Salto KS

In real estate, technology used to mean making sure the wiring of a building is executed in a proper matter and now and again replacing some defect appliances. With the rise of IoT and therefor smarthomes, more real estate agencies realize properties and technology are a very profitable duo. The manual approach of collecting data simply doesn't cut it anymore.

Here comes in PropTech:

PropTech is the collective name for all technological applications where all property can benefit from. Also referred to as ‘CREtech’ (Commercial Real Estate Technology) or ‘Retech’ (Real Estate Technology). It is enriching real estate and changing the way we design, buy, build, sell, use and overall manage our properties. This also applies to the way we work.

Since most people around the globe nowadays rely on mobile technology it becomes more and more accessible for developers and business owners to present these new technologies to commercial property owners. The many (new) technologies that communicate with one another define PropTech: Creating innovative real estate that feels modern and digitized. Think of the smarthome of today: Equipped with gadgets like Alexa, Nest: The smart thermostat, or even a cloud-based access control solution like SALTO KS. These innovative problem solvers come with many benefits like reducing your carbon footprint by collecting data received from these smart appliances, which come in handy when you, for instance, own a coworking space.

Coworking in Proptech has become unthinkable. With the emerging demand of flexible workplaces with immediate access, no (long-term) lease and top-notch Wi-Fi connection PropTech got even bigger. By automating operational tasks with management software like our integration partner Office RnD offers, you’ll win time to build your brand and perfect your member experience. With the received data you can figure out your space’s pain points and find out where there’s more room for improvement.

Embracing technology for your building means you differentiate yourself from other spaces and are able to offer your members the best possible coworking experience. From finding a space online, onboarding, facilitating outstanding Wi-Fi connectivity, billing and invoicing: It should all be as efficient as possible. Automation is the solution.

Facility managers of coworking spaces are getting more accustomed to IoT. Where physical devices are embedded with electronics or software to, amongst other things, collect data that can reveal inefficient patterns. This has turned the old-fashioned office spaces into real estate on demand: With no long-term contracts, but pay-as-you-go and fine-tuned-to-your-wishes subscriptions.

Expensive technological investments to smarten up your building(s) can seem daunting, but these investments tend to pay for themselves within a year by reducing, for example, your energy bill. Famous examples of companies that are known for combining properties with technology are Airbnb, WeWork, Purplebricks, SALTO Systems and Nest.

PropTech has been around for some time now, but the last couple of years (since 2014) the PropTech ecosystem really is booming. It’s suspected that by 2020 there will be 20 milliard dollars invested in PropTech. That’s a serious amount, and this is only the beginning.

We highly recommend welcoming technology into your space sooner rather than later to keep ahead of the coworking game.

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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!

Imagine this; a locked door, a guest without keys and on top of that no internet connection… Let’s add another challenge and place you right in the center of a traffic jam! Sounds stressful, right? Well only if you don’t have a digital key stored on your smartphone!

What is a digital key?

A digital key is the virtual equivalent of a Tag; a tag being a physical device (contactless key fob) that works based on RFID. Remember how we always say tags replace that ring of keys? Now you also have your smartphone to replace that ring of keys. You might be thinking, that’s nice but I can already use my app on my smartphone to open doors. You are right, but this time you don’t even need internet connection!

How to unlock a door with a phone?

“With digital key, you can use your smartphone as a tag/a key, opening the door without relying on internet connection; which makes digital key as secure as using a physical tag.”

Needless to say, the smartphone is in the center of all our lives. With digital key, you can use your smartphone as a tag/a key, opening the door without relying on internet connection; which makes digital key as secure as using a physical tag.

A digital key is stored on your digital device, and when presented to a lock, it uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) to open the lock. Digital keys can be managed the same way as physical access by access groups. You can grant designated access to visitors, employees, or even delivery services whenever it’s appropriate for them to enter. The convenience of being able to open doors via Digital key is undeniable.

Yet again, say goodbye to copying keys!

For more information, check out our mobile SDKs and start building a seamless door opening experience in your application.

