Hybrid Hotels: meaning and hospitality opportunities

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In the second post of our 6-Part Coliving Blog Series, Leah shares how the Hybrid Hospitality trend is changing the way we think about travel and hospitality.

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Coliving Consultant and Community Experience Specialist, Leah Ziliak is one of the world's leading experts in the industry. In the second post of our 6-Part Coliving Blog Series, Leah shares how the Hybrid Hospitality trend is changing the way we think about travel and hospitality. 

Working from the rooftop of a trendy hotel in Cape Town with 200 Mbps internet, a dedicated call room, and a barista serving up the perfect flat white, it's easy to see just how much the hospitality world has changed over the last decade. Remember when the 'business centre' of a hotel meant a couple of clunky desktops facing a beige wall with a printer?

With a coworking space, community events, group fitness classes, and even a mini movie theatre and a popcorn machine, this is more than just a hotel; it's an experience.  A Hybrid Hospitality experience.

Hungry? Scan a QR code at your coworking desk and the cafe downstairs will deliver your falafel wrap and cold-pressed juice right to you. Bored? Download the community app and you’ll see a list of social events to choose from. Stressed? Book a massage using your smartphone and easily access the spa with keyless entry. 

Hybrid Hospitality
Zoku | Award-winning Home/office Hybrid Hotels In Europe


So, what exactly is Hybrid Hospitality?

Hybrid Hospitality is essentially a blend of the traditional hotel experience, with elements of the coworking and coliving spaces as well as

restaurants, wellness, retail and more. With Hybrid Hospitality, people can live, stay, eat, drink, work and socialise all in one dynamic space. Hotels, hostels, restaurants, bars and other hospitality venues are making the shift to create multifunctional spaces that foster connection and enhance the overall guest experience. 

Hybrid Hospitality is a growing trend, and for good reasons; it’s enabling hotels to expand their offerings, bring underutilised spaces to life, connect guests to a community, and draw in a whole new demographic.

Hybrid Hospitality
Zoku | Award-winning Home/office Hybrid Hotels In Europe


So, why are we seeing such a massive push toward Hybrid Hospitality?

  1. Consumer Trends: 

    In recent years, the hospitality industry has seen a shift in consumer trends. Millennials especially were looking for more out of the hotel experience and wanted to be part of a connected, engaging environment.

    Traditionally, hostels offered a great community experience, but were lacking when it came to high-quality spaces and superior hospitality experiences. On the flip side, hotels offered great spaces and excellent hospitality, but lacked any sort of community or connection.

    Because of this, we saw innovative hostel brands listening to those needs and creating a more elevated experience, offering work-friendly environments, well-designed spaces, private room options, and expanding the typical backpacker demographic.

    We also saw hotel brands focusing on community, events, neighbourhood integration, keyless access solutions for increased flexibility,  and rethinking common areas to create an experience that went beyond just a comfy bed and room service. 
     
  2. The Pandemic Effect:

    Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve seen an even greater expansion of the Hybrid Hospitality trend. The number of remote work opportunities has grown exponentially, meaning that people have more freedom to choose how/when/where they work. The work-from-anywhere movement has had a massive impact on the hospitality industry.

    Why take just a weekend trip, when you can bring your laptop and make it a month-long trip? Providing guests with ‘live-and-work-friendly’ spaces enables brands to cater to these longer-term stays.

    We’re also seeing a rise in remote work retreats and workations, with some companies offering travel perks to their employees, such as the ability to spend up to 6-8 weeks working from a location abroad. Employees are more mobile than ever before and the hospitality industry is ready to act as a home away from home for this new business traveller.
     
  3. Digital Nomadism:

    With the rise of remote work, we’ve also seen an increase in long-term travellers. Digital Nomads often give up their homebase altogether and choose to live from different hotels, hostels, and coliving spaces around the world.

    It used to be that business trips and vacations were the only reason to leave home, now for an estimated 35 million digital nomads around the world, ‘home’ is constantly changing and can be anywhere in the world. Extended travel was once only a privilege for the super wealthy, but has now become an opportunity for the everyday remote worker. Hospitality brands are adapting to the needs of this growing demographic.

    Hospitality brands are adapting to the needs of this growing demographic who have a different set of requirements than your typical vacationer. Digital Nomads are incredibly well-travelled, tech-savvy and place a high value on freedom and flexibility within their living spaces.
     
  4. Expanded Amenities:

    For many years, ‘hotel amenities’ were limited to a few different things - bathrobes, a gym, tiny bottles of shampoo and overpriced laundry services. But, in the modern-day hospitality world, it can (and should) be a whole lot more. And, as more and more forward-thinking brands provide these extras to their customers, expectations will be higher.

    Today, amenities can mean providing guests with opportunities to socialise through community events and connecting to the city in a more authentic way. Many hybrid hospitality brands are also looking to serve as a neighbourhood hub and integrate more effectively into the local community.

    Amenities can also mean implementing tech-driven services like digital check-in, keyless entry, and the ability to make restaurant or spa reservations from your smartphone to create a flawless overall experience.
Hybrid Hospitality
Zoku | Award-winning Home/office Hybrid Hotels In Europe

In general, this new wave of guests are looking for much more from their hospitality experiences and brands are finding unique ways to provide increased value to their customers by offering flexible workspaces and tech-driven solutions such as a digital key to access the facilities on-the-go. 

With endless hospitality options out there, why not spend your money with the brands that truly align with who you are and what you need?

