Hospitality

We are proud to announce the release of the SALTO Neo Cylinder: a new electronic cylinder that offers a variety of features and superior functionality.

The SALTO Neo Cylinder offers value far beyond security. Of course, upgrading a mechanical door to electronic access control enhances security, but the SALTO Neo Cylinder provides even greater control of the door. It offers end users keyless mobile access to any access point and wireless access for instant key cancellation, remote opening, audit trails, reports, and alerts; delivering system administration operations that are simple, secure, and in real-time.

The compact lock is designed for doors where fitting an electronic escutcheon is not possible or not required and can be installed on standard doors, server racks, gates, cabinets, electric switches, sliding doors, and more. It is available in an extensive range of models to suit almost any kind of door, no matter the country.

Read further to find out more about how to optimize access control with the Neo Cylinder.

Where cloud technology meets the Neo Cylinder

SALTO KS cloud technology along with the SALTO Neo Cylinder delivers security that makes it possible to remotely monitor every access point from anywhere, at any time, on any device which offers greater control and flexibility.

With SALTO KS and the SALTO Neo Cylinder, there’s no need to replace or update the cylinder in case keys are lost or stolen. Simply block the tags or user access and assign new access instantly.

With the Neo, you can have full control of all access functions and features over the SALTO KS Web App from anywhere, without any worry about backups, maintenance, or physical on-premise server needs. While on-the-go, use the SALTO KS Mobile App for keeping track of events, remotely unlocking an electronic cylinder, and blocking user access. A cloud-based service is much simpler to integrate with other cloud service systems than an on-premise solution.

Using Digital Key with Neo

Users of the SALTO KS Mobile App can efficiently operate the Neo cylinder with their iPhones or Android phones. Combine the advantages of RFID, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) and NFC technologies, when using your Digital Key or Digital Key Widget with the Neo.

Incorporating mobile access into building security ecosystems is essential to maintaining safety and will spare you from the hassle of lost keys, along with the expense and waste which follows.

“With the addition of the SALTO Neo Cylinder to SALTO KS, Digital Keys are now even more powerful, secure and reliable, moving us forward towards our vision of replacing mechanical keys.” - Cem Akcali, Product Manager at SALTO KS

Optimize your use of energy

The SALTO Neo Cylinder provides the most efficient and convenient way of securing your building and assets. The re-engineered clutch system design makes efficient use of energy, dropping consumption to impressively low levels resulting in 100,000 / 130,000 cycles with just one set of batteries. System standby power consumption is reduced, which extends the battery life of the electronic cylinder.

Ensure durability and hygiene

The IP66-rated SALTO Neo Cylinder was classified as weather-resistant, making it especially suitable for the outdoors including extreme environments, encapsulated safely inside the tough Neo Cylinder exterior. Certified to the highest security standards, and pursuing ever-higher quality and reliability, the cylinder is designed to provide users with the finest in safety, security and durability.

For nearly a decade, SALTO, in partnership with BioCote®, incorporated antimicrobial silver ion technology in its smart electronic lock range and supporting product hardware like new SALTO Neo electronic cylinder product range. This is of particular importance in healthcare applications and any public or shared space setting by improving the hygiene of common touchpoints and helping to prevent cross-contamination of microbes.

Easy to install and compatible with your door

Easy to install and retrofit, the SALTO Neo universally compatible cylinder replaces your existing cylinder and fits any door with unlimited model options. It offers an extensive range of wire-free, stand-alone electronic cylinders designed for standard doors where fitting a conventional electronic lock is neither possible nor required. Installation takes less than 5 minutes and is done without screws or drilling.

The SALTO Neo Cylinder range offers limitless choices for customization of your door and retrofitting. SALTO Neo cylinder standard finishes meet most project needs and provide a great match for existing doors. Plus, black and white reader finish choices mean you can offer a truly unique cylinder for any working space or business access project.