What are the advantages of using Salto KS?

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!

For a long time it seemed as if employees were expected to thrive on no other then awful coffee, bad lighting and soggy cheese sandwiches, but times have changed for the better. Office spaces are now the number one tool to attract and retain top talent.

Adopt these trends that have redefined the way we work in 2018 to facilitate the perfect work environment for your members and employees.

Adopt these trends that have redefined the way we work in 2018 to facilitate the perfect work environment for your members and employees.

Now more then ever workspaces are being used as part of recruitment strategies. Those who are born between 1980 and 2000 are a tough generation to retain as loyal employees. Attracting and retaining this generation called ‘Millennials’ as a company all comes down to creating an experience rather than just an office to work in.

Meeting new people, a vibrant atmosphere and room for creativity are highly appreciated by this younger generation.

The competition between companies to captivate this age group has peeked tremendously past year, taking into account these relatively young people are fast to leave when a ‘better’ opportunity arises

The term ‘googlization’ is therefor mockingly used by the baby boomers: The generation that came before Millenials took over the workforce. Babyboomers tend to assume Millenials are not in touch with the reality of what companies are actually able to offer them, and in some cases they are right.

There’s a fine balance between a playground as an office and depressing grey cubicles underneath TL lighting. For the baby boomers that are used to the old school 9 to 5 ‘work hard, and then work some more’ work ethics it can be a turn off to work at a company designed for millennials which tend to be noisy and chaotic: Where the young people thrive the old won't survive.

To get a head start over competition and retain both your Millenial and Babyboom members and employees, make sure all your lines of communication are open and focus on lasting trends like health instead of purchasing another ball pit. Take into account that if the workplace isn’t right people tend to go elsewhere instead of stating their concerns. Support wellbeing and healthy lifestyles with benefits like fitness centre memberships, childcare centres and a special place to pick up parcels so you are ahead of the game.

To get a head start over competition and retain both your Millenial and Babyboom members and employees, make sure all your lines of communication are open and focus on lasting trends like health instead of purchasing another ball pit. Take into account that if the workplace isn’t right people tend to go elsewhere instead of stating their concerns. Support wellbeing and healthy lifestyles with benefits like fitness centre memberships, childcare centres and a special place to pick up parcels so you are ahead of the game.

Applications used to increase productivity are becoming more popular by the minute. With technology like video calls, online synced calendar planning, and even integrating with a cloud-based access control product like SALTO KS to book (meeting) rooms in advance, meetings can be organized in an agile way: Reducing a lot of frustration.

Another upcoming trend is using sensors to measure capacity and productivity to personalize the space to the needs of the employees. Together with two yearly surveys that will be sent automatically to the workers, you may end up with room dividers in your open space plan to increase focus.

Using technology to automate your space means more flexibility and personalization, which will be highly appreciated among any group of people.

Using technology to automate your space means more flexibility and personalization, which will be highly appreciated among any group of people.

The trend that goes a long way: Running an environment-friendly space. To control costs but also to attract and retain employees that want to be associated with an environment-friendly office and, of course, to give back to mother earth. By choosing an HQ close to most employee’s homes so people don't have to drive to work will take your environmental friendly reputation to the next level.

Adopt technology to help you run a fully environmental friendly space:

There’s a growing and valid pressure from society to make workplaces more environment-friendly, be sure to follow this trend to collect extra karma points.

There’s a growing and valid pressure from society to make workplaces more environment-friendly, be sure to follow this trend to collect extra karma points.

All of the above contributes to the health of your employees. Embracing companies that will help you collect hard- and soft data from your space like happiness, health and many more details you can use to turn your office space into the best possible version of itself. Monitor your employee’s behaviour and habits. With this workplace analytics, you can adjust your office space accordingly. Some employees might feel the need to take a stroll in the office garden every hour or need a noise-cancelling headphone. Enable a work environment where people feel encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle and increase productivity and a positive atmosphere!

