Salto KS

In the last week of June, more than 300 digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers made their way to a quaint mountain town in Bulgaria to take part in the Bansko Nomad Fest. With inspiring speakers, interactive workshops, community events, and lots of time in nature, the week-long festival was a true celebration of the location-independent lifestyle. Digital nomadism has already been on the rise in recent years, but with the increase in remote work opportunities, the community is set to explode. According to The Economist, by 2035, there will be 1 billion digital nomads in the world.

As one of the main partners of the event, our team at SALTO Systems was able to experience the magic behind the nomad community in Bansko first-hand. Previously, Bansko has been known for its ski slopes and old town, but over the last five years, it has become a notable hot spot for digital nomads, drawing in location independent travellers from all over the world and all year-round.

In order to create a customer-centric experience with our products, we believe in the importance of getting to know our end users and understanding their personal experiences, desires, and needs. At Bansko Nomad Fest, we were able to do just that. Coliving and coworking are all about connection, and having the opportunity to connect with the people who use our products daily in the stimulating festival environment was especially impactful. 

To find out all the key takeaways from the event, we reached out to our Think Tank Partner, Leah Ziliak, Founder of The Coliving Consultant and a digital nomad herself.

Read ahead for Leah’s on-the-ground experience of Bansko Nomad Fest!

Several new features have been introduced to enhance your SALTO KS App user experience, including an improved interface for the Locks page in order to give more information about the locks that a user has access to. Previously, basic site users did not have an overview of which locks and entry points they have access to. The new Locks page now brings with it an enhanced and comprehensive way of interacting with these locks.  

In addition, the new Locks page now gives more insight into the status of the lock; for instance, battery status and online/offline status, so that the system administrator can stay in control while they manage their locks on the go.

The new version of the SALTO KS Mobile App is now available in stores for iOS and Android.

Below you can find an overview of improvements and fixes within the iOS and Android apps.

1. Locks Overview Page

Users now have direct feedback on the lock status (online, offline, easy office mode, office mode), battery status, and warnings from the locks they have access to.

2. Locks Detail Page

Users can get more information related to the individual lock and have a better overview of the actions they can take. These are the following:

• Remote opening
• Use of Digital Key 
• Office mode (on/off)

3. Locks Detail: Tooltip

By clicking on the lock icon, the administrator can see the details of the lock. This includes lock type, Mac address, attached IQ, and communication type.

4. Lock Detail: Warnings

Users can now get instant feedback on warnings related to particular locks.

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.

A common denominator for all pioneers is that they don’t stop for anything until they reach their goal. This is also the case with SALTO’s partner Co-Liv. This May they held the world's largest coliving gathering and even a global pandemic couldn’t stop them from making this online event a huge success. 

As residential communities that host like-minded people, coliving has become a welcome solution to the growing desire to live in communities and the lack of individual real estate possibilities. This popular housing concept is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs, developers and professionals to contribute with smart technology and new innovations. 

SALTO believes in a future built by people, that enhances the way we live and work by technology. A human-centered future that benefits from smart innovations that supports a healthy lifestyle, whether that’s in an office, a shop or a shared living space. 

If you have been keeping an eye on the SALTO LinkedIn and Instagram accounts, you are probably familiar with SALTO’s biggest partner in the coliving industry, Co-Liv: a global association of coliving professionals that have the same beliefs on the future of living as SALTO. 

Co-Liv unites those professionals who are looking to make a difference in the coliving experience. They believe that together, they steer the coliving movement towards an independent, flourishing, and stakeholder-centered industry that creates value for residents, cities, neighborhoods, operators, investors, and real estate owners alike.

The theme of the Summit was “Laying down the foundations for the future of coliving” and to date is the largest coliving gathering ever held. 

On day one Alexander Rosdorff, Global Technology Partner & Integrations Lead at SALTO Systems was a panel member together with fellow industry experts Ari Dinar, Oscar van Wel, and Dimitri Belin, for the insightful discussion 'Deep dive into the coliving tech ecosystem’. The summit was topped off by the very first edition of ‘The Coliving Awards’ live-streamed from Paris, where SALTO’s Christian Schmitz, Global Lead, Shared Living and Work Spaces, and head of tech at Co-Liv, acted as a jury member and simultaneously accepted the award for ‘Best Sponsor’ in name of SALTO Systems.

