a reference for doing more fruitful work together in the future. Because community is the key, right ;)? (smiles)
We are continuously growing towards the digitization of places where hybrid, physical communities are the key to online and offline connection and part of our daily lives and routines. We will passionately continue to add value to this interconnected realm, creating maximal performance and natural experience.
We foresee an exciting future where the human-centric approach becomes an integral part of designing spatial experiences. Sowebuild is looking forward to being an experienced player in this field, using the leverage of technology to foster sustainable communities.
We’d like to thank Sowebuild for this insightful interview. We look forward to a valuable and inspirational partnership that will continue to grow and develop in the upcoming years.
Follow SALTO on LinkedIn or Instagram to keep up with the latest news in the world of access control. Find Sowebuild on LinkedIn to stay up to date on their community experience platform and engagement app.
Images by Today's Brew.
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.
Follow Salto Systems on LinkedIn or Instagram to keep up with the latest news in the world of access control.
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.
Scale your coworking space with SALTO KS and Cobot
Coworking spaces and their communities rely on management software to streamline processes for all involved. Fortunately, the solution to their needs lies in a single leading software, containing all the tools required to run a successful coworking environment: Cobot.
Coworking spaces and their communities rely on management software to streamline processes for all involved. Fortunately, the solution to their needs lies in a single leading software, containing all the tools required to run a successful coworking environment: Cobot. With a single white-labelled platform to take care of all daily administrative tasks, Cobot enables you to onboard new members, streamline your billing, manage bookings and more, in one easy and intuitive interface.
As our KS Connect Partner, Cobot automates access control for coworking spaces; granting mobile access to members via Android and iPhone smartphones, defining access areas, and opening compatible smart locks and wall readers.
We decided to catch up with the Cobot team themselves to find out more about their journey and insights into their experience of scaling coworking spaces. Read ahead to hear from Kristina Schneider, co-founder of Cobot, current CPO, responsible for all things product.
Kristina shares her thoughts with us in the first to a two-part interview series with Cobot below!
Hi Kristina! Could you please introduce the company to our readers?
Cobot lives and breathes coworking—and we happen to build software for it! We started developing tools to automate coworking spaces over ten years ago, right as ‘coworking’ was starting to become a movement. Back then we ran our own coworking/event space in Berlin, Germany, and developed Cobot to help manage our own day-to-day operations. Today, Cobot is used by tens of thousands of coworkers around the globe, and our former coworking space is now our team’s main office.
Could you please explain in your own words, the integration of Cobot with SALTO KS and its significance?
One of the key worries of every coworking manager is to offer seamless access to their space, while at the same time, making sure the space is secure. SALTO KS offers one of the most advanced solutions to controlling access for members and guests. It’s also among the most frequently requested solutions from our customers! Using our integration, space managers can connect their Cobot plans and membership management directly to SALTO KS’s access control and rest easy knowing that access is handled seamlessly and that software takes care of the work.
With your expertise, what do you feel is essential for coworking spaces, office hubs, and flexible workspaces management software and how does Cobot accommodate this or these need(s).
Every workspace is unique. The software must be as flexible as our work, while at the same time, offer an absolutely reliable and robust set of core business features. At Cobot, we do both. Our software’s core functionality manages billing, payments, memberships, bookings, and even events.
Beyond that, we strive to empower spaces to fulfil their specific needs. We have a wide range of integrations, a build-your-own add-on toolbox, and for complete control: an extensive and well-documented open API.
Every workspace is unique. The software must be as flexible as our work, while at the same time, offer an absolutely reliable and robust set of core business features.” - Kristina Schneider, Co-founder and CPO of Cobot
How can coworking spaces scale by using the integration with Cobot and SALTO KS?
With our secure integrated access control solution, it’s simple to scale effectively. Organizations can reduce or even entirely skip staff hours that would otherwise have been spent managing member and guest access. Instead of worrying about who has the right keys and checking their calendar to see who needs access to what spaces, they have extra time to analyze and optimize resource usage and spend time interacting with the community.
It’s a clear example of how Cobot and SALTO KS enable growth while minimizing costs and maintaining the high standards of quality our customer’s prize.
What are the most valuable lessons Cobot acquired within the 10 years of experience helping spaces of all sizes grow their community?
Automate as much as you can—except human connections!
The most impressive success stories we hear from our customers are those where spaces lead with an honest mission to grow and foster a community. Spaces that put their heart into the people who use their spaces are the ones that we see succeed in the long run; we advise and support them in developing smart automation strategies so they can spend more time on accomplishing their mission.
Automate as much as you can—except human connections!
Thank you, Kristina and the team at Cobot, for sharing your insights and experience with our readers. We couldn’t agree more that human connections should lie at the heart of smart solutions, especially when it comes to collaborative spaces such as coworking.
Keep an eye out for the second part of this conversation, where we continue our talk with Kristina on the integration with KS, freelancing, and adjusting to a remote world.
For more on Cobot, you can visit their website here, read their blog, and learn more about their integrations.