All of the above contributes to the health of your employees. Embracing companies that will help you collect hard- and soft data from your space like happiness, health and many more details you can use to turn your office space into the best possible version of itself. Monitor your employee’s behaviour and habits. With this workplace analytics, you can adjust your office space accordingly. Some employees might feel the need to take a stroll in the office garden every hour or need a noise-cancelling headphone. Enable a work environment where people feel encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle and increase productivity and a positive atmosphere!

Embracing flexible workspace is a big trend that keeps evolving. Spaces, where collaboration is encouraged but also have room for deep focus, are high in demand. Choosing a corporate setting with break out spaces for collaboration or rooms for formal meetings are popular. Depending on your preferred kind of appearance the design of your space can be adjusted accordingly. A trendy open space designed tech office will attract millennials for example. If you are looking for more corporate audience go for the corporate setting. Always be aware of the need for flexibility among your employees. Even though the company is corporate some people will like the thought of working with flex desks. Offer variety, no person is the same: Each skillset deserves to have the proper environment to flourish!

The workplace is changing rapidly. It’s not just about the building it’s about enabling an experience where collaboration and creativity have room to expand.

Want to read more on creating a healthy work environment? Take a look at our previous blog post!

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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!

Student housing has changed a lot in the past few years. We are looking at a future where student’s requirements will continue to change at a rapid pace, as the technology behind Purpose Built Student Accommodation is getting smarter every year.

We present you the top 5 trends in student housing to focus on in 2019 while working on the best housing experience for your students.

We present you the top 5 trends in student housing to focus on in 2019 while working on the best housing experience for your students.

A high-quality student housing experience in 2019 includes smart technology. All students now days not only need to use their smartphones, tablets and laptops to socialize but more importantly: To study. Students need access to their online portals where they can find study specific assignments, grades and schedules. Therefore housing accommodations should be designed with efficient technology in mind. Free and fast Wi-Fi (25 MB per student per second at the lowest), automated Laundromats and keyless entries are just a glimpse of what a PBSA should offer nowadays. From a student’s perspective, all spaces in a student housing accommodation whether it’s a shared space or a private dorm room should be smart. An access control solution like SALTO KS can help to make your accommodation as efficient and smooth as possible by providing the utmost convenience and security to your students.

A high-quality student housing experience in 2019 includes smart technology. All students now days not only need to use their smartphones, tablets and laptops to socialize but more importantly: To study. Students need access to their online portals where they can find study specific assignments, grades and schedules. Therefore housing accommodations should be designed with efficient technology in mind. Free and fast Wi-Fi (25 MB per student per second at the lowest), automated Laundromats and keyless entries are just a glimpse of what a PBSA should offer nowadays. From a student’s perspective, all spaces in a student housing accommodation whether it’s a shared space or a private dorm room should be smart. An access control solution like SALTO KS can help to make your accommodation as efficient and smooth as possible by providing the utmost convenience and security to your students.

Students of today and tomorrow are most likely raised with sustainability in mind. Therefore a student housing accommodation that proves to be environmentally responsible is always ahead of the game. Sustainable certifications are not dull anymore; they have become an important selling point for all housing accommodations that want to be taken seriously. Student residences that promote well being and raise awareness are more likely to get picked by students and/or concerned parents. To create a sustainable student accommodation, LED lighting, green roofs and sustainable (interior) design is a good way to start out.

Students of today and tomorrow are most likely raised with sustainability in mind. Therefore a student housing accommodation that proves to be environmentally responsible is always ahead of the game. Sustainable certifications are not dull anymore; they have become an important selling point for all housing accommodations that want to be taken seriously. Student residences that promote well being and raise awareness are more likely to get picked by students and/or concerned parents. To create a sustainable student accommodation, LED lighting, green roofs and sustainable (interior) design is a good way to start out.

A big ‘trend’ is of course privacy, and it has been for a while. Although more PBSA's are getting rid of gender-specific dorm communities, we are happy to inform you the classical dorm room where you share a room with five other students is no longer. More and more student accommodations are equipped with a suite layout that hosts’ two students that share one bathroom instead of the communal bathroom down the hall. Because younger students seem to care less about privacy then older graduates it is easier to divide the students amongst different types of rooms, fulfilling accommodation needs for every type of student.