The Hybrid Hospitality model not only benefits consumers who now have a myriad of interesting choices at their fingertips, it clearly benefits the industry as well. By providing these unique customer-centric experiences, hospitality brands are able to generate new revenue streams, optimise their spaces, create brand loyalty and appeal to a much wider range of guests.  Not to mention, they’re able to enhance their entire guest experience in a very forward-thinking way.

The coliving concept is not simply a fad that will be fast forgotten - it’s an exciting time for the entire hospitality industry, but it’s also a key turning point for brands that want to stay competitive and relevant in the future. There are plenty of spaces in the world where you can get a quiet night’s sleep and a decent meal. But, the brands that are standing out above the rest are the ones who are creating something truly unique - both functional and engaging. It’s a whole new modern hybrid world out there and the smartest brands are here for it.

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Salto launches integrated Technology Partner Program

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We are now thrilled to announce that we are offering other best-in-class technology leaders the opportunity to partner with us for an integrated and improved customer offering.

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Salto Systems offers cutting-edge smart access technology to businesses for a complete smart building experience.

We are now thrilled to announce that we are offering other best-in-class technology leaders the opportunity to partner with us for an integrated and improved customer offering.

Why to become a Salto Technology Partner?

Salto’s Technology Partner program empowers best-in-class technology companies to link into our access control Technology Platforms and integrate and certify their solutions within Salto's smart locking product portfolio.

As such, we are looking for third-party systems to integrate with our smart access technology architecture with the aim of improving any type of facility’s operations in terms of efficiency, flexibility, and security. Our aim is to provide you and your customers with the ultimate smart keyless living experience. 

Technology partners will benefit from these integrations by delivering comprehensive solutions that unite smart access control, security, building automation, software, property management software, operations, and more, in an all-in-one integrated technology platform.

In a nutshell, by partnering with Salto, companies can offer improved access control solutions for their customers and overall operations enhancements for complete building management.

SALTO Technology Partner Program

Salto offers a range of solutions to technology partners

Through the SaltoTechnology Program, our partners will have access to the following solutions:  

  • Smart access experience, delivering seamless, keyless building experiences to users.
  • Wireless technology for electronic locking solutions via an on-premise network or the cloud. 
  • Mobile device access and digital key solutions.
  • Secure and robust performance across all products. Salto is trusted by industry-leading companies worldwide and offers this peace of mind to potential partners.

Salto’s Two Main Solutions

Salto was the early leader in cloud-based access control technology and has become a major player in keys-as-a-service providers over traditional access control solutions, accelerating digital access transformation projects. The Salto portfolio now includes world-class software management, cloud solutions, and mobile applications for businesses of all types and sizes.

SALTO smart access main solutions

 

  • Salto Space: Technology partners can benefit from Salto’s stand-alone, virtually networked, wired, and wireless online smart access control platform

    Salto Space is a fully-integrated, stand-alone wire-free smart-locking platform and web-based software management system that brings seamless access to every door in any building in an efficient, flexible, safe and secure way. 

    Our partners are offered a smart access control on-premise platform that’s designed to work in a wire-free environment. 

Click here to learn more. 
 

  • Salto KS: For a truly unique offering, Salto’s technology partners can make use of a scalable and flexible cloud-based smart access control solution with best-in-class real-time capabilities.

    Salto KS offers proven reliability and recognized stability for our technology partners. This service provides higher functionality and performance than what is possible with a traditional mechanical key access solution. 

    Our Salto KS cloud-based access control product range offers a flexible solution that requires no software installation with remote management capabilities and endless integration possibilities for our partners.

Click here to learn more. 

 

Technology partners: bringing excelence to customers


Technology Partners benefit from a wide product range across numerous industries

Salto Systems offers cutting-edge solutions across a range of industries, including; Commercial, Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Coworking, Shared Living Spaces, Corporate Smart Offices, Fitness Centers & Gyms, and Residential.

Our current partnerships include a broad range of integrated systems, such as Property Management Systems, Check-in Solutions, Mobile Apps, CCTV Security Cameras and Video Surveillance, Intercoms, Room Management Systems, Time Attendance, Booking, Management software, Visitor / Identity Management, Elevator / Lift Control, and Point of Sale software.

Technology partners are not limited by their industry by any means. SALTO Systems is confident that we can find a smart access solution for virtually an interested technology leader.
 

Technology Partners have online access to Salto’s customizable smart access technologies

Salto Systems offers an online platform for partners to customize their access solutions. Our technology partners will benefit from our extensive product portfolio for their systems integration, which includes:

  • Electronic Locks and cylinders for Doors: We have an extensive range of electronic door locks that make use of wireless, keyless, card access technology, as well as a range that makes use of a keypad with a unique safety code.
  • Wall Readers and Controllers: Control access with sleek, easy-to-fit wall readers that offer contactless, keyless access and control.
  • Locker Locks: Safely store contents with electronic locker locks that make use of pre-programmed keyless technology to give authorized users access to the locker content.
Salto’s customizable smart access technologies

Become a Technology Partner today

Contact Salto Systems, and we will not only demo how our product works, if you’re interested in becoming a technology partner, we’ll also discuss a truly unique integration solution. 

We are confident that our innovative and customizable technology will be able to support our certified Technology Partners so they may better their service offering. 

Technology Partners can look forward to becoming a SALTO certified technology partner to deliver even more innovation for their brand, bringing their customers so much more in the keyless living experience. 

Learn more about becoming a technology partner and sign up today

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How we handle SLOs for SALTO KS

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Part of our continuous effort to support growth while maintaining performance, reliability, and predictability is defining SLO’s (Service Level Objectives). 

