Operating in one of Europe’s busiest ferry corridors, Trasmed links mainland Spain with the Balearic Islands. The marine transport company – working under the Grimaldi Group – ferries thousands of passengers, vehicles, and commercial trucks weekly, making operational efficiency and customer satisfaction critical to business success.
With the demand for seamless travel experiences rising to all-time highs, Trasmed recognised the need to evolve its onboard services to meet modern expectations. The digitalisation of access control was a central piece of this transformation.
In that context, Trasmed turned to Salto, looking to implement a pioneering integration of its marine access control technology. The project had two key goals: to streamline passenger check-in while also harnessing data as a powerful tool for enhancing operational intelligence and guest satisfaction.
cabins
on-board self-service kiosks
The initial idea was to unify the key systems across our entire fleet. Salto provided the solution with the maximum automation breadth. For us, the smart lock system has evolved from a simple security accessory to an element offering an extra service and operational control at the cost of onboard sales, becoming a pivot for business development.
Before its partnership with Salto, Trasmed struggled with a complex operational landscape. Each of its six main vessels relied on different legacy systems to manage access control, from traditional mechanical keys to outdated electronic locks. This caused inefficiencies, and crucially, the passenger experience.
The cabin check-in process was largely manual, as passengers queued at reception desks to receive their keys, often for long periods during peak hours.
The outdated solutions were simply not designed to meet the dynamic needs of modern ferry travel. Certain PMS systems were unable to issue multiple permissions for the same cabin on different dates, limiting flexibility and adding to the awkward customer journey.
However, when Trasmed acquired the Ciudad de Sóller – avessel with another or different lock system –passenger feedback forced the company to take action. It made the decision to unify its fleet access control infrastructure, taking advantage of Salto’s digital solutions to optimise its business operations.
Trasmed selected Salto as its technology partner for our ability to deliver a flexible and highly integrated marine-grade access control platform. Implementation has begun with smart cabin access control across the entire fleet. Soon, another two separate phases will be rolled out to cover point-of-sale systems and common spaces on board, and finally, to crew areas.
Using Salto’s integration protocol with Salto Space smart access platform, Trasmed seamlessly integrated its reservation and property management systems with a unified onboard access control network. This means booking information is synchronised and access credentials can be issued in real time, all thanks to Salto’s all-inclusive smart access platform.
In the interest of enhancing user experience, passengers can now access their cabins in three different ways. They can download a Digital Key to their mobile device using Salto’s JustIN Mobile SDK, obtain a smart keycard from a staffed reception desk, or receive a physical access card with the TRASMED boarding passcode from a self-service kiosk by inputting a pre-assigned access code.
Salto’s expertise and innovative approach saw us well positioned to overcome one of Trasmed’s greatest challenges: duplicate permissions. Our powerful, modern solution enabled the allocation of overlapping access credentials to the same cabin across different timeframes. Unlike the legacy system, issuing new smart keycards or Digital Keys no longer invalidates prior credentials. By solving this longstanding limitation, Salto helped ensure a frictionless experience for both staff and passengers.
Another significant element of Trasmed’s upgraded access control system directly benefits a key business user group – truck drivers, drivers are now able to receive virtual keys straight to their own mobile applications. This not only removes the need check-in staff on site, also expedites the boarding process.
According to Trasmed, the investment in Salto’s smart solutions has already had a significant strategic impact on both operations and the user experience. The integrated system has also delivered invaluable insights and operational control, becoming a cornerstone of the company’s continued growth.
- Dramatically reduced check-in times, allowing passengers to go straight from home to their cabins.
- Keyless smart access for passengers and crew to any door, cabin, or facility onboard.
- Unified access systems across the entire fleet, enabling more consistency and straightforward management.
- Enhanced operational efficiency, freeing up staff to deliver high-value customer service.
- Improved housekeeping coordination, with specific corridor access for deep cleaning tasks.
- Increase visibility with 24/7 real-time monitoring and management. Complete digital traceability of cabin access, with audit trails available in real-time.
- Seamless driver management system, enhancing the experience of key user groups.
- Compliance with stringent international maritime security standards.
Operating in one of Europe’s busiest ferry corridors, Trasmed links mainland Spain with the Balearic Islands.