"I believe that when you are together and you share information, doubts, fears, successes, and more, very strong bonds are created and this will remove many of the current roadblocks in the coliving movement." - Christian Schmitz, Head of Tech at Co-Liv and global Shared Living lead at SALTO Systems

By bringing the whole ecosystem together during the summit, Co-Liv has empowered the movement to grow even further. Small and big players now feel more connected and part of something bigger. With this summit, the word ‘Coliving’ has for once and for all evolved from just a buzzword to a word with meaning. 

"This event was a great opportunity to learn about the often overlooked aspects of technology in Coliving, and bring them to light. Integrations being a vital part of this. Choosing the right integrations is essential to create a thriving community, and I enjoyed diving into this important aspect at the summit." - Alexander Rosdorff, Global Technology Partner & Integrations Lead at SALTO Systems

​​It was an honor to be part of this celebration which casts a much-deserved spotlight on the coliving community. 

"This event showcased the core values that we strongly share with Co-Liv which are to educate, empower and connect. These are values that are still felt strongly by the whole coliving ecosystem. Winning the award at the Coliving Awards was the perfect ending to this incredible event.” - Caterina Maiolini, Community and Partnership Manager for Shared Living and Workspaces at SALTO Systems

To conclude this article SALTO would like to congratulate all winners, finalists, and nominees, particularly our partners: Co-Liv for their Ambassador Programme, OurDomain by Greystar, on their awards, and lastly, the winner of the PropTech and ConTech award for which Christian acted as jury member: Hmlet Coliving Software.

Co-Liv has just released a comprehensive report on the key highlights, exclusive industry statistics, key insights from panel discussions, and much more! Make sure to download the report through this link if you want to read exclusive insights from the world’s largest coliving gathering.

One platform, many channels. That is the power of a great guest experience app for hotels. These apps enable a direct communication line with individual guests so hotels can send out personalized offers and elevate the customer experience, increase guest loyalty and boost revenue for their business. 

By incorporating Digital Keys into your guest app you can make an even bigger impact. 

What is a digital key for hotel?

Access control solutions that offer the Digital Key feature, such as Salto’s Justin Mobile or Salto Keys as a Service, can be implemented as a standalone app. However, national and international hotel groups choose to embed the functionality into a branded guest mobile app, which is integrated with the hotel’s Property Management System (PMS). Research shows that when guests can find their key within the hotel app, download rates increase, and the in-app purchase rate goes up to an estimated average of $140 per room per year.  

How does hotel digital keys works?

A Digital Key is stored in the hotel guest app on the guests mobile device. When presented to a lock, it uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) to open the lock. With Digital Keys the hotel administrator can grant designated access to guests, employees, or even delivery services whenever it’s appropriate for them to enter. The convenience of being able to open doors with Digital Keys is undeniable.

“Many of our loyal ‘Honors’ members are business travellers who are incredibly tech-savvy., We are thrilled our hotel is able to offer them this cutting edge Digital Key technology and give them an easier, more convenient stay.”
- said Rupert Hallam, General Manager, Hilton Adelaide. 

The Hilton experience

Hilton Adelaide in Australia partnered up with Salto Systems and implemented the solution to their system. This gave the hotel the ability to integrate Digital Keys into their ‘Hilton Honors’ guest app. Within 24 hours of arrival, Hilton Honors members who book direct through Hilton’s channels can digitally check-in, choose their exact room from a digital floor plan and request a Digital Key through the Honors app. Hilton Adelaide will notify guests through the app as soon as their room is ready. Honors members with previous stay history can then head straight to their room when they arrive, pressing the virtual “unlock” button on the app when they’re within five feet of their door.

“With the app, Hilton Honors members can take advantage of a seamless and contactless experience. Digital Check-in and Digital Key allow guests to go straight to their selected room, bypassing the reception.”
- Rupert Hallam, General Manager, Hilton Adelaide. 

Benefits of digital room keys for hotels

Hygiene and safety is, now more than ever, on top of mind for the hospitality sector. By incorporating Digital Keys into their business, hotels eliminate plastic cards being passed from hand to hand. The guest receives their key before arrival and can check-in without any (physical) contact at the reception desk. Together with the antimicrobial coating of the BioCote®, Salto lock range, you are guaranteed the highest form of hygienic protection.. 