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Part of our continuous effort to support growth while maintaining performance, reliability, and predictability is defining SLO’s (Service Level Objectives). Those are meant to define the expected service between the provider and the customer. They are specific measurable characteristics such as uptime, operations, and speed. For the cloud-based access control solution SALTO KS we will explain which SLO’s we measure and why.

Uptime

Up to now, our major focal point for measuring our overall Service Level Objective has been to look at the uptime of each individual service in our ecosystem and make sure those are at least adhering to our percentage of 99.9700%. The fact that we are meeting and exceeding that percentage for quite some time now is a great achievement of which we are very proud!

SALTO KS SLO's

So?

Well, the high uptime percentage doesn't say that much about the customer experience. With a high percentage of platform availability, SALTO KS customers will be able to reach the platform and services, and the platform will do what it is supposed to do, but it does not say anything about the performance of individual functions a typical customer uses. We decided it was time we started looking at other things to measure.

What is important to the customers?

The operations of access control are of utmost importance for our customers. Fluctuations in individual response times of endpoints (i.e. the communication points that external software programs must send a request to in order to communicate with our API) that are used to control access rules like assigning a tag (physical credential), adding or removing a user from an access group, blocking a user, and configuring offline access for a lock have a big impact on the day-to-day experience of a client may have while performing their daily tasks. 

Another important factor is the overall performance of operations that require a direct response from an IQ (Edge device), like activating an IQ in a mobile app, performing a remote opening, or generating a Digital Key. If it takes too long, users might consider it not working or at least bothersome. When changes have been made to access rules, we want to make sure that they are applied to the IQs involved as fast as possible, because only then they will have an actual effect.

Reporting

Last but not least, we want customers to be able to retrieve event information in a performant way. We have two different types of events: entries (basically openings and  rejections from locks, so large volume) and incidents (alerts like doors being left open and lock tampering, so low volume).

We know that other things happen that could make or break customer satisfaction, like installing or restoring IQs, attaching locks, and receiving notifications and we do measure them, but the four categories mentioned above are what we consider most important for the largest number of users.

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What do we want to achieve and measure?

For these four types of interactions with our platform, we needed to come up with response times or maximum duration times that would be considered “good” and “natural” from a user perspective, and we should then compare those to what we are actually delivering.

As a general point, we decided that we should be able to achieve our “good” performance goals at least 75% of the time. This would obviously mean we could score less during some peak hours, but overall the customer experience would be good. We decided to measure against that over a period of 7 days to be able to clearly see fluctuations during the week.

We set the following SLO’s for each of the four types:

  • Access Control operations: response time should be less than or equal to 0,5 seconds.
  • Synchronous IQ operations: response time should be less than or equal to 2,5 seconds.
  • Sync performance: the duration should be less than or equal to 30 seconds for Local Access Management sync, PIN sync, and Accessor/Key sync combined, and less than or equal to 5 seconds for Offline Access Key sync.

Reporting: response time should be less than or equal to 3 seconds for entry reporting and less than or equal to 1 second for incident reporting.

These SLO’s aren’t just there to give a nice overview, they’re used in day-to-day monitoring of system performance. The team is on-call 24/7 to ensure the right user experience. The SLO’s, metrics and goals are reviewed by the teams recurrently to guarantee we live up to all expectations. The dashboards are shown in the Clay office where SALTO KS is built and can be viewed “live” from any location, to guarantee each of the team members are well aware of the performance of the platform and show the direct impact of their work.

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So where do we go from here?

In the past, we have been working on defining ways to improve mainly our LAM (Local Access Management) sync process so we are able to set achievable goals per sync type and also per tenant in the future, whilst still being able to cope with our projected growth. We see that sync performance is heavily affected between tenants and although our performance is good most of the time, sometimes it can be a challenge. At least now we feel we can immediately see any effect on performance that has an impact on our user experience and shift our focus accordingly if needed. During the design of any new component, we now keep in mind the ability to measure its performance from the start so we won’t need to struggle afterwards.

We have also defined some SLO notifications in Datadog, all based on the numbers above (and some more detailed ones). Whenever we see an increase in failure to achieve our intended performance, our ‘Core team’ is notified so we can investigate. From what we see now these are temporary states that recover within 5 to 10 minutes and are caused by the incidental increased load. We will be turning these in the coming weeks so they are not generating false alerts before we will increase the audience for them. For the operations mentioned above, all our SLOs are performing around or above 90%, exceeding our 75% target by quite a lot.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn to start the conversation. Want to stay informed about everything access control? Click here to discover more about SALTO’s solutions.

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Kristin Pater, SALTO KS: “Industries can benefit from a great access control solution in more ways than they initially assume”

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Managing who has access, when and to what is difficult, especially for big companies. And we’re not talking only about digital access to passwords or sensitive information - hardware infrastructures are also on the list of items to which access needs to be overseen.

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Managing who has access, when and to what is difficult, especially for big companies. And we’re not talking only about digital access to passwords or sensitive information - hardware infrastructures are also on the list of items to which access needs to be overseen.

While password managers, both on the individual and enterprise level, are great for keeping track of who can access which sites and documents, they won’t work in the physical sense with, let’s say, doors. And a physical door into the building can also be a door to highly sensitive digital assets.

To talk about the importance of access control systems to the security of a business or individuals, Cybernews reached out to Kristin Pater, Marketing Manager responsible for the SALTO Systems product: SALTO KS.

What did the development of SALTO Systems look like?

SALTO Systems is a technology advance access control hardware and software provider and was ignited by the passion of a small group of enthusiastic and highly experienced professionals who were eager to provide a world-class access control system that would be simple to use and extremely efficient, giving users the ability to control all their access needs. Since their ground-breaking start, SALTO Systems have made a great impact on the way people around the world operate their businesses offering best-in-class access control solutions.