Using smart keys and mobile technology with the SALTO Neo Cylinder allows users to manage access rights, instant and keyless, which is more secure than using mechanical keys. There is also added value in the flexibility, convenience and operational efficiency provided by the Neo Cylinder’s wireless technology.

“The SALTO Neo Cylinder has more functionality and performance capability than any other cylinder on the market, allowing businesses to connect to their on-premises network via the cloud with our SALTO KS cloud-based access management platform.” - Marc Handels, Co-Founder and CTIO of SALTO Systems

By integrating all of your security needs through smart, wireless and battery-operated cylinders, the SALTO Neo cylinder will elevate your security experience.

Visit this page to find out more about the Neo or get in touch with our team!

To read more about SALTO KS, click here or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest product features, team updates and news from the industry.

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, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee the efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!

Smart technology is upending every major industry on the planet, and the hospitality industry is no exception. This is particularly true in the wake of the global health crisis, in which smart technologies are taking a progressively larger role in ‘new normal’ standards in hotels, coliving spaces, restaurants, entertainment businesses, and other tourism or hospitality-related services. Indeed, smart hospitality has grown into a huge global industry; and much of this new development is taking place in the field of access control.

To investigate the subject of smart technology in hospitality even further, we offered our platform to blogger Jamie Sanders, who is specialized in the field of technology and life hacks.

Read along to find out Jamie’s take on how smart technology is transforming the hospitality industry at a rapid pace:

Although improved security is a crucial part of the access control equation, it is just one of the key points in the emergence of new smart hospitality technology. From smartphones which can transform guest experience to management systems that streamline hotel management operations, smart solutions have the power to transform the industry and its overall functionality.

The role of access control in hospitality

Smart cloud-based access control tech has many practical applications throughout the world of hospitality. In places like hotels, coliving and/or working spaces, this means that no one needs to worry about losing their keys, as there is greater convenience and efficiency in terms of granting and halting access not just to rooms but also certain facilities, and an overall more secure experience for both clients and managers. Apart from security and convenience, these solutions are also a big step in addressing and maintaining distancing protocols in the hospitality world’s ‘new normal.’

Access control is just one important part of the smart hospitality puzzle. Around the world, a variety of smart hospitality-focused solutions are already being developed and rolled out.

In some cases, integrations with third parties are the key to shaping your desired guest experience. SALTO KS’ integration partners in hospitality, for instance, include PriorityKey, 3RPMS, and TABHOTEL; of which optimizing keyless self-check-in and granting remote access through cloud-based solutions is common to all.

Challenges and looking ahead

Of course, this isn’t to say that there are no challenges to the widespread rise of smart hospitality technologies. Any new smart technology, no matter how advanced, can only be as smart as those who are operating or managing it.

The good news is that today, managers and those in administrative positions are being taught how to integrate smart tech into different facets of the hospitality industry through internal training and development protocols. Making this process easier are new employee communication platforms, which makes the integration of smart technologies faster and more streamlined from executive managers down to hospitality staff.

This, in turn, has spurred an uptick in HR specialists who can help facilitate the ongoing digital transformation across the entire hospitality industry. In fact, training and development specialists who have studied online human resources degrees can expect a 9% growth in job prospects up until 2028. A large percentage of the projected growth are finding their way into hospitality and tourism due to their skills in business organizational behaviour and their ability to react to changes in regulations within the industry.

With the hospitality industry being extremely dependent on new tech, this will lead to an increase in customer demand for businesses that can adapt to smart tech the quickest.

As both hospitality providers and connectivity tech developers envision a smarter hospitality industry, this is just the beginning for smart solutions emerging in the industry.

Find out more on how SALTO Systems is improving hotel experience around the globe here.

To read more about SALTO KS, click here or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest product features, team updates and news from the industry.

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, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee the efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!

SALTO Systems, a leading manufacturer of electronic access control solutions, and Zaplox, a market innovator of the contact-free mobile guest journey and mobile key services for the global hotel market, bring their long-term and successful partnership to the hospitality market to provide the latest in technology and demand – digital smart lock solutions that give guests contactless control and the option to use a mobile key and hotel staff the power of better hotel management.