Besides the hygienical benefits, there are more advantages of implementing Digital Keys into your hotel experience:

• Guest experience: with their key sent to them in advance, the guest can go straight to their room and start enjoying their hotel experience. From the hotel app guests have information at their fingertips; from concierge services toor spa treatment bookings and other in-app purchases. 
• Flexibility: Digital Keys include information such as expiry date and time and authorised access. The Digital Keys can be very easily reprogrammed if the guest extends their stay, re-rooms or books a facility such as the hotel spa. Providing them with the access they need without any hassle.
• Cost and time efficiency: Hotels save costs of producing and sanitising plastic cards. With fewer guests using the reception, they can operate with less staff and potentially without the need of a 24/7 manned  front desk.
• Up-selling opportunities: When Digital Keys are embedded into a guest app, hotels can present real-time and personalised offers on room service or spa treatments.
• Reporting: Retrieve full audit trails for new requirements such as contracting, and  visibility of actual and attempted access.
• Insights:  Having Digital Keys integrated in guest apps give hotels valuable data on the behavior, preferences and lifecycle of the guest, making it easier to optimize their hotel experience.   

How to select the best digital key for your hotel?

For you to be able to get most out of integrating Digital Keys with your guest app you need to be aware of the following points when selecting the right access control partner for your hotel experience:

• Compatibility: Not all PMS providers integrate with mobile guest apps. Be sure to investigate whether your preferred PMS provider is able to integrate encrypted Digital Keys and push them to the guest experience app.
• Compatible Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) access points: Look for providers who offer a ‘turnkey’ solution that can be used for every access point:from guest to back-of-house. Some hotels, especially those that host a mix of residential and commercial are equipped with seperate systems. For instance one for the guest rooms and another for the base building (including, for example, lifts and car parks), which could turn out to be inefficient and cost increasing. Contact our Salto professionals to inform you about the possibilities for your business.
• Smart wireless locks: Not all access points need to be wired. Wireless on-line and real-time locking reduces installation costs. Find your ideal lock in the Salto lock configurator.

The future of the  hospitality sector looks promising again after a period of setbacks. Operators are harnessing the power of Digital Keys to keep their (returning) visitors feel safe and secure. 

Want to elevate your hotel guest experience? Contact the Salto team here, our professionals are more than pleased to guide you in your process of finding the perfect access control fit for your hotel.

The SALTO XS4 One Deadlatch is the perfect smart lock for retail storefronts and commercial buildings with aluminum-framed glass doors.

The SALTO XS4 One Deadlatch is a revolutionary stand-alone electronic lock thanks largely to the level of technology packed inside that brings together the convenience of an offline point – easy installation and no wires – with virtually the same kind of power and performance of an online point. This innovation brings electronic access control and convenience to a number of retail and commercial operations that commonly use aluminum-framed glass doors that previously had limited options for electronic locks.

The SALTO Keys as a Service product portfolio is packed with benefits and use cases. Yet, we must admit, even though we’re providing solutions for every type of business, it can be daunting to learn just exactly what this product range offers. 

To clarify and make a distinction between the type of products in the SALTO KS portfolio, we compiled this overview. Take a look at what SALTO KS offers and how we can help your business grow.

SALTO KS

SALTO KS has been developed to let your guests in more conveniently than ever. It lets you open doors from anywhere at any time. Whether it’s a visitor who arrived earlier than you or a new employee without a Tag, you can unlock doors for your guests from anywhere around the world. All you need to do is provide access via the SALTO KS app or tap a phone to the lock!

There are two ‘branches’ of SALTO KS: KS Connect and KS Services. Between the two, the sky's the limit. Integrations with our self-developed ‘Connect API’ is key here. By facilitating integrations we unlock many possibilities that can help your business grow and become more efficient, but above all, alleviate you from tasks you really don’t have the time for.

KS Connect - Technology Partners

KS Connect is designed to connect users and sites. By becoming a KS Connect technology partner, you are inviting new possibilities into your business – all created so you can offer an even better user experience. Do you already have your own management app in place for your business? Do you have all integrations set up except for access control? This is how SALTO can help you become a Technology partner and integrate cloud-based smart locks into your business.

