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.
ZapFloor & SALTO KS: A care-free office space experience
A mile-long spreadsheet, an overbooked calendar, dozens of reminders going off at the same time.… Sounds familiar? When you manage an office, that is exactly how your regular workday probably looks like.
Whether you manage a coworking space or a busy headquarters of an international company, you’re always running around, trying to keep tabs on who is coming and going, unlocking doors, and, generally, waging a war on keys.
We’re very pleased to announce the launch of the ZapFloorHQ & SALTO KS integration that provides customers with a care-free office space experience, giving them the opportunity to focus on aspects of their business that really matter and offer a unique office management solution for a growing number of business spaces across Europe.
ZapFloorHQ is a modular, easy-to-use office space management platform designed specifically for busy office buildings, coworking spaces, and business centres. Forget about copying keys and always being on-site. ZapFloorHQ allows you to manage even the tiniest details straight from your smartphone, making your job stress-free in the process! (well, almost)
Combined, both tools allow you to easily achieve peak efficiency in every space you manage making problems with office and meeting room access obsolete.
The integration between ZapFloorHQ and SALTO KS allows members to:
- Seamlessly integrate with other applications (accounting, printing, and more)
- Access control and space management in one intuitive app
- Grant office use permissions on a need-to basis, 24/7 or during specified times
- Unlock doors remotely at any time, reducing stress on reception services
- Block or suspend tags manually or automatically (when members fail to pay)
- Automatically sync members’ information between ZapFloor and SALTO KS.
Automatically sync the members’ access to preconfigured groups based on:
- Membership / Contract type.
- Office (Resource) assignment.
- Bookings (15 mins before the booking)
- Automatically ‘check-in‘ members (in progress).
- Check the ‘connected’ group directly in the OfficeRnD members’ profile.
The ultimate goal of ZapFloorHQ is to prepare your office space for the IoT future by becoming a one-stop-shop for office managers. Its modular design allows you to customize your app experience, picking modules and integrations that will make your life easier.
One size doesn’t necessarily always fit all. Your unique business deserves a unique management solution, one that you can tailor to meet your specific needs just like d’Offiz, operating in Turnhout, Belgium, that is now able to provide their customers with a flawless customer experience using the ZapFloor x SALTO KS integration.
Regardless of the modules you choose, you will still benefit from the no-nonsense, easy-to-use contract management system ZapFloor provides. Enabling you to create contracts and pull up relevant information, such as occupation rates, remaining meeting room hours, outstanding invoices, and more in just a few clicks.
Get in touch to find out how much easier your life will become once you join the key-free world!
We would like to thank #integrationpartnerincrime ZapFloorHQ for their contribution to this blog post.
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 system is easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Hospitality, 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!
Six items to put on your access control wish list
When it comes to choosing the right access control system for your Coworking or Coliving space, certain features should be placed at the top of your wish list. Investing in smart locks will enhance security and convenience both digitally and physically. This is why it is crucial to keep in mind which features are essential when integrating such technology while implementing an access control system.
Read on to find out the must-have features that make a great access control system:
Read on to find out the must-have features that make a great access control system:
With an access control system, users should be able to assign people varying levels of access on an individual, group, or role basis. While this feature is standard on most access control systems, it is most essential in granting and restricting access.
With selective access, you can regulate which people have what kind of rights through certain entry points and are able to manage the amount of these entries.
With scheduled access, it is possible to limit entries to specific times within the day or week and even according to certain locations. This results in helpful functionalities like visitor access that can be scheduled in advance, granting access during the Christmas holidays, for example.
With scheduled access, it is possible to limit entries to specific times within the day or week and even according to certain locations. This results in helpful functionalities like visitor access that can be scheduled in advance, granting access during the Christmas holidays, for example.
An access control system makes it possible to create customizable reports which can be instantly generated. These reports provide detailed information for users regarding who is coming and going from any location. This detailed access log and event reporting comprises entries, users, and dates which can be exported to CSV or automatically emailed to relevant parties.
The dashboard of an access control system can display reports in real-time and for each entry. These reports can be customized according to specific parameters in order to present information ranging from doors being opened for too long to even unused or inactive users. This data can be used to monetize your space.
The dashboard of an access control system can display reports in real-time and for each entry. These reports can be customized according to specific parameters in order to present information ranging from doors being opened for too long to even unused or inactive users. This data can be used to monetize your space.
