SALTO KS meets TNW at the heart of tech
Over the years, we have found our solutions implemented in smart and sustainable sites around the world. Ranging from maritime to real estate, we have built upon these stories by reaching out to our customers to find out what led them to SALTO KS and how they make use of it.
In this blog post, we reflect on a customer of SALTO KS who lies at the heart of technology, TNW. Also known as The Next Web, the company aims to inform, inspire and connect people who love tech, and they do exactly that. You might be familiar with the tech conference which brings together talent and thought leaders annually, most recently with their 2020 live digital conference.
TNW was founded in 2006 when co-founders Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten and Patrick de Laive were looking for a tech event to showcase their new startup. One thing led to another and they soon realized they needed to host their event to check all their boxes and in promoting this, needed a platform. This is how thenextweb.com was born which later transformed into the company which leads tech media today.
Today the company has expanded to four pillars that have given rise to TNW News, TNW Deals, TNW Conference and Events. Through stories and insights, they aim to bridge the cross-generational gap through events and workspaces. Their headquarters are found in the place where it all started, in Amsterdam.
Their mission as the centre of tech with the TNW spaces is to provide a physical space for Tech startup and smart building solutions. In order to achieve this, TNW required a smart lock solution to fit their spaces in Amsterdam for which they decided to partner with SALTO KS.
Once this collaboration started, there were a few hurdles at the beginning which motivated both parties to work through these issues to achieve a practical and reliable solution for the space at hand. These went on to be solved, and the benefit of smart locks was quickly noticed by the TNW team.
Both companies aligned on their values and positions in the wider tech community at the time and now continue to do. Today, with a total of 56 spaces, 90 doors, and 84 locks used, TNW uses SALTO KS as their access control solution.
For TNW, the main benefits of using SALTO KS are the lowered installation costs paired with cloud-based access control and having access to an app. Their ways of opening are divided across their visitors for their spaces. For instance, residents and members use Keycards while the suppliers use physical Tags. Last but not least, the TNW team and management make use of Remote Opening. As the name suggests, this way of opening is used by admins to open doors remotely. A SALTO lock can be unlocked in two ways: short and temporary, or long and continuous. A short ‘unlocking’ action is ideal for letting someone in from a distance. This unlocks the lock for about 5 seconds, providing temporary access. For longer, continuous access, a lock can also be set in ‘Office Mode’. This unlocks the door for a longer period of time, depending on the type of Office Mode.
The allocation of these ways of opening has been carried out with close consideration. The reason for Remote Opening being limited to internal staff is to avoid the risk of users accidentally activating Office Mode for the entrance doors outside of office hours. Office mode is the state a lock is in when it is continuously unlocked. This allows anyone to enter the lock without a SALTO KS Tag. The Remote Opening feature has also proven useful in times when the team has been able to save the day and open office doors for residents who have forgotten their Tags.
The SALTO KS web application and app interface have also proved most valuable according to TNW Head of facilities, Wai-Man Sun. “We’re happy to see consistent improvements and added features,” he says. The team has also looked into the prospect of integrations with their current solution and have recently started to implement OfficeRnD, which enables you to completely automate the door access control in your flexible workspace.
Looking to the future, TNW believes that the app can be even more user friendly, levelling with its high security. This is particularly with regards to the process of onboarding new users.
The SALTO KS access control system has significantly reduced management time and overhead needed to manage access and has provided the flexibility to use Tags, Keycards or Remote Opening to access the site(s) of TNW. We are proud to be entrusted with the unique and pioneering spaces of TNW and look forward to unlocking even more potential with our solutions.
To learn more about how SALTO KS benefits TNW, among other spaces, visit our selection of Customer Stories.
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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 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 efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!
Cloud-based self check-in & keyless access for Automated Self-service Hotels
Provide online self-guest check-in and check-out technology for the hotel industry, unlocking guest experience value through customer self-service with one easy-to-use, cardless, contactless, and mobile-enabled system for automated self-service hotels.
What is Salto KS and how does it work?
For the seasoned traveller, smooth check-in and check-out go a long way in improving the guest experience. Swapping your keys for a cloud-based access control solution might just be a better investment than you think.