As an example, one of SALTO’s KS Connect partners, Blue Water App, is using the integration with SALTO KS as a way to provide access to harbors in the Netherlands. When one of Blue Water App’s customers is sailing they can book a spot in the harbor with the Blue Water App. When they do so, a personal and secured code is sent to the customer which allows them to enter the harbor when they have arrived. 

Another example is Nexudus, an award-winning platform that helps Coworking space managers to manage and scale their workspaces. Nexudus is using the KS Connect integration to provide access based on user profiles. As a KS Connect partner, Nexudus is able to provide a great user experience since their end users simply have to tap their phone to the lock of their pre-booked space. This is in addition to offering Coworking space managers the ability to track who has come into spaces and who hasn’t. This cuts costs, allows contact tracing in the event of virus outbreaks, and offers a great user experience.

KS Services

Besides the benefits that come with SALTO KS, the mobile app also offers KS Services. Currently, SALTO KS offers three of these services via a partnership with Eagle Eye Networks, ButterflyMX, and Comelit – and there are more to come. When activated, you are able to see the specific service in your mobile app and use it. Similar to KS Connect, KS Services unlocks a multitude of possibilities such as a live feed of your front door when your phone rings. 

Let’s say you own a building and you allow your residents to use KS Services so they are able to see who is in front of the door when their doorbell rings. If the mailman is at the door, but the resident can’t come to the door, the resident can just ask them to put the package in the dedicated mailroom, which your resident can give them access to. It’s even possible to have the mailman sign off through the app!

KS Custom

With KS Custom, you can customize the SALTO KS application and tailor it to your branding by integrating your logo and brand colors. KS Custom is suitable for companies with a large customer base looking for a smart lock solution and/or to enrich their access control offerings. 

An example of a SALTO KS Custom client is Prosegur – a global benchmark in the private security sector providing companies, homes, and businesses with trusted security based on the most advanced solutions available on the market. Prosegur wanted to enrich its offerings in the alarm monitoring industry and expand to cloud-based smart solutions in response to customer demand. 

Prosegur is using the exact interface from the SALTO KS mobile and web app, but as a KS Customer client, they have their own brand colors and logo. 

KS Core

KS Core delivers the foundation of SALTO KS. With KS Core you build your own access control application from scratch, tailored to all your business needs. The KS Core API that has been built from the ground up by our professionals will allow you to customize your access control application according to your wishes. Where KS Custom lets you add your logo and brand colors, KS Core offers our dedicated team of developers that handle the whole infrastructure. KS Core is suited for companies with a global presence, a large customer base, and a skilled development team that knows how to integrate with an API.

International Workspace Group (IWG) – the holding group for different workspace brands including Regus and SPACES, among others – turned to SALTO Core API and SALTO’s electronic locks to gain the ability to remotely control building access for their numerous customers. As the world’s largest provider of flexible workspace solutions, IWG has customers including some of the most successful entrepreneurs, individuals, and multi-billion-dollar corporations. Their network includes almost 3300 locations, spanning over 1000 cities across 114 countries and is, therefore, the perfect example of a KS Core client. 

Besides giving IWG centres more capabilities, control, and functionality, KS Core gives customers the opportunity to connect with each other, build relationships in the workplace, and grow their network. These benefits strengthened IWG’s core value of community, enabling its customers to build a diverse social network, potentially leading to new clients, new investors, and resources to help grow their business.

Where KS smart access meets SALTO’s trusted hardware 

SALTO’s proven smart technology products have long delivered unique smart access solutions for any type of use case and industry application. The range of SALTO KS products works seamlessly with SALTO’s hardware to deliver the most dynamic locking platform on the market. This includes the following hardware categories:

• Electronic Locks and Electronic Cylinders
• Readers & Access Controllers 
• Electronic Locker Locks 
• Electronic Padlocks

The combination of cloud-based access control with the hardware listed above provides the ability to integrate all of your physical security needs through smart, wireless, and battery-operated smart door locks. This provides system operators with all the latest user access information for virtually all of the doors in a facility and includes features designed to make managing any number of locations easier and more efficient.