Cloud-based access control systems store permissions in the cloud which makes it possible to remotely manage, view, and control your access. This is possible using a web- or smartphone app whereby upon authorization, the user may operate the system through an intuitive interface.
Additionally, cloud storage for reports and events ensure backups that can be scheduled. This ensures that data is never compromised and is easily accessible.
Additionally, cloud storage for reports and events ensure backups that can be scheduled. This ensures that data is never compromised and is easily accessible.
For added efficiency, an access control system should be equipped with the potential for built-in integrations and third-party apps. This can be for cloud services including Office 365 and Active Directory, as well as tools relating to human resources, membership and facility software via API.
Some of these integrations can be an alarm, intercom, and video surveillance systems so all aspects of access control are managed through a single user interface which makes management easier and user-friendly.
Some of these integrations can be an alarm, intercom, and video surveillance systems so all aspects of access control are managed through a single user interface which makes management easier and user-friendly.
The ability to remotely unlock and schedule entries is vital in selecting access management systems. For instance, with the push of a button on a smartphone, access can be granted or restricted from any place and at any time. This is particularly useful for those with multiple-door facilities or multiple locations to control.
Remote visibility is another asset as it enables visual monitoring which allows video access or information through a web browser or mobile app.
Remote visibility is another asset as it enables visual monitoring which allows video access or information through a web browser or mobile app.
An access control system can be interactive through notifications in the form of alarm, email or text alerts to inform users of when an entry point has been accessed or rejected. Notifications will appear when a door is held open, forced open, and can even be limited to a specific door.
This feature can also be customized in order to make alarm notifications with specific sounds whereby one can differentiate between regular and urgent situations. Some systems even enable photo notifications which display photos of employees or residents as they pass through entry points.
Above features should be kept an eye out when researching and selecting the access control system that suits your requirements.
Not sure which access control system is suitable for your business? Contact us, we are happy to guide you on your way to the access control solution that's tailored to your business needs.
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 system is 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!
Hack Coworking London 2019
We were invited by Coworkies to attend the widely anticipated event Hack Coworking London 2019 , which was also co-sponsored by SALTO. Our very own Alexander Rosdorff (KS Connect Partner Manager) and Kateryna Tokar (Senior Backend Developer) had the pleasure of attending and representing SALTO KS at the event. It was great for us to participate in this event and meet with coworking partners with whom we could collaborate with.
The hackathon itself had a very interesting standpoint for our representatives. It was an opportunity for them to interact with other participants and come up with new ideas to bring back home.
The event started with a brief presentation conducted by our vertical coworking manager, Xabier Apellániz. He provided some insight about what SALTO KS is, what it does, and what we are hoping to achieve. This also involved having our KS Connect partner manager, Alexander, take a walk around and meet with current and potential partners, like Cobot who was also one of the participants at the Hackathon, and one of our latest KS Connect partners.
- Adapted, Group Challenge Winners
Next, an important part of the hackathon was, of course, our SALTO KS challenge. On the technical side, Kateryna opened up our API to the participants and they were challenged to come up with the best integration with our API that they could come up with.
The group called ‘Adapted’ ended up winning the prize sum of 1,500 pounds. Congratulations Adapted! Their impressive solution involved creating meeting room space with mobile walls and the SALTO KS smart locking access system. This design allows a user to book as much space as they need in a meeting room by adjusting the position of the walls to their comfort. This means it you would be physically building a room of your preferred size with just a few clicks of a button. Adapted says they were inspired to come up with this idea as a result of fixed installations of office spaces and that the solution was some utilization of industrial design concepts.
Thank you Coworkies for giving us the opportunity to participate in this inspiring Hackcoworking event!
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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 system is 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!
Top 5 coworking spaces in Amsterdam
What is a coworking space?
You need to find some peace and quiet to work or a change of scenery to let the creative juices flow, right?
Coworking spaces are always a good idea! Coworking spaces are booming all around the world, including Amsterdam.
That’s why we made a top 5 of the most outstanding coworking spaces in Amsterdam, to help you pick the right one for you!