Can you introduce us to your access control solutions? What are their key features?

SALTO Systems not only offers hardware but also KaaS (Keys as a Service), such as the cloud-based access control solution SALTO KS. The main features are the ability to securely grant access or to send a Digital Key to anyone with a smartphone, making giving and receiving access much more user-friendly. The solution makes it easy to grant access to individuals or groups for selected locks and timeframes, to see who goes where and when, and if necessary, block users on the go.

The ability to integrate your existing app with the SALTO KS API is a game-changer for many industries. Their own app will be enhanced with all the benefits of SALTO KS by integrating our API or, depending on the business applications needs, building their own access control solution or by connecting with other building services.

In your opinion, which industries should be especially concerned about implementing access management solutions?

I don't want to say ‘concerned’ but I do feel a lot of industries can benefit from a great access control solution in more ways than they initially assume. Think of scaling your business, monetizing your space, and offering an overall smoother and more impressive customer experience. For instance, we have a lot of customers in the coworking and coliving industry who have been able to offer a greater tenant experience and build a community by installing SALTO KS. 

How did the pandemic affect the physical security landscape? Have you noticed any new security issues arise as a result?

We have seen that during the pandemic, the demand for smart access control solutions skyrocketed. Because our solutions offer the functionality of opening doors with your phone, there is no need for physical contact. In combination with SALTO’s ‘BioCote locks’ equipped with antimicrobial coated technology, businesses can ensure a germ-free customer experience offering the greatest feature of all - peace of mind. 

Additionally, there is an audit trail available that can show who went into which room in real-time, so it becomes easier to trace where someone got infected and when. This allows a space operator or manager, for instance, to contact everyone that might have been exposed to the virus.

What are the most common ways threat actors use in an attempt to bypass various access control measures?

We are keeping strict measures regarding our servers and firewalls and avoid being attractive to threat actors. The most common ways are trying to steal credentials from one of our end-users or use automatic scanners where they don't target SALTO KS specifically, they use a ‘crawler’ and see whatever they find.

What physical security measures would you consider essential for organizations nowadays?

Have a great open-source password management service in place. 

What other aspects of our daily lives do you hope to see enhanced by technology in the near future?

It seems far-fetched but access control solutions like SALTO KS have the ability to help with important societal problems, for instance fighting off loneliness. Especially in elderly care, it can help families to get more insight on how many visits an older member of the family gets, for instance, to make sure there will be someone visiting every day. This can be an extra service that healthcare organizations could provide, tracking their employees and offering families some comfort. If a caregiver loses a smartphone or security credential, its access permission can be revoked instantly, maintaining peace of mind and saving costly lock replacements.

Our daily lives will change for the better a lot in the upcoming years, and these changes will be all related to technology. 

What are some of the security tools you believe everyone should use nowadays?

SALTO KS offers a Digital Key which enables users to ‘tap’ doors open with their phone. It’s a feature that is equally as cool as it is secure, and in my opinion, it's also something that no business can live without.

Share with us, what’s next for SALTO?

Besides being one of the largest lock manufacturers out there, SALTO aspires to be one of the largest ACaaS companies too. By offering cloud-based access control solutions such as SALTO KS they are well on their way. Keep an eye out for more cool features and products by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

cybernews

 

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How SALTO’s energy efficient smart access solutions contribute to building sustainability

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Sustainability starts with building entry systems.

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Environmental awareness among hotels, workspaces, residential living, and most smart buildings is driving significant change in the industry. Sustainability practices are now widely viewed as critical factors in the successful facility management of smart corporate and hospitality buildings.

Smart building strategies include energy efficient access control solutions. Electronic locking systems can help solve challenges in operational efficiency, security, maintenance costs, occupancy, and sustainability. 
 

What energy consumption solutions are in place to reduce the impact on the environment?

Energy usage is one of the highest operating expenses for work spaces, shared living spaces, residential and the hospitality industry. In recent weeks, the prices of gas, coal, and electricity have risen to their highest levels in decades. The energy crisis is due to an ongoing shortage of energy across the world, which is affecting many countries. 

  • On average, 90% of wasted electricity usage comes from the guest room, which can be a property’s most unmanaged resource.
  • A room heating, ventilation, and air conditioning  (HVAC) system can represent 70-90% of that wasted electricity!

Smart access control and in-room sensors can bring a completely new level of intelligence to a building, and, in the process, provide information that can improve efficiency and operations. Sensors are able to detect a wide range of events and can seamlessly integrate with incumbent access control and energy-saving devices.

How SALTO’s energy efficient smart access solutions contribute to building sustainability

The SALTO Universal ESD system, plus existing integrations with SALTO technology partners, allows any type of building to optimize energy consumption by turning off lighting and adjusting climate control systems when guests or users are not in the room for extended periods.

The hotel industry has historically had a significant impact on the environment through its consumption of both energy and water. As the industry is bouncing back from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting sustainable initiatives is of growing importance to the hospitality industry. An energy management system can reduce a property's energy costs by 15-40% with an estimated three-year return on investment. Without such a system in place, a hotel may be at risk of unnecessarily consuming exorbitant amounts of energy.


Using smart technologies and energy efficiency programs to save energy in buildings.

A key element in a comprehensive energy efficiency program involves specifying equipment, data-driven methodology to analyze building energy consumption, and energy efficiency savings estimates and products that meet certain energy efficiency standards and sustainability policies. SALTO solutions, technology, and products meet all of these requirements. 