A big ‘trend’ is of course privacy, and it has been for a while. Although more PBSA's are getting rid of gender-specific dorm communities, we are happy to inform you the classical dorm room where you share a room with five other students is no longer. More and more student accommodations are equipped with a suite layout that hosts’ two students that share one bathroom instead of the communal bathroom down the hall. Because younger students seem to care less about privacy then older graduates it is easier to divide the students amongst different types of rooms, fulfilling accommodation needs for every type of student.

Moving from the parental home into a purpose-built accommodation can be a bit overwhelming. For the students, but also for their parents. To know the students are in good hands with the residential assistants that are available on- and off campus gives both parties peace of mind. Make sure you have student paraprofessionals on your premises that are welcoming and easy to talk to. One of the biggest put off is when campus staff is rude, unwelcoming and slow to react. Agile procedures that deal with requests and issues are a pro when choosing an accommodation to live in while going off to college. Make sure you have an annual review with your on- and off campus staff to be sure of student satisfaction.

Moving from the parental home into a purpose-built accommodation can be a bit overwhelming. For the students, but also for their parents. To know the students are in good hands with the residential assistants that are available on- and off campus gives both parties peace of mind. Make sure you have student paraprofessionals on your premises that are welcoming and easy to talk to. One of the biggest put off is when campus staff is rude, unwelcoming and slow to react. Agile procedures that deal with requests and issues are a pro when choosing an accommodation to live in while going off to college. Make sure you have an annual review with your on- and off campus staff to be sure of student satisfaction.

Last but certainly not least: Housing. All of the above trends are of the utmost importance for a purpose-built student housing accommodation, but only if the core of the accommodation has just the right environment balance between learning and living. An accommodation that is in line with the campus identity enabling students to socialize, feel at home and focused studying is setting itself up for success. Make sure your utility bills are included in the rent, which is important for students who cant permit themselves getting unforeseen extra bills.

Enable a high-quality housing experience for your students by equipping your Purpose Built Student Accommodation with the latest cloud-based access control technology.

Contact us, we are happy to provide you with the information you need to take your accommodation to the next level.

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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 efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing access now!

The last month of 2018 the teams from SALTO Hong Kong, Singapore and China visited our favourite event in coworking: GCUC. This time the GCUC team touched down in Shanghai, which made this the most cross-border coworking summit in history!

With the theme "Work Better, Work Smarter" GCUC China used this opportunity to showcase the innovative model of coworking spaces and the way this will fit perfectly in the lifestyle that young Chinese people will experience in the future.

"When I feel the vibrancy of the co-working scenes in NYC, Singapore and Shanghai, it makes me very happy we are part of this coworking wave" - Bryan, SALTO Systems Singapore

Some people still think of the coworking community as something that’s hip and trendy now and eventually will fade, but not many people are aware that coworking is not a new concept. In just a little under the past 2 years, coworking has revolutionized the traditional office space and will continue to revolutionize the way real estate has been used, which will make a big impact on the way people are working on a global scale.

Many world leaders embrace open borders, globalization and free trade. They envision the benefits of the co-sharing economy this will eventually lead to. Air travel, the Internet and technology have made us more connected than ever before. This not only applies to the geographical regions of Europe, Asia, the US or China, but the world as one big connected geographical area.

"More and more corporates are looking to use flexible offices not only to reduce costs but to get closer to innovation, in China, this trend is already happening. They are moving into spaces and getting a closer look at startups." - Bob Zheng, founder People Squared (P2)

This year’s event focused on optimizing and upgrading traditional work methods taking the entrepreneurial spirit and the team working style of coworking spaces as a basis and look to extend concepts to leisure time and hours outside of work. The event incorporated aspects of lifestyles related to coworking spaces, real estate, entrepreneurship and design. New lifestyle trends related to fashion, music, entertainment, new retail and other fields brought a more in-depth perspective on coworking space models that represent a growing trend for young Chinese people going forward.

GCUC Shanghai was hosted by Shanghai-based coworking space brand People Squared (P2). Founded in 2010 by Bob Zheng coworking space brand P2 was the first space that introduced coworking to China and has opened 30 spaces since then. P2 merged with smaller coworking space Walnut founded in 2015. Together they need to stand up against the greats of coworking like Ucommune and WeWork. Zheng says this is not necessarily a problem since people are looking for more unique and independent spaces. With GCUC as the binding factor coworking spaces will continue to unite and work together to eventually change the way, we work everywhere.

GCUC is the world's largest coworking space industry summit. Attracted by China's original coworking space brand People Squared (P2), the event came to the country for the first time in 2015. GCUC China assembles domestic and international coworking brands and leaders from related industries to discuss the future trends for the sector as well as changing lifestyles in China.

Take a look at our previous blog post about GCUC UK that was held in September last year!

Looking into ways to raise your coworking space to the next level? Contact us for more information about how we can help you take care of access control, which with SALTO KS will become one of the main benefits of your space!

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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!

As a coworking space owner, you have a long list of responsibilities, including protecting your space and members. It doesn’t come as a surprise that a high level of security is one of the most valued selling points of a coworking space. Taking care of multiple variations of security enables your members to work without a care in the world, and that should be exactly what you are aiming for! If you already adopted a cloud-based access control system like SALTO KS you are ahead of the game: Having knowledge on who goes where and when 24 hours a day.

We defined the most important focus points for you to consider when securing your coworking space:

We defined the most important focus points for you to consider when securing your coworking space:

Every space has doors you rather don’t have an unfamiliar person walking into, such as your server room storing delicate hardware. By providing your members access to the SALTO KS app they get automatically restricted from going wherever you don’t want them to go. Creating an access group for a certain category of people enables you to decide during which time frames certain doors can be unlocked and by whom.

Every space has doors you rather don’t have an unfamiliar person walking into, such as your server room storing delicate hardware. By providing your members access to the SALTO KS app they get automatically restricted from going wherever you don’t want them to go. Creating an access group for a certain category of people enables you to decide during which time frames certain doors can be unlocked and by whom.

It goes without saying it’s important to create a protected environment against break-ins or theft. Unfortunately, even in the most loving communities belongings get stolen or just lost. In that case, you are lucky if you have a (cloud-based) video surveillance system installed! The SALTO KS integration with Eagle Eye Networks makes it possible to even record your space 24 hours a day so you have everything on film, and watch in real-time to see what is going on in your business.

It goes without saying it’s important to create a protected environment against break-ins or theft. Unfortunately, even in the most loving communities belongings get stolen or just lost. In that case, you are lucky if you have a (cloud-based) video surveillance system installed! The SALTO KS integration with Eagle Eye Networks makes it possible to even record your space 24 hours a day so you have everything on film, and watch in real-time to see what is going on in your business.

In that same light, it’s helpful to set up your own visitor policy. Some spaces prefer a simple check-in or a wearable badge handed over by the receptionist. But all this takes time, effort, and an extra employee. With SALTO KS you are able to simply grant access to a visitor for a specific timeframe. Ensuring you this visitor is only able to visit the spaces you granted access to and in the timeframe of your choosing.

In that same light, it’s helpful to set up your own visitor policy. Some spaces prefer a simple check-in or a wearable badge handed over by the receptionist. But all this takes time, effort, and an extra employee. With SALTO KS you are able to simply grant access to a visitor for a specific timeframe. Ensuring you this visitor is only able to visit the spaces you granted access to and in the timeframe of your choosing.

All spaces need a solid alarm installation that protects your venue from break-ins. Not only to protect your space and members but also to protect your carefully accumulated reputation. With SALTO’s unique door guard unit, your emergency exits are protected at all times. You can use your tag to open the door, without setting the alarm off. In case of emergency, you’ll open the door without presenting your tag and the alarm will be triggered, informing everyone that there’s an emergency.