Salto Systems' top 5 coworkings in Amsterdam
1. Regus
Regus is the world’s largest provider of flexible workspace solutions, with customers including some of the most successful entrepreneurs, individuals and multi-billion dollar corporations. It is ideal for larger companies that are looking for a more corporate environment, with opportunities to use multiple workspaces around the world. Currently, all new Regus business centres opening around the world are using the Regus access control app.
Several locations throughout the world: http://www.regus.nl/workspace/Amsterdam
2. Spaces
Spaces, born in Amsterdam acquired by Regus, has beautifully designed coworking spaces measured to your needs! Whether you need a cosy get-together nook, a large lunch table or a small phone booth, anything is possible at Spaces! It provides a less corporate, more hip working environment compared to its ‘big brother’ Regus. Just like Regus, Spaces is also a customer of SALTO KS.
Several locations in Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam and throughout the world: https://www.spacesworks.com
3. TNW
‘A curated tech space in the centre of Amsterdam’. TNW has become the heart of the Amsterdam startup community. During the day you can find yourself working in the members only club, attending an interesting event and then drinks afterwards every Friday evening. TNW is all about helping your startup grow and focus on what’s important, by providing a productive workplace with a big international network.
Singel 542, Amsterdam: https://thenextweb.com/spaces
4. The Thinking Hut
A true coworking space for the creative individuals! This old horse stable was built in 1912 and renovated in 2012 by a group of friends who decided they needed a place where they could work on their projects while meeting creative like minded people. The Thinking Hut was born. On your break, you can stroll through the lovely Oosterpark. A meeting room can be booked per hour, but if a day pass is more your thing: no problem! The Thinking hut is a very cosy creative coworking space where you most certainly will come up with a new life-changing idea!
Mauritskade 55c, Amsterdam: http://www.thethinkinghut.com
5. Zoku’s social spaces
Zoku is the international living room of Amsterdam! What makes Zoku different from others is that it offers flexible home/office hybrid apartments in Amsterdam with communal working areas. They have an impeccably designed space on the top floor of a hotel. It feels light and warm. When it’s a summer day you can sit in one of the glass houses on the roof terrace or hang in a hang mat to think your presentation over. Whether you sit in the living room, game room or at the large kitchen table everyone feels welcomed at Zoku!
Weesperstraat 105, Amsterdam: https://livezoku.com
A wireless access control solution to redefine the experience of coworking
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 system is 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!
How 2020 has changed Coworking and remote work forever
Over the past few months, we have seen the impact of the pandemic across several industries all over the world. Businesses have been gravely affected, communities have been strengthened, and initiatives have been taken in response to these changes. In April, we looked into the Coliving industry; the positive response to the crisis and the various avenues through which some spaces kept their locations open and running.
Now we offer our platform to experts in the Coworking industry. To do this we invited DropDesk—New York-based real estate marketing agency & the creators of the DropDesk coworking management software. Graham Beck, Founder of Dropdesk has penned his views for us on the impact of COVID-19 on the Coworking industry.
Read ahead to find out why the industry is here to stay, and how it has been changed forever, according to Graham:
I have been getting a ton of questions lately about how COVID-19 will impact the Coworking industry. Being both a coworking space operator and a part of a technology company that supports shared workspaces, I thought it was time to provide some insight and set expectations.
For obvious reasons, any community or location that brings together vast amounts of strangers is due for disruption with the current state of affairs, but what will the impact be for the long-term on the industry as a whole?
How Coworking has been impacted
Coworking spaces rely on selling both open space memberships to small businesses, as well as private spaces to companies of all sizes. The industry has often been criticized on the sustainability of signing long-term leases with landlords and short-term leases to members or tenants. This model places the burden on the spaces themselves while giving members the flexibility to cancel or upgrade their memberships.
There have been very little studies or information on what the impact will be as a whole with an economic downturn and other large coworking companies that have boosted economic resilience, have shown that this is simply not the case.
So will coworking and remote workers be affected? Of course. Coworking spaces in New York City are actively navigating the stay home climate by negotiating with long-term members on lease discounts or membership suspensions to ease the bleed. Occupancies have dropped across the board by 40%-60% (with a focus only on servicing essential companies), cutting communities in half.
Workspaces that have been struggling to keep their head above water, who are unable to take advantage of government or SBA loans, will, unfortunately, meet their end.
With all the above, it might be difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel, but I can assure you that there is, and we will all get through this.