In innovating to meet social and environmental challenges, SALTO’s Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), recently achievement of a silver rating in the EcoVadis evaluation ranking and 100% carbon neutrality for our factory headquarters and global office networks are some examples of sustainable innovation examples. These achievements are a major step forward in making keyless smart access technology sustainable.

 

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Our commitment to sustainable practices.

SALTO is committed to designing and creating environmentally sustainable smart locking technology. By quantifying the environmental impact of our electronic door lock models, we ensure our partners and customers meet the standards required for their projects both now and in the future. 

SALTO signed up to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to aligning its operations with Ten Principles universally accepted in the areas of human rights, labour safety standards, environment, and fight against corruption, and adopting measures in support of the objectives of the U.N. 's SDGs.

SALTO commitment to sustainable practices

Find out more about how we accelerate our own progress to net zero while helping our customers do the same here.

Contact our sales teams who are happy to start your sustainability journey embracing sustainability as opportunity.

Follow SALTO on LinkedIn or Instagram to keep up with the latest news in the world of access control.

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What is coliving?

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As a coliving expert and consultant in the industry, I'm often asked, "What exactly is coliving?

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We've partnered up with one of the best guest experience coliving consultant, Leah Ziliak to launch a 6 part monthly blog post series . We're kicking off the series with our first blog post 'What is coliving?'. Happy Reading!

As a coliving expert and consultant in the industry, I'm often asked, "What exactly is coliving?

What is coliving?

The term ‘coliving’ can mean a lot of different things, so it’s easy to be confused. When I talk about coliving to friends, family and colleagues outside of the industry, I get some puzzled looks. Some imagine I'm part of a hippie commune, while others picture me living out an extended version of college dorm life.

Why would a professional woman in her 30s choose to live with housemates, instead of alone or with a partner? If you’ve found yourself wondering the same, let me start by telling you that modern-day coliving is a much more elevated experience than you might think.

So, what does exactly coliving mean?

In its simplest form, coliving is when a group of three or more unrelated people live together in one place. But the term has come to encompass a wide variety of living arrangements and situations over the years. From housing co-ops to hacker houses to student housing to high-rise community living, coliving has evolved to meet the needs of a new wave of people looking for communal living arrangements.

Interested in getting a glimpse of what coliving can look like? Imagine this...

You're living in a high-rise coliving in the city. You have a 9th-floor room all to yourself but pop downstairs to grab a coffee in the community kitchen. You hop on the community app and see that there's a Movie Night scheduled later that day and click 'Attend.' You use your smartphone for keyless entry into your kitchen storage unit to grab a muesli bar, and settle into your favourite spot in the coworking area to start your workday.

Examples of coliving spaces

You work remotely and book a room for a month at a coliving space in Spain. You’re staying in a quaint village by the sea in a historic apartment with a group of 10 other colivers. During the day, everyone works or studies quietly in the dedicated coworking area. At 5 pm, someone's pouring glasses of Tempranillo on the terrace and starting a skillshare event on SEO Strategies, before you all head out for tapas. Maybe you’ll stay another month or two? It sure beats working from your home office.

This is also coliving.

What is coliving

Modern-day coliving can present itself in a lot of different ways, with these being just two examples of many. There are coliving villages, coliving retreats, rural coliving, long-term residential coliving spaces and short-term destination-based coliving spaces. There are also coliving spaces intended for niche communities.

With so many different types of shared living spaces all over the world, there's a coliving space for anyone and everyone. And while they certainly all have their differences and are intended for different demographics, each of them prioritises the same things:

 

 

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Community. Flexibility. Freedom. Experiences.

What is coliving?

Benefits of coliving

So, why exactly is coliving such a huge trend right now? The growth in modern-day coliving comes about due to a shift in priorities amongst consumers, along with a strong push forward from the pandemic. Here are a few reasons why people are gravitating toward coliving now more than ever before:

  • Ease of Living: When it comes to coliving, life is easier in every way. Although amenities differ from space to space, you will typically find perks like housekeeping, all-inclusive bills, fully furnished spaces, coworking areas, a dedicated community manager and events. Many spaces are prioritising tech, enabling enhanced security and keyless access for a seamless user experience and even more freedom. Some operators integrate platforms that enable members to connect based on similar interests and further encourage community interaction. 
     
  • Flexibility & Accessibility: With the rise of remote work due to the pandemic, consumers have more freedom and more choices than ever before. When you can work from anywhere in the world, you can live anywhere in the world. Coliving spaces typically offer flexible leases and furnished spaces. With coliving for example, you can move to London tomorrow with nothing more than a suitcase if you’d like.
     
  • Experiences Over Things: In recent years, especially among millennials, we’ve seen a strong shift toward valuing experiences more than physical things. Consumers are willing to share spaces if it means having higher-quality interactions and experiences than they’d get living solo.
     
  • Shared Economy: We no longer need to own a car, we have Uber. We don't need to buy a dress for that black-tie event, we have Rent the Runway. We don't need to own a villa in France, we have Airbnb. With the rise of the shared economy, consumers have access to all sorts of amenities, without the need to acquire a bunch of possessions. Sharing homes gives us access to spaces and experiences that we might not ever be able to afford on our own.
     
  • Community: Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen the negative effects that social isolation can have on our well-being. People are craving a real sense of connection and coliving delivers on this in every way. Far from being a millennial trend, coliving offers a solution to combat loneliness for those of all ages. With the rise of senior and multigenerational coliving, it's clear that the desire to be part of a connected community sticks with us throughout our lives. 

So to recap, what is coliving in 2022? Coliving is a lifestyle. It’s a modern-day solution to an age-old need for a more connected, seamless living experience.