An overwhelming majority of both business and leisure travellers prefer using mobile guest apps or smartphones to manage hotel stays and services. With the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more important to offer guests options to safely manage their stay. With Zaplox’s leading mobile solutions, coupled with SALTO’s innovative electronic locks, this partnership delivers a seamless contactless experience for lodging guests and operations boost for management.

The benefits of the contactless solution that Zaplox and SALTO deliver include a safe contactless and self-check-in, operational cost savings, increased guest loyalty and satisfaction, and time savings that result in better efficiency.

SALTO is a leader in delivering a variety of technologically innovative electronic smart access control solutions for hospitality. SALTO works to integrate with leading companies like Zaplox in order to maximize the digital experience with a future-proof next-generation door smart lock solution that adds both security and sophistication to any hospitality environment. SALTO electronic locks are housed in durable yet aesthetically pleasing sleek and elegant customizable designs that match any decor. SALTO locks integrate with a variety of hotel management systems including other security platforms – like video – and business management.

Zaplox develops contact-free solutions for managing the guest’s hotel stay, improving the check-in and check-out process, and distributing mobile keys for hotel rooms directly to guests’ mobile phones. Zaplox solutions allow hotels to add Zaplox functionality to their existing hotel app, or to launch their own mobile app in a cost-effective way. Zaplox solutions provide a direct channel to communicate with guests and the opportunity to generate additional revenue. Zaplox apps and kiosk solutions are integrated with the SALTO lock system, property management system and payment solution.

Facts & Figures

94%

94% of business travellers and 80 percent of leisure travellers expressed interest in using mobile guest apps or smartphones to request service and message, hotel staff.

83%

83% of guests want hotel service promotions (restaurant, spa, etc.) that help drive ancillary revenue available via their mobile device.

67%

67% of travellers are more likely to choose a hotel that allows guests to check-in and open doors with a smartphone.

Key benefits:

Zaplox Premium apps #1, #2; #3 improves guest safety providing mobile check-in, check out and mobile keys including promotions and payment integrations. Integration with SALTO System locks and market-leading PMS systems. With the slim and effective Zaplox Mobile Key App (Premium#1) is a good start when you want to offer your guests an app and mobile key access in your hotel. With the Mobile key app can launch your own hotel app under 30 days and include mobile booking, digital hotel compendium, mobile keys, promotions and more.

Zaplox Kiosk gives 24/7 availability and is a web-based application that can run on tablet-based hardware with a touch interface. The kiosk integrates with the hotel PMS and with SALTO Systems smart locks.

Remote and digital check-in:

• Make reservation
• Pre-check and check-in
• Guest registration

Keyless and mobile access technology:

• Mobile Key - Guest Room (Guest entrance confirmation real-time)
• Dynamic key delivery / Room upgrade (Re-Rooming)
• Digital key and physical key delivery same time
• Possibility of issuing more than one key card.

Self-Service Check-in Kiosk:

• Zaplox Kiosk for fast, contactless check-in and payment, and they can print out their own key cards
• Zaplox Kiosk is a custom-branded self-service solution and a great option for guests who are not ready to use a mobile guest app yet.
• The web-based application can run on almost any type of tablet-based hardware with touch interface, giving the hotel the choice to select hardware that blends in with the hotel interior.
• Key card encoding (RFID & magnetic stripe cards)

Safe and digital guest experience during the stay:

• Zaplox Kiosk is a custom-branded self-service solution and a great option for guests who are not ready to use a mobile guest app yet. The web-based application can run on almost any type of tablet-based hardware with touch interface, giving the hotel the choice to select hardware that blends in with the hotel interior.