When a guest arrives at the hotel, they want to check-in as fast as possible. Support from a receptionist is essential in this case, so staff should have time to welcome the guest, keep them happy and help them in providing a great guest experience in the safest way possible.
As important as the front desk is, there is a growing trend to give guests the option to either visit the front desk or bypass it completely and check-in and check out themselves via emerging hotel industry access control technology. With one easy-to-use, cardless, and mobile-enabled system, you can establish your property as an automated self-service hotel.
Benefits of Salto KS for hotels
With the help of this innovative technology and automated self-service solution, it puts the power to check-in and check-out in the guest’s hands – enabling check-in outside of peak hours – and gives the ability to conduct other essential tasks in the hands of your staff. This way, staff can allocate their efforts and attention to guest safety and better service in a more meaningful manner. The automated self-service delivers a guest experience that will increase efficiency, safety, and security and improve your guest stay with a seamless check-in experience.
Provide easy access for your guests effortlessly with PIN code or a mobile entry
The Salto KS cloud-based solution for self-service hotels allows you to simplify processes such as check-in and check-out and enables an overall digital experience. With Salto KS keyless access, you can provide guests, suppliers, or visitors access to your hotel property and their room with a PIN code, offering the ability to self-check-in. Before guests arrive at your hotel, they can choose to go straight to their room and receive their PIN code on their phone, or they can ask for assistance at the reception for their room check-in. It is their choice. The mobile self-check-in process, combined with keyless entry (through a keypad or digital key systems), allows guests to bypass the front desk entirely upon arrival, without compromising the level of service.
Not only is this the safest and fastest option for guests, but it helps improve the staff work-flow by automating many processes that come with a regular guest check-in.
A seamless check-in experience
With Salto KS, you bring together all the strengths of cloud-based access control technology and value-added features and simplify all of your front office operations.
Salto KS is the access control solution that is making access control smart. With an easy installation and affordable solution, Salto KS is designed to scale right along with your property. You can immediately manage all user access through a simple and intuitive cloud-hosted access management web dashboard making it a convenient solution for system administrators right from the start.
With Salto KS, manage user keys, monitor all your property activity, and assign different access levels from any device. anywhere, anytime.
Take advantages of integrations
As part of Salto’s cloud-based wireless locking solution Salto KS, KS Connect allows simple PMS software and service companies to integrate with Salto KS, and enrich their offering.
By connecting Salto KS with your hotel property management software, transform your hotel property operations and improve your guest stay with seamless check-in experience. Guests can receive their PIN code entry during the check-in process. Upon arrival, they can pick up their PIN code or mobile key and head straight to their room.
You can benefit from our Technology partnership with some of the world's leading Hospitality technology innovators such as Priority Key, Tab Hotel and 3RPMS. Find the extensive overview here.
Visit the Salto KS website to learn more about the technology and solutions we can provide to deliver online guest self-check-in and check-out technology for automated self-service hotels.
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Does the BLESA Bluetooth security flaw affect my SALTO access control installation?
BLESA vulnerability does not affect SALTO Systems access control and BLUEnet based platforms nor SALTO Mobile Keys technology.
Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and IoT devices are now using Bluetooth software stacks that are potentially susceptible to a new security flaw. Referred to as BLESA (Bluetooth Low Energy Spoofing Attack), the vulnerability was identified over the summer and is said to impact devices running the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.
For those who are not aware, BLE is a compact and smart version of the traditional Bluetooth that is designed to be more energy-efficient to conserve battery power without compromising on the connectivity. Due to its battery-saving features, BLE has been massively adopted over the last years in many IoT and wireless smart devices.
According to the research, the BLESA vulnerability manifests itself during the pairing and bonding process – the client and the server have authentication to pair with each other’s devices. It is a process that is part of the standard security of the BLE technology, which SALTO devices do not use in any case during the access control platform network configuration or communications in any of the SALTO smart access platforms (SALTO Space Data-on-Card, SALTO KS Keys as a Service or SALTO Danalock) and smart door locking solutions.
Defending against most Bluetooth attacks usually means pairing devices in controlled environments and network architecture, but defending against BLESA is a much harder task, since the attack targets the more often-occurring reconnect operation.