This is also coliving

There's a meme I’ve seen going around that says, "Normalise splitting a mansion with your 5 best friends and 10 dogs." And, while ten dogs might be a bit much, I appreciate the overall sentiment.

The coliving movement is normalising living with an inspiring group of like-minded people. Through tech, through superior resident experiences, and through community, coliving is shifting the entire housing market and pushing it forward to provide more enriching at-home experiences.

So, when people ask me why someone would choose coliving, my question to them is, “Why not?” Coliving is the key.
 

Stay tuned for the second of our coliving blog posts series which will be live in June with a focus on hybrid hospitality.

Contact our team of experts to offer a seamless customer experience to your residents with SALTO.

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Scale retail security with cloud-based access control solution

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Read ahead to find out how you can improve the user experience and safety for any store type with SALTO KS’ cloud-based access control system.

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Robust access control is vital for efficient, successful retail of any size or type — boutiques or big-box stores, owner-operated restaurants or fast-food chains, banks, supermarkets, discount stores, fitness center chains, gym franchises or clothing and fashion stores.

No matter the size, from specialist stores to convenience stores, which generally have extended opening hours, to even shopping malls, the right access control management is key. Monitoring access and entrances support the flow of customers through a store. SALTO Systems makes access control simple and secure and helps you grant specified access for your staff, suppliers, customers and even delivery services.

By developing innovative and reliable smart locking solutions that help retail establishments simplify their access management workflow, SALTO has helped retail businesses increase productivity, security, and operational efficiency no matter the nature of the store.

Integrating front-store and back-store access control, video surveillance, intrusion alarms, sensors, fire alarms, networks and other store management systems, gives retail and shop managers greater control and awareness of their site. SALTO Keys as a Service provides a scalable solution with multiple integrations and efficient ways of opening doors, including Digital Key for your smartphone.

Read ahead to find out how you can improve the user experience and safety for any store type with SALTO KS’ cloud-based access control system.

 

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Discover the benefits, performance and cost savings that come with the SALTO KS  for your retail business.

  • Removes problems arising from dealing with keys: Scrap mechanical keys, replacement costs and lost-key security worries with an easy to install and retrofit wireless solution.
     
  • Manages doors and store security in shared, single, and multiple locations without disturbing your storeactivity: You can keep track of who goes where and when with the Web and Mobile App. It is even possible to set notifications for specific events, so you’re always up to date.
     
  • Monitors store operating hours and improves retail store security 24/7 and in real-time: Get to know your customers’ behaviour which can be used to build your community and monetise your space(s) with the 24/7 activity data.
     
  • Manages staff access and streamlines operations: Improve your staff experience and simplify your access control. Give employees the opportunity to have access to all locations with the convenience of using only their smartphone. This added convenience results in a happy staff!
     
  • Expand your system as your business grows: Affordably scale cloud access management across multiple properties and integrate with your existing retail business management applications and security systems. Our solution is easy to expand to a new door for as many locations as you wish.

SALTO Systems hardware quality allows working with any door in the world, however unique the door may be.

An example of a retail establishment that has benefited from the above is EDEKA Durasin, independent retailer of the EDEKA cooperative. In addition to its main store in Hanover, the company has opened stores in Hameln, Eschede and Elze.

Due to the opening of their second shop in Hameln, EDEKA Durasin decided to adopt SALTO KS as their access control solution. When selecting the system, the focus was to extend KS to their existing shop and integrate with an intruder alarm system.

Technical Service Provider Jan Kruse said of the experience “SALTO KS is an easy-to-use and secure electronic access control system. As EDEKA's IT systems are not to be used for 'other' purposes, the idea of a cloud-based solution convinced us. The control and management via internet browser and app ensures the greatest possible independence.”

Find out more about how EDEKA scaled their stores here.

Would you like to learn more about how SALTO is helping transform retail businesses and their customer’s experience?

Contact our sales teams who are happy to help you introduce a profit-driven reliable access control solution such as SALTO KS into your business.
 

Follow SALTO on LinkedIn or Instagram to keep up with the latest news in the world of access control.
 

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Live with andcards: Smart Solutions to Transform Coworking

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Lunch-time sessions, we focused on a topic that concerns the integration of technology, its impact, and its significance.

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Last year, we launched a brand new series of Instagram Live sessions with our Technology Partners around the world. In these lunch-time sessions, we focused on a topic that concerns the integration of technology, its impact, and its significance.

To kick off this series, our Community and Partnership Manager Caterina Maiolini met with Igor Dzhebyan, CEO of andcards and our very own Christian Schmitz, Global Lead of Shared Living and Workspaces at SALTO Systems. During the afternoon chat titled Smart Solutions to Transform Your Coworking Experience, the trio discussed the most significant changes in the coworking industry in the last decade, the role of technology in the evolution of flexible workspaces, the technology integration between andcards and SALTO Keys as a Service, and the importance of access control as a solution for coworking space members.

Read ahead for the highlights of their live lunchtime chat, or click here to re-watch the IGTV video.

 

A Transformation Within Coworking

Following an introduction of Igor and Christian, Cate dives straight in, asking about the changes to the coworking industry over the past decade.

In Christian’s view, coworking has evolved from the 1.0 version to 2.0. He attributes the acceleration of the coworking trend to the pandemic and notes how we will soon see the 3.0 version of coworking evolve. As the pandemic has vastly increased remote working, the purpose of workspaces has also changed. Christian emphasizes this change by highlighting a view held by the majority.

“When I go to a workspace, I go there not only to work but also for the communal life and social aspect, which makes it different from working spaces,” he said.