Hotel operation and management:

• Remote Check-out (Invoicing Link PMS)
• Mobile payment processing. Follow review & Payment

SALTO smart access:

• Exceptional SALTO electronic lock hardware, developed from strong R&D and with future needs in mind
• Safe contactless & self-check-in and check-out
• Lower operational costs with mobile guest management
• Increased guest loyalty and satisfaction scores
• Save time and increase efficiency

About Zaplox:

Zaplox helps hotels and vacation home rentals to create a modern and profitable mobile guest experience. Zaplox is a market innovator of the contact-free mobile guest journey and mobile key services for the global hotel market. The company operates in Europe and North America and offers a turnkey platform for managing the guest’s hotel stay, improving the check-in and check-out process, and distributing mobile keys for the hotel rooms directly to guests’ mobile phones. Zaplox solutions allow hotels to add Zaplox functionality to their existing hotel app, or to launch their own app mobile app in a cost-effective way. In addition, Zaplox solutions save time and costs while providing hotels with a direct channel to communicate with the guests and the opportunity to generate additional revenue. Zaplox works with all major smartphone platforms and can support the hotel’s lock and property management system. The systems can replace or coexist with key cards and physical keys. Zaplox systems have been in commercial use since 2011 and Zaplox stock is listed on the NASDAQ First North Growth Market. www.zaplox.com.

SALTO access control door lock components and system peripherals for Hospitality are definitely keeping in step with the latest and best new building design trends. The new Dark Bronze option matches some of today’s new design trends and blends perfectly with both white and dark doors, modern styles, and sophisticated wooden decorations. This dark bronze option will complement and enhance any hotel decor.

The SALTO smart door locking solution and handle design range is available in a variety of finishes to complement each other and other hardware that you may already have in your hotel or on guest room doors. SALTO has added the Dark Bronze Finish option to the MyLock online configuration tool – which allows architects, planners and interior designers to choose and see potential door configuration finishes to match your hospitality project needs. MyLock users can now visualize this stunning finish for several product models including the XS4 Original, the XS4 Mini, and the XS4 Keypad ANSI model electronic locks.

When planning a new hospitality project that requires real-time smart electronic access control, it is important to be able to visualize the different locks, finishes, and door styles and how they look together. From traditional to contemporary, SALTO hardware comes in a variety of architectural styles and finishes to meet your aesthetic needs and design goals. SALTO MyLock enables specifiers, architects, interior designers, and end users to individually configure SALTO‘s wire-free electronic door lock components and visualize them on different door types or styles to create aesthetic rooms and hotel spaces. In addition to the electronic hardware, they can choose from several door models and a wide range of colors, finishes, handles, and functions. Once completed, a MyLock user can preview and download 3D and 2D files including BIM files in a variety of industry formats including Revit, STP, DWG, JPEG, PDF, and more. This capability is an excellent planning feature for your hotel property designers.

As SALTO adds locks and finishes like the new Dark Bronze the MyLock Configurator is updated to reflect the absolute latest in SALTO electronic lock technology to help you transform any room, in your unique hotel style, in order to deliver the best guest experience.

To plan your next electronic access control project, vist the SALTO MyLock Configurator at www.mylock.saltosystems.com or contact SALTO to help you choose the smart locking solutions that best suit your doors and preferences. Our experts are experienced in working with architects, builders, and owners to ensure your hospitality project vision becomes a reality.

What is Salto KS and how does it work?

For the seasoned traveller, smooth check-in and check-out go a long way in improving the guest experience. Swapping your keys for a cloud-based access control solution might just be a better investment than you think.

When a guest arrives at the hotel, they want to check-in as fast as possible. Support from a receptionist is essential in this case, so staff should have time to welcome the guest, keep them happy and help them in providing a great guest experience in the safest way possible.

As important as the front desk is, there is a growing trend to give guests the option to either visit the front desk or bypass it completely and check-in and check out themselves via emerging hotel industry access control technology. With one easy-to-use, cardless, and mobile-enabled system, you can establish your property as an automated self-service hotel.

Benefits of Salto KS for hotels

With the help of this innovative technology and automated self-service solution, it puts the power to check-in and check-out in the guest’s hands – enabling check-in outside of peak hours – and gives the ability to conduct other essential tasks in the hands of your staff. This way, staff can allocate their efforts and attention to guest safety and better service in a more meaningful manner. The automated self-service delivers a guest experience that will increase efficiency, safety, and security and improve your guest stay with a seamless check-in experience.

Provide easy access for your guests effortlessly with PIN code or a mobile entry

The Salto KS cloud-based solution for self-service hotels allows you to simplify processes such as check-in and check-out and enables an overall digital experience. With Salto KS keyless access, you can provide guests, suppliers, or visitors access to your hotel property and their room with a PIN code, offering the ability to self-check-in. Before guests arrive at your hotel, they can choose to go straight to their room and receive their PIN code on their phone, or they can ask for assistance at the reception for their room check-in. It is their choice. The mobile self-check-in process, combined with keyless entry (through a keypad or digital key systems), allows guests to bypass the front desk entirely upon arrival, without compromising the level of service.

Not only is this the safest and fastest option for guests, but it helps improve the staff work-flow by automating many processes that come with a regular guest check-in.

A seamless check-in experience

With Salto KS, you bring together all the strengths of cloud-based access control technology and value-added features and simplify all of your front office operations.

Salto KS is the access control solution that is making access control smart. With an easy installation and affordable solution, Salto KS is designed to scale right along with your property. You can immediately manage all user access through a simple and intuitive cloud-hosted access management web dashboard making it a convenient solution for system administrators right from the start.

With Salto KS, manage user keys, monitor all your property activity, and assign different access levels from any device. anywhere, anytime.

Take advantages of integrations

As part of Salto’s cloud-based wireless locking solution Salto KS, KS Connect allows simple PMS software and service companies to integrate with Salto KS, and enrich their offering.

By connecting Salto KS with your hotel property management software, transform your hotel property operations and improve your guest stay with seamless check-in experience. Guests can receive their PIN code entry during the check-in process. Upon arrival, they can pick up their PIN code or mobile key and head straight to their room.

You can benefit from our Technology partnership with some of the world's leading Hospitality technology innovators such as Priority Key, Tab Hotel and 3RPMS. Find the extensive overview here.

Visit the Salto KS website to learn more about the technology and solutions we can provide to deliver online guest self-check-in and check-out technology for automated self-service hotels.

Want to stay in touch? Follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram to keep up with the latest in access control.

It goes without saying that 2020 was a difficult year. The global COVID-19 pandemic affected almost every person – and business – in some way. We are grateful that things look promising for 2021. Although we had to deal with the difficulties of the pandemic, all the more reason for us to say thank you: for the trusting partnership, for the exciting projects, and for the great results.

In response to the demand for more contactless and smart access solutions, SALTO incorporated a variety of technologies that benefit the hospitality sector in particular to help our users maximize our electronic locks and management solutions. SALTO is compatible with many technology partners to deliver automated and mobile solutions that allow guests to control when and how they check-in. This maximizes the digital experience with a future-proof next-generation smart door lock solution that adds a touch of sophistication and security to any hotel environment. Automated services and self-service technologies in times of social distancing and integrating self-check-in technology into service operations has helped address some of the issues around staff safety and new guest access to help practice effective social distancing.

SALTO received renowned recognition for both our products and our company in 2020. SALTO achieved our goal of becoming 100% carbon neutral for our factory headquarters and across all operations, a major step in making keyless smart access technology sustainable. The achievement and our commitment to helping achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a great honor for SALTO as one of our primary missions is to deliver electronic access control in an environmentally-responsible manner.

The SALTO MyLock Configurator was awarded a 2020 Architects’ Darling Award which is judged by a jury of communication experts and renowned representatives of top international architecture companies and specifiers. The SALTO MyLock Configurator allows you to customize your SALTO electronic door lock by choosing your door type, finish, handle design, and lockset finish to give you the look and feel of your next project as you plan it.

Preparing for future growth means committing to the digital transformation. More specifically, it means leveraging the cloud. Our technological expertise has brought SALTO to leading positions in both cloud-based access control technology and mobile access solutions. Transformation will give hotel brands the tools they need for future success: insight to provide full control of who can access what, when, and where within the entire property; efficiency to adapt and scale; and a platform to innovate and stand out.

Finally, in 2020 SALTO acquired Gantner, an Austrian company that specializes in access systems, electronic locking and locker systems, cashless payment, cash register and billing systems, and staff time recording systems, as well as ticketing and management software for leisure facilities. The addition of Gantner to the SALTO portfolio offers a very bright future for our ability to continue to deliver the absolute best in electronic access control solutions.

With a combined workforce of 1,200 employees in 40 countries, including more than 230 dedicated to R&D, a turnover of €260 million and over a million access points delivered each year, the combined group of SALTO and Gantner consolidates our position as a global leader in electronic access control.

We wish you happy holidays, a great start to 2021, and are looking forward to shaping the next year together with you.

From the experts' point of view, the clear design and intuitive user experience were the main reasons for voting to award the SALTO MyLock Configurator a 2020 ARCHITECTS’ DARLING AWARD. In addition, they positively highlighted the immediate display of configuration changes and the user navigation. SALTO MyLock was clearly above the average of all participants in most evaluation categories.

The award was judged by a jury of communication experts and renowned representatives of top international architecture companies and specifiers. In the course of the evaluation, the jury members answered questions about the brand, the "look & feel," "search results," and open questions about "difficulties," "time required," and "personal impressions." An overall mark was derived from this, which formed the basis for the final ranking.

SALTO MyLock enables specifiers, architects, partners, and end users to individually configure SALTO‘s wire-free electronic door lock components and visualise them on different door types or styles. In addition to the electronic hardware, they can choose from several door models and a wide range of colours, finishes, handles and functions.

The renowned ARCHITECTS' DARLING AWARDS have been awarded by Heinze GmbH for ten years. This year, the awards were judged in 25 product areas, from flooring to technical products. In addition, 12 theme awards were evaluated by a jury. Categories here included "Best Website," "Best Product Innovation," and, new this year, "Best Product Configurator." The Cradle to Cradle Challenge Award, the award for sustainability and corporate responsibility, was also presented again.

MyLock online configurator: https://mylock.saltosystems.com/

The key to business continuity for the hospitality industry and hotel operators lies in the digital and smarter control of properties, driven by the convergence of information, automation and hotel management plus mobile and IoT technologies for daily operations and guest more secure and safer stay by streamlining their operations.

The partnership with AeroGuest improves the guest and hospitality management experience by delivering a variety of complete digital mobile platforms to any type of property by integrating a seamless digital guest experience through next level mobile hospitality. With SALTO smart locking solutions for Hospitality and AeroGuest, before a stay, guests can check-in via the web, choose a room, and secure payment. During their stay, the platform provides a digital key, chat communication, and content experiences. After their stay, guests can use AeroGuest to check-out, join a hotel loyalty program, or rebook a stay. AeroGuest user-friendly mobile solution and SALTO smart keyless access technology ensure an exceptional guest experience and provide new revenue streams for the hotel.

The SALTO-AeroGuest integration allows the AeroGuest platform to control and manage any SALTO electronic lock on the hotel property - guest rooms, back-of-house, main entrances, permetral access doors and specialty areas like gyms, spas, parking garages, and more. SALTO has long delivered a variety of access control solutions for hospitality that pack a powerful technological punch - such as integrating with companies like AeroGuest to maximize the digital experience with a future-proof next-generation door lock smart solutions that adds a touch of sophistication and security to any hotel environment. SALTO electronic locks are housed in a durable yet aesthetically-pleasing sleek and elegant customizable design that matches any hotel decor.