All spaces need a solid alarm installation that protects your venue from break-ins. Not only to protect your space and members but also to protect your carefully accumulated reputation. With SALTO’s unique door guard unit, your emergency exits are protected at all times. You can use your tag to open the door, without setting the alarm off. In case of emergency, you’ll open the door without presenting your tag and the alarm will be triggered, informing everyone that there’s an emergency.

One of the most important aspects of security is your staff. They are the ones that will make that life-saving difference in the case of an emergency. A well-trained staff that has the knowledge what to do when for example a fire breaks out is crucial. Always make sure your members are aware of specific information like where the emergency exit(s) are situated. Having working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers and first aid kits present at all times and providing knowledge of their whereabouts is just as important.

One of the most important aspects of security is your staff. They are the ones that will make that life-saving difference in the case of an emergency. A well-trained staff that has the knowledge what to do when for example a fire breaks out is crucial. Always make sure your members are aware of specific information like where the emergency exit(s) are situated. Having working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers and first aid kits present at all times and providing knowledge of their whereabouts is just as important.

Being smart about locking your coworking space and reducing risk at emergencies isn’t the only way to make sure your space is fully protected. Unfortunately, we live in a digital world where it’s also possible that your coworking space security network might be attacked. By providing your members' information on how to safely surf the Internet will be of tremendous help in keeping a secure network. Purchasing an IP filtering system could help keep your space protected online. While your members surf the Internet in a safe way, you should also make sure your network is secured by a difficult password. The name of your cat just won’t do. Make sure you have a second network set up for your members and update the password every six months.

Want to learn more about protecting your coworking space? Learn all about what SALTO KS can do for you.

Get in touch to learn more about how we can integrate smart locks into your business!

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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!

Last year we interviewed Marc Handels, co-founder & CMO at Salto Systems and shared with you his vision of a great team and the future of access control. This time with our new KS blog we are happy to announce our interview with Javier Roquero, co-founder & CEO at Salto Systems. In this interview, Javier explains how he maintains that highly important work-life balance, what he would do if he could pick any other job and tells us more about his vision for the future of the cloud.

Last year we interviewed Marc Handels, co-founder & CMO at Salto Systems and shared with you his vision of a great team and the future of access control. This time with our new KS blog we are happy to announce our interview with Javier Roquero, co-founder & CEO at Salto Systems. In this interview, Javier explains how he maintains that highly important work-life balance, what he would do if he could pick any other job and tells us more about his vision for the future of the cloud.

Since I was a child, I always wanted to work in this sector… I am kidding, of course: In the 90’s I started working for a company in the mechanical door hardware business. Together with a group of friends/colleagues, we came across this great opportunity to create SALTO Systems. To be able to set up a brand new company with strong components of innovation, industrial processes and marketing challenges was the green field approach what attracted me. It was very clear from the beginning this was a once in a lifetime opportunity I had to grab onto.

"Solid personal values and the consistency to defend them is the most important skill to own" - Javier Roquero

"Solid personal values and the consistency to defend them is the most important skill to own" - Javier Roquero

I am afraid I have to say (even if it doesn't sound too sexy) SALTO didn't change my life: Before SALTO I was a happy man enjoying life, which I still am, now more than ever. I am proud of what we have achieved, but I have very clear priorities: The correct balance between my personal life and my professional achievement is what drives those priorities.

I am afraid I have to say (even if it doesn't sound too sexy) SALTO didn't change my life: Before SALTO I was a happy man enjoying life, which I still am, now more than ever. I am proud of what we have achieved, but I have very clear priorities: The correct balance between my personal life and my professional achievement is what drives those priorities.

Well, the answer is clear if you see the investments we are making in our factory: More than 8 million euros are being used to extend the factory capacity in order to be ready for the expected growth we are anticipating in all world regions and market segments. Cloud is a top priority for us. Back in 2012 we already partnered with Rick and Xander, the founders of Clay. This was even before everyone was talking about cloud. In the future, I foresee top leading software companies that are placing cloud executives in top management positions to lead the transition.

Well, the answer is clear if you see the investments we are making in our factory: More than 8 million euros are being used to extend the factory capacity in order to be ready for the expected growth we are anticipating in all world regions and market segments. Cloud is a top priority for us. Back in 2012 we already partnered with Rick and Xander, the founders of Clay. This was even before everyone was talking about cloud. In the future, I foresee top leading software companies that are placing cloud executives in top management positions to lead the transition.

Let me think and dream a little...running a hotel perhaps. A small boutique hotel somewhere, with a close contact with clients offering them to experience something different from the pure lodging one. I enjoy meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. This is why I find managing 28 different nationalities at SALTO so exciting!

Let me think and dream a little...running a hotel perhaps. A small boutique hotel somewhere, with a close contact with clients offering them to experience something different from the pure lodging one. I enjoy meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. This is why I find managing 28 different nationalities at SALTO so exciting!

I have so many! Basically, anything sports related. I used to run a lot, but now I am more on cycling and trekking. But probably ski mountaineering is my favorite. If it’s outdoors and in nature, you can find me there.

I have so many! Basically, anything sports related. I used to run a lot, but now I am more on cycling and trekking. But probably ski mountaineering is my favorite. If it’s outdoors and in nature, you can find me there.

To have solid personal values and the consistency to defend them: Our customers relate to the core values of our company and recognize those in our employees.

To have solid personal values and the consistency to defend them: Our customers relate to the core values of our company and recognize those in our employees.

Retirement! I am kidding again! I would have to say taking SALTO to the next level. Nobody knows exactly where electronic locking is headed. Being a part of discovering that journey is amazing.

Retirement! I am kidding again! I would have to say taking SALTO to the next level. Nobody knows exactly where electronic locking is headed. Being a part of discovering that journey is amazing.

In 2017 SALTO completed the acquisition of Clay. With this important step, SALTO Systems executes on its strategy by strengthening its leading position in both cloud technology and mobile access control.

Want to know the the story of Clay? Hear it from Rick. More SALTO? Read the interview we had with Marc Handels, Chief Sales Officer at SALTO Systems here.

Want to work with inspirational leaders everyday? Check out our job openings!

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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!

Originating from the old Clay by Salto, Salto KS has shaped into the mature product it is today. Since we’re always pushing to make our products better, we hereby present some highlights of upcoming exciting improvements.

As the amount of Salto KS users is growing rapidly, our technology in both back and front-end has been improved for great flexibility. Also, user-feedback provided us with input to improve on the usability of the platform as well.

In short, we took the opportunity to create a more advanced platform from both a technological and user-experience perspective.

Improving the user experience overall isn’t only based on input from end-users, the marketing team or technological advancements. At the base of these changes, there are also specific goals that help develop the product in the right direction over time. These are some of the key statements we’ve made from the get-go:

A unified user-experience: Today, the web and mobile apps offer different functionalities, while it makes more sense to unify more and more functions on all platforms.

One visual language: Part of the above point, is not just to make all apps work, but also look the same. Therefore we’ve started setting up a design-system, securing consistent design of elements, regardless where they’re shown.

UX/UI sweep: Some of the old functionalities in the web and mobile apps were no longer serving a purpose as our customers grew in size. While other features were still useable but could be designed in a different, better way.

Starting with the seemingly simple things; we changed some of the terminologies. The most obvious ones are Systems and Doors, which we now call Sites and Locks. Both changes make sense, for a site is referring to a location, and a lock is actually what the end-user is interacting with, whether on a door or on a locker. The door doesn’t open, but the lock unlocks.

Also we’re no longer referring to home.saltoks.com, but app.saltoks.com. We’re approaching Salto KS as an application, that is available via web or mobile.

On a big screen, you can display information in a big way. We’ve always had a ‘cardview’ on desktop for Doors (Locks!), People and Access groups. Yet some of the information and functions in there are barely used, or deserve more emphasis. That’s why we decided to redesign the cards, focussing on displaying the status and available call-to-actions.

Some of the old flows, especially on the web-platform, were too complex to capture in a single screen. A great example of this is how you would set up an access group; one of the key functionalities of the product. Before; this was done in a single popup displaying all people, locks and timeframes. With larger sites, this did not work up to our standards. Therefore we’ve split up the different steps, keeping focus on a single task and offering explanation where needed. This is a wizard-type flow taking users step-by-step through a process. This is a design pattern that we apply for other flows as well, making the overall application more user friendly. These are also used in mobile apps where applicable.

Probably the most difficult functionality throughout the interfaces is setting up the hardware for a site. Split between different tabs per hardware type, and one tab to connect all of them, this was a counter-intuitive way of working. Therefore we’ve combined all available functions and steps in a single screen, offering both a hardware overview and detailed step-by-step configuration. A clear listview is presented showing the connection between different hardware items. Also, the interface offers contextual actions; only items that can be added/removed, have actions available for it.

Next to the above descriptions we also did the following UX/UI updates:

That sums up what’s coming soon for SALTO KS, but we’re working on more! We have even more design changes coming up, and great new features such as Digital Key (coming soon!). Keep track of our blog to keep updated on future developments of all our apps!

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!

The latest application version (v1.0.9.10) / API release version v1 has been released on the 19th of November 2018. This maintenance release introduces new functionality. No API endpoints have changed, but some have been added.

Functional changes:

Functional changes:

Bug fixes:

Bug fixes:

Since the last release (v1.0.9.8) we have made several enhancements and worked hard on new features, which warrant the release of a new version.

Get in touch to learn more about how we can integrate SALTO KS into your business.

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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!

Hugo manages to go through his day eliminating tickets like a boss.

07:00 Alarm time, get up and grab my backpack and pancakes for lunch. Check if Schumi, the garden cat is awake and doing well (It’s our neighbors cat that sleeps in our yard 24/7 because he is a lazy cat).

07:27 Hop on the train from Houten to Utrecht and then run to make the connection to Amsterdam. I usually listen to music and read, but not every day.

08:30 Arrive at the Clay office, after glaring at tourists/assassin bikers on my way from the central station to here. I occupy the same desk every day even though we work with flex desks; the Swedish keyboard scares others away. I make some porridge out of “Havermout” and water, apparently not a popular breakfast according to most people in the office.

08:45 Go through tickets arriving during the night usually from people over in the US/Asia/Oceania. Check if anything really urgent has popped up, usually not. If not I spend the next few hours replying to everything and clearing out my mailbox.

10:00 Someone from SALTO tech support pokes me on hangouts about an issue at a customer, it is a bit time sensitive so we work together to find the issue and solve it as soon as we can.

11:30 At this moment no tickets need a reply. I usually kill some time watching highly relevant videos, like why London has a bad infrastructure, or practice my Dutch on Duolingo.

12:30 Lunchtime! Today pancakes from Albert Heijn because I am lazy. At Clay you can also get some nice lunch, but the Dutch lunch is basically breakfast food and that’s the end of that (unlike pancakes or poffertjes).

14:00 Ensuring any new tickets/Slack messages are replied to as they come in, I often spend the afternoon dealing with tickets that take a bit more time. Today I had a meeting with a new integration partner for SALTO KS. After pointing them in the right direction I worked with our embedded developer Geert to try and solve an issue with our M2M devices having trouble connecting to the mobile network in a location. We made some progress with how to solve it but didn’t get there just yet. (By the time you read this, it will be long solved though!)

16:30 After dealing with customers and other people all day it is time to head home! I hop on the train to Utrecht and check so nothing urgent arrives during the last half hour, luckily no one emails!

18:00 Arriving at home in Houten, today is not a workout day so I spend some time with my friends back in Sweden playing some online games. (If you want to listen to how stupid we are, check it out here).

20:30 The weather is nice today, so I grab my camera and try and find a good picture in Houten or Utrecht, dreaming about a trip to Iceland.

23:30 Sleeping time!

Thank you Hugo for showing us what your day looks like!