Igor, who agrees that coworking has transformed in the last decade, believes that a coworking space is more than just a workspace. It’s also a type of service platform. Yet, many people don’t understand this aspect of coworking spaces. As a result, Igor thinks it’s essential to help everyone understand the many advantages of flex working, ensuring that this trend reaches the mass market.

Remote working has seen enormous growth over the past two years, increasing the number of coworking spaces. According to Christian, technology has enabled this growth. Likewise, Igor explains how technology allows consumers of coworking spaces to take advantage of their membership benefits 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The benefits of technology in the coworking industry is seen through the integration between andcards and SALTO KS, which enables a seamless customer journey.

 

Productivity and Coworking

On working outside of a traditional office environment, Christian raises an important point: What is the level of productivity like in coworking spaces?

According to Igor, coworking spaces help build a sense of belonging and allow people to feel like they are part of a community. He explains that research shows a sense of belonging that positively impacts productivity. Consequently, coworking spaces boost productivity levels. Cate adds to this point by mentioning how being in a coworking space allows for increased levels of collaboration, which has a positive effect on mental health.

 

Access Control for Coworking Spaces

Shifting the focus to the integration between andcards and SALTO KS, Cate asks, “How important is access control as a solution for coworking members?”

“Ensuring a smooth and positive customer journey is very important in building a successful business,” Igor notes. “In general, our company’s mission is to put coworking space services into a smartphone, and that’s what we really want to do with andcards. SALTO’s Digital Key solution is similar in that it allows a person to access spaces using their smartphone. I think that’s what customers want to have: 24/7 access to their membership benefits. I believe that we can give them just that with our integrated solution,” Igor explains.

“The new generation thinks with a smartphone in their hand,” insists Cate. Indeed, a generational shift has meant that the younger generation is now growing up with smartphones. As a result, there is an increasing move towards mobility, which is also driving the coworking trend.

 

Andcards x SALTO KS Integration

On a final note, Cate, Igor, and Christian discuss what’s in store for the andcards and SALTO KS partnership.

“We will continue to build upon what customers need, what the market needs, and where we’re headed. We’re driven by our mission and vision to build a coworking space in a smartphone: We have a bank in our smartphone, we have other services in our smartphone, and now we have a coworking space in our smartphone,” Igor says.

The customer will remain at the centre of the andcards and SALTO KS integration. Christian stresses this point as he explains that “a tech company can always build nice tech integrations. However, without having the customer at the centre, and letting them decide what they really need, a company risks driving the boat in the wrong direction.”

In summary, the future of our integration, which is undoubtedly promising, will be based upon the needs and wants of the real and current market.
 

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Stay tuned for updates on our partnership with Coworkies by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram!

Looking for more? Click here to discover more on SALTO’s access control solutions for Coworking and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates. 

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, Shared Living Spaces, Retail, and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks help make your business more secure and efficient. Integrate smart locks into your access solution and start easily managing wireless access control now!

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Meet Danish SALTO Champion Jesper Jørgensen

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Jesper Jørgensen works as a locksmith at one of the Danish SALTO installers, Bagger Låse & Alarm. He has installed SALTO access control on more than 10.000 doors since he started his career as a locksmith in 2007.

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Jesper Jørgensen works as a locksmith at one of the Danish SALTO installers, Bagger Låse & Alarm. He has installed SALTO access control on more than 10.000 doors since he started his career as a locksmith in 2007. This probably makes him the most experienced SALTO installer in Denmark. 

“I don’t think that there are any other locksmiths in Denmark who have installed more SALTO units than me. And I never get tired of it, because even though it has turned out to be many hundreds of locking systems a year, I fortunately only meet satisfied customers,” Jesper Jørgensen laughs.

 

A great system for almost any building

”SALTO is a great access control system for companies, housing associations, schools, nursing homes and other places where you want to keep track of who has access to both inside and outside doors,” says Jesper Jørgensen.

Easy to use

SALTO is with good reason the most popular access control system for many installers and customers in Denmark. And there are several good reasons for this, according to Jesper Jørgensen. 

“First and foremost, SALTO is extremely user-friendly. It is incredibly easy to control who should have access and when the doors should be open or locked. It simply works very well,” Jesper adds.

Security at a reasonable price

SALTO is also very easy to install. The SALTO offline SVN escutcheons can be mounted on existing doors, and there is no need for hard wiring or connecting the doors through a complicated wiring system.

“With SALTO access control, I therefore find that it is possible to secure buildings at a reasonable price compared to other locking systems,” says Jesper Jørgensen.

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Rising demand for access control

In Denmark there is a clear rise in the demand for automatic locking systems. 

“The demand has been steadily increasing since I first started installing SALTO units in 2007. I have installed access control on many doors and buildings, but now I also see an increase in customers wanting to secure e.g. wardrobes, mailboxes or medicine cabinets, and SALTO also offers many simple and user-friendly solutions for that,” says Jesper Jørgensen.

SALTO is used as an access control system within many companies, housing associations, schools, hotels, colleges, hospitals and other public buildings. During the last year, around 35.000 SALTO units were installed in Denmark.

According to Sanistål, the Danish SALTO distributor, SALTO access control offers many advantages, such as:

  • User-friendly software for handling key tags or cards. 
  • Quick overview of key tags and associated access rights. 
  • Can be installed on existing doors. 
  • Easy to remove key tags that get lost. 
  • Easy to make new key tags. 
  • SALTO’s key card can be used for payment in e.g. a canteen or the like. 

The original article of above interview with Jesper can be found here.