AeroGuest Mobile Hospitality Solution Features:

Remote and digital check-in:

• Choose Room (revenue - Boutique Hotel)
• Payment
• Passport scanning
• Sign terms of stay (Fingerprint sign - user authentication)
• Face recognition double recognition mobile and passport data

Safe and digital guest experience during stay:

• 24-hour service
• Advance Chat Communication
• Content Experiences
• SMS/Text Messaging
• Business intelligence from the PMS

Keyless and mobile access technology:

• Mobile Key - Guest Room (Guest entrance confirmation real-time)
• Mobile Key - Guest Services Door (Locker Locks)
• Dynamic key delivery / Room upgrade (Re-Rooming)
• Digital key and physical key delivery same time
• Get the physical smart room key in less than a minute.
• Possibility of issuing more than one card. A copy for a family member, for example.

Hotel operation and management:

• Remote Check-out (Invoicing Link PMS)
• Join Hotel Loyalty Program
• Direct Booking (wallet concept)

The partnership also delivers timely solutions that can help hotels in a post-pandemic society by reducing and oftentimes eliminating personal interaction for guests and hotel employees. With touch-free check-in and check-out, SALTO and AeroGuest can help keep employees and guests safe and socially distanced during the COVID-19 pandemic or for any future threats that might arise.

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.

The world is currently coping with an unprecedented situation. Millions of people have been asked to stay home, stop travelling or work from home to stop the spread of COVID-19. Many hotel chains already use contactless smart technology such as mobile apps and digital keys to enable guests to seamlessly check-in and out, with coronavirus forcing the hotel and hospitality industry to adapt to new safety, security, and operations practices.

The SALTO Hospitality access control platform allows hotels to offer mobile check-in to guests, which reduces the number of human interactions and allows guests to access their room via SALTO’s native mobile access platform, JustIN Mobile. Using a smartphone, the guest is able to request the hotel room key prior to arrival. The hotel front desk is able to check the guest in via the Property Management System (PMS) and issue them a secure digital key directly to their smartphone.

How does this key app for hotel work?

The JustIN Mobile app replaces the need for a physical access card by securely sending a room key “Over the Air” (OTA) from SALTO’s ProAccess SPACE management software to a registered and verified iOS or Android device. The phone then uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to send a signal to the door’s electronic locks. If the phone is lost or stolen, access can immediately be updated via ProAccess SPACE.

With the JustIN Mobile application, SALTO has created an app that allows guests the power to manage check-in as well as additional aspects of a hotel stay from their smartphone. Guests can avoid lines at the front desk and check-in directly; replacing a physical room key with a smartphone by presenting the phone to the electronic lock on the door; access elevators; change rooms, and even check out. Additionally, staff members can manage visitor keys l to take advantage of digital technology to optimize guest satisfaction and the staff experience.

Using the JustIN app, the guest is able to download a mobile digital key and can then choose to go straight to their room, or they can ask for assistance at reception to ask for a regular check-in or a physical smart key. This enables the guest to make their own decision. Plus, the technology isn’t limited to hotel rooms – The mobile key can also be programmed to automatically use in the elevator, eliminating the need to touch buttons, on main entrance doors, car park barriers, meeting rooms, gym, locker rooms, guest services doors, and more.

Ensuring peace of mind for everyone who legitimately accesses a property, SALTO JustIN Mobile not only controls and secures guest rooms, it can also be used to manage all back-of-house doors used by staff, visitors and suppliers. Increasing security and safety by improving control of staff access and management of their access rights with digital key technology.

JustIN Mobile SDK: the best hotel app mobile key

Add easy-to-use and secure mobile key and keyless access capabilities to your apps with the SALTO JustIN Mobile SDK.

Leverage the performance and usability of the fully native SALTO JustIN Mobile key delivery experience into your mobile app. Integrate JustIN Mobile for a fully-customised mobile digital key integration into your application with the JustIN Mobile SDK which is available for both iOS and Android. The JustIN Mobile SDK makes it easy and secure to incorporate smartphones as a part of your access control solution.

Whether you seek guest apps, PMS, room management systems, check-in solutions or complete building management systems solutions – you will find them by connecting to the SALTO Hospitality technology partner network. SALTO and our technology partners are driven by the opportunity for our hotel clients to provide a superior and safer guest experience to their clients, whether by offering mobile functionalities or superior security standards.