Why Coworking is here to stay
1. Everyone has to work, period.
Whether remote or in an office, businesses that have never embraced remote work are now being forced to do so at rapidly expanding numbers. With remote work being a new norm, once the pandemic clears, companies will look to coworking spaces as a feasible alternative. Shared workspaces are a major catalyst that helps spur remote productivity at a local level.
2. We can do without the commute
With the spread of COVID-19, people are looking to avoid close proximity to public transportation such as a packed subway or train. Biking or walking to a local workspace sounds much better (healthier to say the least and better for the environment!).
3. Flexibility will always be in demand
Businesses who have signed long-term lease agreements will start to rethink their options when it comes to finding space (especially at a time like this).
4. Community cannot be replaced
One of the major reasons companies choose coworking spaces is for the sense of community. If you are a remote employee or freelancer, what is better than working and having conversations with like-minded professionals? You can dress up a volleyball and call it Wilson, but you cannot replace real human connection.
5. Small communities need them
It is a fact that coworking spaces attract jobs, companies, and economic activity to their local towns. They serve as an anchor to retain business, especially within suburban regions.
How remote teams have evolved
Being able to remotely meet, log tasks, and secure employees have been popular topics. So what can you do as an employer to ensure your team is just as productive as they were before?
1. Utilize remote collaboration tools for video conferencing such as Zoom.
2. Protect employee logins and sensitive material by verifying employees are who they say they are, using identity verification tools like Ipsidy.
3. Document processes using project management software tools like Trello.
With all being said, there seems to be a bright future ahead for the adoption of remote work and expansion of coworking spaces.
This article was supplied by Graham Beck, Digital Marketing Expert and Founder of DropDesk, a platform that offers solutions for coworking spaces, local businesses, and remote teams.
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!
Digital Key: A multitude of possibilities
Digital keys for work
Imagine this scenario: You are a coworking space operator. Your new member finds himself in front of a locked door. To be specific: Your locked door. The member is in a hurry, doesn’t have any keys and on top of it all, there is no internet connection available. You do your very best to hurry but traffic jams make sure you will be delayed at least half an hour.
For a coworking space operator or any other operation manager for that matter, the above scenario is a true nightmare: These kinds of situations can make or break the carefully constructed reputation of a company.
What if we told you there’s a way to avoid not only these situations but also the front desk and extra paperwork? With Digital Key, you bring a multitude of possibilities into your space that enhances your members experience beyond expectation.
Digital keys for home
Let us paint another picture: You own a Coliving space and don't want your tenants (or you) to worry about invoicing for the usage of the laundry machines. By providing the possibility of depositing money on their credentials the tenant is able to 'tap' to use the laundry machine. By using the Digital Key functionality on their phone the amount will automatically be deducted from their credit so additional administrative tasks become obsolete.
Discover SALTO Digital Keys
Digital Key used from the Salto KS app
If you are already familiar with Salto KS, you are already used to make remote openings with the app on your phone from wherever you are on the globe. With Digital Key, you now are able to simply tap your lock and open the door without an internet connection or even opening the app.
Digital Keys are transferable and stored in your digital device. This means you can send your member a secured message and therefore enabling him or her to open the door with their own phone. With the help of BLE technology (Bluetooth Low Energy), the lock gets opened when receiving the signal from the Mobile Key.
With the Digital Key Widget, we offer an enhanced customer experience where you don’t even have to open your app anymore: Opening doors never been this easy. Your Widgets can be easily accessed from your Home screen.
Digital Key for iOS
Granting access to visitors, employees or delivery services can be managed the same way as the other four ways of opening: With help of Access Groups on which you are able to manage your users and group them to your preference. Establish timeframes and easily add or remove users from a group.
With the introduction of the Digital Key functionality, we are one step closer to a key-free world. It becomes easier and intuitive to open your doors for yourself or anyone you want to grant access to wherever on the globe you might be.
The Salto KS team keeps moving forward with their mission and we will keep you up to date with the latest product news with this blog as the main platform as our social media channels: LinkedIn and Instagram.
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 system is 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!
Spatial Agency: Reimagining real estate & the future of customer experience
This month’s Think Tank Partner is Spatial Experience, founded by Bart Sasim, an expert in designing the utilization of spaces to optimize the customer experience. This fundamental idea is where the agency gets its name: Super Positive Experience, of which Bart is now CEO. Their mission is to create and develop brands which connect to the hearts of their customers through experience-driven real estate. This mission is achieved through innovative and sustainable tools within new media including VR and AR which they believe can enhance the experience of the customer, especially within Coworking, Coliving, Student Housing and more.
SALTO KS is excited to present this guest blog written by the Spatial Experience, in which they take us through their inception and provide us with their take on the future of experiencing real estate.
SALTO KS is excited to present this guest blog written by the Spatial Experience, in which they take us through their inception and provide us with their take on the future of experiencing real estate.
In the early 2012s, Europe was still in the middle of a real estate crisis and it was a challenging yet exciting moment for the student housing industry to discover new possibilities.
As the demand for student housing was stimulated by an immense influx of students, student accommodations were moving from a public, standardised offer to a privatised model with an experience-driven focus. That is when, as a fresh interior architect, Bart Sasim, CEO & Founder of Spatial Experience, was introduced to the Student Housing Research Foundation, The Class of 2020, to develop their branding and corporate identity.
Having acquired work experience from various architecture- and design firms throughout, and after his studies, he had been trained to develop concepts from an architectural standpoint, adopting the ability to revitalise spaces and envision their potential beyond their basic functionalities.
Possessing a genuine interest in understanding the perspective of human interaction within constructed spaces and community, he welcomed the opportunity to bring the experience-design methodology to his next project—cooperation on building up Student Housing Brand (The Student Hotel).
After overseeing the successful launch of The Student Hotel in several locations, it soon became apparent that a great number of other parties involved in micro-living developments were in dire need of similar services and support to take their brand to the next level. It was evident that the new generation of students and young professionals expected brands to find better and more innovative ways to deliver experience.
Inspired by the new energy that he brought into the market at The Student Hotel, Bart ventured out on his own to help other housing players grow and push the bounds even more. With the mission to help brands connect to the hearts of their customers through super positive experiences, Spatial Experience was brought to life.
Inspired by the new energy that he brought into the market at The Student Hotel, Bart ventured out on his own to help other housing players grow and push the bounds even more. With the mission to help brands connect to the hearts of their customers through super positive experiences, Spatial Experience was brought to life.
We bring our expertise and knowledge of target needs to real estate developers and operators to ensure that the schemes that they develop are truly elevating the lives of inhabitants. As creative partners in business, we support our clients in the full spectrum of branding and marketing-related activities to help roll-out their brand and take the overall student experience to new heights. In addition, we offer innovative tools within new media such as 360-degree video & photo, VR & AR to help our partners adapt to the digital-driven times and take on a more 'hospitality-like' approach to attract customers, providing them with an information-rich & more memorable customer experience. We believe this is the way of the future.
We believe our goal of bridging the gap between hospitality and the real estate sector will help to enrich the lives of young people by bringing back the ‘human’ factor within constructed spaces, community & experience building to support them on all levels of their personal and professional development.
By helping to shape and build student housing, Coliving and Coworking brands from concept to development, we also strive to foster a sense of social responsibility & sustainable growth in brands to positively influence the cities & communities of tomorrow.
By helping to shape and build student housing, Coliving and Coworking brands from concept to development, we also strive to foster a sense of social responsibility & sustainable growth in brands to positively influence the cities & communities of tomorrow.
To achieve this ambition, we partner up with enthusiastic frontrunners who leave ordinary behind as they race toward extraordinary the same way we do. We are excited to work alongside SALTO KS to innovate the ways people experience the spaces and to co-create a better future.
To achieve this ambition, we partner up with enthusiastic frontrunners who leave ordinary behind as they race toward extraordinary the same way we do. We are excited to work alongside SALTO KS to innovate the ways people experience the spaces and to co-create a better future.
In Coliving & student housing industries today, what speaks to people is not just finding a place to sleep, eat, work and repeat, but it is the promise of community, convenience and fulfilling experiences that foster both their personal and professional growth. And with the power of our niche expertise along with our think tank partners, we hope to create more super positive experiences and influence the way cities & communities of the future develop.
For more on the work of Spatial Experience, take a look here. If you’d like to get in touch, contact Spatial Experience through this form.
Thank you, Spatial Experience for collaborating with us on this edition of our Think Tank Partner series and we look forward to what the future of Spatial Experience has in store!
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 system is 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!