Follow SALTO on LinkedIn or Instagram to keep up with the latest news in the world of access control.

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SALTO is revolutionizing door access control in the Home, Workspace, Hospitality, and Retail stores.

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Whether you are looking for an access control solution for your residential building, workspace, home, hotel, apartment, retail environment, educational facility, critical infrastructure, or fitness clubs, SALTO is sure to have the custom solution for you.

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Mechanical keys are definitely something we can leave behind in 2022. They get lost easily, are used by unauthorized personnel, can be copied, or have to be handed to others when they need it which isn't that efficient. SALTO is a revolutionary solution that enables their user to use technology instead of traditional mechanical keys with keyless technology, to open doors and facilitate greater and smarter access control.

Whether you are looking for an access control solution for your residential building, workspace, home, hotel, apartment, retail environment, educational facility, critical infrastructure, or fitness clubs, SALTO is sure to have the custom solution for you. We can tailor access based on any employee, user, or guest at any level required. We offer extra access to management and security services and can instantly revoke access. Our systems provide around-the-clock safety and traceable security for ultimate peace of mind.

SALTO offers a smart access solution for every industry application and was the early leader in cloud-based access control technology. They have become a major player in ACaaS (Access Control as a Service) providers over traditional access control solutions, accelerating digital access transformation projects. The SALTO portfolio now includes world-class software management, cloud solutions, and mobile applications for businesses of all types and sizes.

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Some of our areas of expertise:

  • Workspace: Give your employees, workspace users or coworking members the convenience of keyless smart office door locks. They can even open doors using their smartphone, a smart credential, or a code. SALTO enables their system operators and users to improve their workspace experience and simplify access control by leveraging the latest in access control technology. 

    We are proud to have optimized a solution for Erste Group, an Austrian bank listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. With 4500 employees and 16 million clients, Erste Group is one of the largest financial service providers in Europe. They required an innovative solution to complement their flexible working environment. Because their 4500 employees don’t work within an assigned workplace, they required the ability to lock away documents every day with their employee IDs serving as their key and credentials. GANTNER, a SALTO Group Company, provided a one-system solution to all their access needs. We offered 7000 multi-functional lockers. Staff could access any available locker but were restricted from accessing occupied lockers. This entire system uses GAT Relaxx software. HR uses this to assign credentials and access to employees at various levels. Personalized mailboxes, storage facilities, dining and cleaning areas were also secured using this state-of-the-art technology. 
     
SALTO is a revolutionary solution that enables their user to use technology instead of traditional mechanical keys with keyless technology

 

  • Hospitality: With SALTO Hospitality solutions, you can extend smart access across your property. Our digital systems provide seamless access to the guest rooms,
    entrances, perimeter access doors, elevators, gyms, conference rooms, parking lots, and more. Provide the modern, easy access option guests increasingly expect with digital keys or sustainable guest key cards giving convenient instant, and safe access improving guest journey. 


    SALTO has developed advanced and aesthetically designed hospitality-specific electronic access control solutions that set a new standard in the industry– from back-of-house organization to guest room management – with one easy to use system for hotels that can be Integrated with in-room, check-in, PMS, guest apps and complete building management systems.

    SALTO optimized South Africa’s tallest building, The Leonardo, with smart access control. This mixed-use commercial building features 232 luxury apartments, eight penthouse suites, nine conference areas, restaurants, shops, and a spa. To future-proof this building, developers chose SALTO to optimize all 55 floors. This technology also meets the aesthetic of the luxury property. More than 400 electronic locks were installed, and this access control solution was integrated with the Bosch Video Management System for added video surveillance. Our revolutionary JustIN Mobile access control allows guests and staff access with an iOS or Android device. This makes entry touchless and convenient. Everything is managed from the security control center and access is easy to grant and is as simple to revoke. 
SALTO is a revolutionary solution that enables their user to use technology instead of traditional mechanical keys with keyless technology

 

  • Residential: SALTO enhances luxury living experiences with integrated, super-smart electronic locking systems. Our technology is ideal for apartments, residential housing, multi-family communities, vacation rentals, home care, and more. 

    Dockside Apartments is a hotel and apartment block in London. They rely on our advanced technology to keep guests and homeowners safe. With many apartments being used as vacation rentals properties, there was a need for reliable locking solutions with access granted as needed. With SALTO’s XS4 handle sets and wall readers, guests could check in and out seamlessly, offering a hotel-like experience.
Whether you are looking for an access control solution for your residential building, workspace, home, hotel, apartment, retail environment, educational facility, critical infrastructure, or fitness clubs

 

  • Retail: In a retail working environment, it’s crucial to be able to define who can enter or exit through which access points. It’s a necessity to track your staff, suppliers, or delivery services with keyless and mobile access. SALTO offers this as a solution along with the ability to remotely open doors and empowers employees with convenient, smart key access to the locations they need, add or revoke authorizations in real-time or offer quick and easy onboarding. 

    Sleepworld in Ghent, Belgium, utilizes our systems to eradicate mechanical key management between store staff and managers. Now an employee or manager calling in sick no longer impacts anyone’s access to the store. Our SALTO KS system provides access on the go to all required employees. Employees could be divided into groups with some granted special access as needed for limited timeframes. Plus, management could track the opening times of stores to check efficiencies.

After reading this article you still need convincing that you can offer the ultimate customer experience by combining security and convenience? Why not contact us today to discuss a custom solution for your facility and let one of our representatives explain what we can do for you in more detail.

We look forward to securing your building with our advanced technology and making your life easier in the process (and that of your staff, guests, and family while we're at it!)

 

 

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