When SALTO implemented BLE technology into its access control platforms to achieve smart-locking communication between the network and devices of the system, we decided to use SALTO security measures instead of standard BLE security measures, adding an additional security layer. We did this specifically to avoid the risk of being affected by these types of attacks from the mainstream standard.
In summary, regarding the recent BLESA Bluetooth spoofing attacks, this vulnerability DOES NOT AFFECT SALTO Systems and BLUEnet based technology platforms (SALTO Space, SALTO KS), nor SALTO Mobile Keys (JustIN, KS) products and communication, nor products of the Danalock platform.
New version of SALTO MyLock online door lock customization tool
New design, improved user experience, and new features help planners and architects better envision and design new lock projects
SALTO Systems has upgraded MyLock, the online lock customization tool that allows users to choose and see potential door configurations prior to final architectural project and design definition.
With MyLock, users can select a SALTO electronic lock model, door type, and choose from a broad range of colors, finishes, handles, and functions. The new MyLock design has an improved user experience for web as well as mobile access and adds important new capability including configuring accessory products like wall readers. SALTO SPACE access control management software and SALTO KS Keys as a Service compatible product ranges are also included.
Whether it’s a change model, finish, or door type texture, SALTO MyLock users can easily navigate through a menu to make their selection and customize the chosen model as much as possible. User can choose between different door standards and technology platforms, like SALTO SPACE access management software or SALTO KS cloud-based solution, and opening mode options like contactless smart card, mobile key, or keypad.
https://mylock.saltosystems.com/
Users can now make more than one configuration in a single MyLock session which allows those seeking electronic lock solutions the capability to configure a variety of door models within a building. Once completed, a MyLock user can preview and download 3D and 2D files including BIM files in a variety of industry formats including Revit, STP, DWG, JPEG, PDF, and more.
SALTO developed MyLock to aid project designers and planners and provide them the capability to see how their electronic lock choices work with a variety of doors. This new MyLock design has simplified the user interface and website navigation to provide users with the most positive experience as possible as they carefully construct the access point model that best suits their access control and security needs.
Fully connected: Powerful new Mullion and Panel Readers add to hospitality peripheral portfolio
The hospitality vertical has unique access control needs – guest rooms, elevators, turnstiles – that are best served by products that are specifically designed with these requirements in mind.
The hospitality vertical has unique access control needs – guest rooms, elevators, turnstiles – that are best served by products that are specifically designed with these requirements in mind. SALTO’s peripheral products are engineered to provide the ideal solution for those access points where online connectivity is needed, or where interaction with other systems or electric-powered devices such as elevators is required.
We’re excited about our two newest products that will help enrich your comprehensive access control solution and will supply the connectivity your hotel needs: the Mullion Reader and the Panel Reader.
MULLION READER:
The slim SALTO Mullion Reader for flush mounting has been specially designed to fit elevators, sliding doors, or electronic gate doors that have a narrow profile frame and where there is insufficient space to install a standard wall reader. Part of the SALTO electronic locking platform, the SALTO Mullion Reader is compatible with SALTO ProAccess SPACE and SALTO KS Controllers. Technical characteristics include: black or white color; compact, slim module design; specially designed for narrow or aluminum profile doors, making the installation quick and easy with minimal impact; modern aesthetic design; acoustic and optical signaling, and dual color green/red to indicate access authorization. They are housed in a two-piece, weatherproof secure electronics potted enclosure.
PANEL READER:
The SALTO Panel Reader door entry system also works in conjunction with SALTO ProAccess SPACE or SALTO KS Controllers. They are designed to be integrated behind elevator panels, door intercoms, electric switches, turnstiles, or gates. Users can present a valid SALTO credential – including both RFID card and JustIN Mobile app – to gain entry. These models do need a window in the door, which is necessary for reader antenna operation. Technical specifications include: compact module reader; specially designed to be integrated behind elevator panels, door intercoms, electric switches, turnstiles or gates; acoustic and optical signaling, dual color green/red to indicate access authorization. This reader is housed in a one-piece, weatherproof secure electronics potted enclosure.
We’re working hard to enrich your hospitality access control solutions! To learn more about either of these new products – or for a product demo – contact us:
