Coworkies' one-of-a-kind book launch and partnership with SALTO
The book offers a comprehensive understanding of coworking in all its capacity on a global scale, with carefully curated stories of people, spaces and products that are actively transforming the workspaces of today.
We first crossed paths with our community partners Coworkies in 2018, the start of an exciting journey into coworking and its many possibilities within the world of access control.
Pauline Roussel and Dimitar Inchev, Coworkies Co-founders, are the power team behind the unique book about coworking, community & design: Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces, the first of its kind in the global coworking community. The pair invited us to join their coffee-table book project, co-led by our very own Christian Schmitz, Global Lead of Shared Living and Workspaces and Caterina Maiolini, Community and Partnership Manager.
The book offers a comprehensive understanding of coworking in all its capacity on a global scale, with carefully curated stories of people, spaces and products that are actively transforming the workspaces of today. It also acts as an engaging and interactive guide of how people build new work environments through collaboration, interior design and community activities.
In October 2021, we were proud to attend Coworkies’ successful book launch event in Berlin which brought the coworking community together for the first time since the pandemic. Following the event, we interviewed Pauline, Coworkies Co-Founder. Amongst other topics, we discussed the global impact of the book, the relationship between cloud-based access control and coworking spaces and the partnership between Coworkies and SALTO systems.
Read ahead for our conversation and some highlights of the event!
1. Congratulations on the launch of your book! Can you briefly introduce “Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces” to our new readers?
Thanks for your kind words! “Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces” is a coffee table book we’ve launched after travelling the world of collaborative workspaces for the last 6 years, visiting over 430 of them across 48 cities around the globe.
It features 250 unique spaces, communities and interiors and gives the teams behind those new work environments an opportunity to share their incredible stories with the world.
2. What does it mean to you to see the book being embraced by the global coworking community and beyond?
It’s such a special feeling to see people from all walks of life embracing the book.
When we started to work on the concept, we knew we wanted it to be as inclusive as possible. What does inclusive mean in this context? It means that whatever prior knowledge readers have on coworking and new ways of working, the book has been designed as a journey they can build for themselves, choosing where they want to start and what they want to learn.
For instance, if someone has no prior understanding of what coworking is, the first part of the book will be very helpful and will bring him/her up to speed for the rest of his/her journey.
On the other hand, people who already operate coworking spaces might want to dive right into concrete knowledge and examples, choosing the type of learning they seek among the ones we’ve highlighted through the tags reading system we’ve developed.
3. What was the biggest challenge faced and best highlight experienced in creating the book?
Without a doubt, the biggest challenge for the book was the pandemic.
This is not something we’ve shared a lot so far but we actually started working on the book at the end of 2018 and our initial intention was to release it in early 2020. But then, COVID-19 entered the world and it had a huge impact on coworking spaces. Although we were almost ready to roll, we thought that releasing a book in the midst of the pandemic without even talking about it would diminish its entire purpose.
So, we started all over again.
We reached out to the spaces featured in the book to ask them how they were adapting and what was their outlook for the future so we could update their stories and be the closest possible to the reality they were living when the book came out.
The idea was not to create a book all about COVID-19, which means we had to find the right balance between stories that would talk about it and stories that would cover other topics.
But in the end, the pandemic was also an opportunity for us to reconnect with spaces, to be close to them in hard times and support them, remotely, with knowledge, connections and moral support too.
4. What do you want people to take away from “Around the World in 250 Coworking Spaces” and how do you see the future impact of the book?
Very often, people believe that if they are not freelancers or startupers they don’t belong in coworking spaces. That belief has driven our mission to “make coworking better” by educating more people and companies on its principles, but more importantly, to the different shapes coworking takes.
So, to answer your question: we hope that by flipping through the book, readers will feel that coworking is, as we often say, “the same dish everyone cooks differently”, and that it serves so many more communities than just freelancers and startups.
5. How have access control solutions impacted the coworking industry? Why did you choose to join forces with the team at SALTO Systems?
On the operators’ side, access control solutions have allowed them to (1) design better experiences for their users but also, (2) relieve some of the operational work that is often very heavy on coworking teams. Being able to provide easy-to-manage solutions allows them to focus more on creating value for their members and less on managing lost keys :)
On the users’ side, access control solutions allow them to live better experiences within spaces. No need to carry yet another key or fear losing it. Right now and more often than not, users can access their workplace from the comfort of their smartphones and that’s convenient.
As said previously, having the aim to “make coworking better” also meant that the book needed to be full of resources operators can use to evaluate where they stand in terms of community, operational management and experience offered. Joining forces with SALTO Systems means that the book can offer unique insights, coming from experts (you guys!), who have a far deeper understanding of the topic than any of us, and who can help our readers to learn from your experience and expertise.
We feel grateful to Christian Schmitz, your Head of Coworking, Coliving and PBSA, for having shared so much in the book about using access control systems to enhance the overall members’ experience.
6. How did SALTO Systems cross paths with you in the making of the book?
It all happened at the Coworking Spain Conference back in 2018.
(If Manu Zea, the founder of coworking, is reading this, thanks again for inviting us back then!)
We were invited to speak and share our story with participants and SALTO was one of the sponsors. We had never crossed paths with you guys before but meeting at the conference felt like fate. When we started telling the team on-site about our ambition for the book and showing them the concept behind it, they got so excited that they immediately connected us with the right people within your team.
The rest is history :)
7. Can you describe the relationship between the coworking community and SALTO Systems?
We always feel so happy when we tour around a space and see them using SALTO Systems. You guys have such a vast array of options. You can really support spaces at any given part of their [a user’s] journey, which is amazing.
Whether they [a user] are starting with one space or growing tremendously, SALTO Systems is there to make their life easier when it comes to designing their “access control systems strategies”.
Beyond the technology, SALTO Systems has an incredible team of passionate people, dedicated and committed to integrating access control systems into community strategies, using it as yet another way to bring people together because as you guys say so well, “Community is the key”.
8. What were the highlights of the book launch in Berlin and the online community launch?
The Berlin book launch felt so magical for so many reasons! First, Berlin is our home, so being able to host an in-person event after everything we’ve all been through was quite something.
Then the venue: The Student Hotel, which is featured in the book, was just the perfect place for us all to reconnect. Spacious, beautiful, flexible, centrally located. Working with them in preparing the event was a stress-free experience and they really helped us focus on what matters: bringing people together.
Due to the context and COVID-19, we had no idea how many people would actually show up to the event. It’s one thing to get a ticket on Eventbrite or say “attending” on Facebook and it’s another to come and attend. So seeing close to 100 people throughout the night come and celebrate this life achievement was just incredible. Above all, their eagerness to (re)connect with one another was super nice to witness. Many people shared that the book launch was their first in-person event since the pandemic started. We feel very grateful that they chose our event as their first!
Last but not least, the cake you guys surprised us with was (quite literally!) the icing on the cake.
I (Pauline) really didn’t expect it. When I saw it coming, I almost felt like crying. Such a nice gesture and it was very yummy too. Thanks again to you and the team for contributing to the night in the way you did.
9. Can you give us a glimpse of the next steps for you and Coworkies? What would you like to accomplish next with SALTO Systems?
Right now most of our efforts are focused on the book and its promotion - so expect to read and hear about it across many outlets worldwide!
As per what we would like to accomplish next with SALTO Systems, there are many things we are currently discussing together, from events to an eventual volume 2 of the book — many doors are open :)
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!
Increase social value with Technology Partner Sowebuild
One of SALTO’s Technology Partners,Sowebuild, offers community services and solutions backed by strategy, management, and their very own technology called ‘Buildr Apps’
One of SALTO’s Technology Partners, Sowebuild, offers community services and solutions backed by strategy, management, and their very own technology called ‘Buildr Apps’ - a community experience platform and engagement app for residential and commercial real estate investors, operators, and building residents.
We’ve asked the co-founder of Sowebuild, Sander Willems, and Laura Henke, who is in charge of Marketing and Content, about their integration with SALTO’s cloud-based access control solution, SALTO KS, and how this integration helps to increase social value in real estate.
Continue reading to find out more about this valuable integration:
How is the integration between Buildr Apps and SALTO KS improving the lives of end-users?
It primarily saves time and prevents frustration amongst tenants who want to make use of shared workplaces, work spots, and meeting rooms. Users can book a room and automatically get authorized access to their space with a single click on a button via the app, which acts as a remote control and extension of their daily natural work routine.
In addition to that, it also helps end-users to be and feel safer around their living and/or working places, especially in regards to the COVID-19 rules, since operators can decide to give or deny access based on occupancy and cleaning status of shared spaces.
What triggered Sowebuild to work with SALTO?
My partner Rick Scholsis one of the Dutch Ambassadors for the Co-Liv network and got to know Christian Schmitz of SALTO Systems through it. Since we share a passion for community and are both very active around the subject of shared living and coworking, conversations between our companies arose naturally.
We felt that SALTO could be a perfect and much-needed extension/integration to our technology. Looking at the current situation, our collaboration became even more meaningful as it helps us to keep both operators and tenants safe and the overall user experience seamless.
Success comes with a proper strategy and conscious, continuous nourishment, treating residents as if they were your own kin. - Co-founder of Sowebuild, Sander Willems
Why do you feel it’s so important that tenants have a say in the management and development of their own space from the get-go?
Because tenants (read: people!) who are involved in the development of their own working and living environment naturally feel more connected to it. Generally speaking, this means higher engagement, more inclusion, and a sense of responsibility for the place they are living or working in (and the people they are sharing it with). On an operator level, this usually results in a higher social value of the properties and better retention rates which heavily enhance sustainability and NOI growth.
On the other hand, the end-user feels seen, heard, valued, and appreciated, which motivates them to take responsibility for their shared space and invite others to do so as well (ambassador) – it doesn’t really matter whether we talk coliving, cohousing, or coworking.
What do SALTO and Sowebuild have in common?
Sowebuild and SALTO are both advanced, fast-paced software providers: companies that are very much needed at this time and will be highly requested in the near future not only due to the current changes in the real estate market but also in the world.
Besides that, we are both active members of the ever-evolving community, coliving, and coworking debate, shaping the future of shared housing and flexible working.
What are the three most essential aspects in building communities in the PropTech sector?
- Community managers/facilitators should have the time, space, and tools to focus on the facilitation of their members; organizing the community itself, as well as events; and realizing valuable social connections.
- Give members the opportunity to orchestrate their own lives, to be effective in what they do, thrive in what they enjoy doing, and foster close relationships with people and businesses around them.
- Elevate the experience by creating an environment of inclusion. Build a place rather than a space, that is based on interconnected membership and shared values. The effects and results of building a real community go far beyond the experience of the physically built space itself.
How do you analyze user behavior and how do you use your findings to upgrade your services?
We analyze social behavior within our community module, analyze actions and transactions in our online services module, and we aim to measure the temperature of residents’ happiness by Net Promotor Score, reviews, surveys, and in the future with AI technology.
These indicators are used to provide community managers the opportunity to allocate social interaction at the right moment and place to facilitate members better in supply and demand of local products and services.
What are the most valued features that Sowebuild offers its users?
To name two of our most successful modules:
- Community (newsfeed, events, profiles, live chat)
- Bookings (meeting rooms, services, and perks; food and products; shared items)
Though we are increasingly adding features, functionality, and analytics to our platform, we’d like to stress that the success of building a sustainable community has nothing to do with solemn technology and the number of features that you offer. Because the community is built around values of inclusion, not just or only around amenities and perks.
Connecting with residents personally is 10 times more effective for your people to feel happy than adding a gadget. We’ve seen this over and over again in the places that we serve. Success comes with a proper strategy and conscious, continuous nourishment, treating residents as if they were your own kin.
What is something people might not know about Sowebuild, but they should?
Communities are built best with the right balance of strategy, management, and technology. Often clients come to us requesting “an app for their building” with the idea of leaving with a product, but they often appear to stay with us helping them to build their community to its full potential, both online and offline, where technology is just a fraction of what we do. We have community experts and managers in our team that help facilitate various kinds of places where people live and work. So we are active in different verticals of real estate and take our learnings from the different markets to serve a general goal: building a strong community.
We know you are likely thinking, “yes, in an ideal world community is most important but often a delicate challenge that is difficult to grasp in reality, and ideas are often easier than their practical implementation.” We hear you! That’s why we listen and observe. We are driven to prove “community success” and the eventual ROI for property investors and operators. We see this aspect as our personal mission, to find the right metrics and optimize spaces ensuring a sense of belonging, wellbeing, and happiness for our client’s end users.
At this moment, around 15 people work at Sowebuild and we are preparing ourselves to expand internationally. To set out this course in a sustainable way, we are always on the lookout for the right partners to join us in this journey. Whether you are a possible integration partner, potential client, or interested in investing in our company’s growth, please reach out to us to learn how we can collaborate, we’d be happy to visit.
Let us build more thriving communities together!
What would you like to see for the future of this integration with SALTO KS?
First of all, I would like to thank Menno Ruimschotel for taking the time and having the patience to work on this assignment meeting our client’s expectations. As he is taking a higher position at SALTO Systems, I would like to wish him all the best in the future.
Furthermore, I enjoyed the collaboration with Björn de Vries and his team, for being helpful in getting the tools connected and integrated well. I would like to see the collaboration in this project as a reference for doing more fruitful work together in the future. Because community is the key, right ;)? (smiles)
We are continuously growing towards the digitization of places where hybrid, physical communities are the key to online and offline connection and part of our daily lives and routines. We will passionately continue to add value to this interconnected realm, creating maximal performance and natural experience.
We foresee an exciting future where the human-centric approach becomes an integral part of designing spatial experiences. Sowebuild is looking forward to being an experienced player in this field, using the leverage of technology to foster sustainable communities.
We’d like to thank Sowebuild for this insightful interview. We look forward to a valuable and inspirational partnership that will continue to grow and develop in the upcoming years.
Follow SALTO on LinkedIn or Instagram to keep up with the latest news in the world of access control. Find Sowebuild on LinkedIn to stay up to date on their community experience platform and engagement app.
Images by Today's Brew.
Personalized branding for Coliving with help of technology
The dedicated coliving professionals from Coliving Insights have done it again! Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the team from Coliving Insights works across the globe on a mission to push innovative ideas, thought, and people from the coliving industry into the spotlight.
The dedicated coliving professionals from Coliving Insights have done it again! Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the team from Coliving Insights works across the globe on a mission to push innovative ideas, thought, and people from the coliving industry into the spotlight.
We can’t believe it’s already the 8th edition of the always anticipated on Coliving Insights online magazine. This edition focuses on ‘Branding & Marketing for Authentic Shared Living Communities’. In this publication, Coliving Insights touches upon how consistent branding, marketing, and communication strategies can open endless opportunities to make your coliving brand more recognizable and authentic throughout various touchpoints of the customer journey and reflect wider brand values, mission, and vision and how coliving operators use various touchpoints to increase brand recognition and reach.
Access control goes beyond the product; it’s a facilitator for a future-proof way of living that supports well-being, a strong sense of community, and thriving businesses. This is why SALTO’s very own Caterina Maiolini and Christian Schmitz elaborate on the topic of how technology can attract those customers that can elevate your coliving brand on page 53.
Other topics that are discussed in this article:
- Learn who your target audience is
- How to discover and meet your guest’s needs
- How a personalised customer experience can help you leverage your brand
This eighth edition features marketers and creative professionals from creative agencies, digital and marketing agencies, and in-house marketing teams that share valuable insights, their own experience, and best practises on how to create strong, recognizable, and sustainable brands through effective and well-executed marketing strategies and brands. Diving into the intricacies of various branding solutions and exploring how they can facilitate the creation of a strong brand personality that can differentiate itself in a competitive coliving industry.
Through 120+ pages of insightful articles, you will get valuable advice from over 15 industry experts including SALTO Systems on how to create an innovative, sustainable, and timeless approach to branding and communication practises.
Get your free copy of Coliving Insights No.8 ‘Branding & Marketing for Authentic Shared Living Communities’ today! Download the full publication here.
Can’t get enough? Follow SALTO on LinkedIn or Instagram to keep up with the latest news in the world of access control.
Intelligent & Secure lock openings with Digital Key
Make your doors smart with Salto’s digital key electronic locking technology.
Salto’s smart door locks allow users and system administrators to send and receive Digital Keys that can open any door or gate equipped with a Salto smart lock, cylinder, wall reader, padlock, or locker lock using their iOS or Android Bluetooth LE or NFC-enabled smartphone.
Mobile access control solutions offer users a keyless experience, providing instant and mobile access without compromising security or convenience. By combining various technologies, Salto's smart locking solutions evolve from traditional access control to ACaaS (Access Control as a Service), enabling users to manage access rights quickly, wirelessly, and without keys. This offers greater security than mechanical keys by introducing digital keys and replacing traditional physical keys or smart credentials.
Implementing mobile credentials and digital keys.
Digital Keys are available across smart access technology platforms from Salto.
Designed to secure any door in a building and make access control more effortless and secure than ever, Salto Space offers a flexible access control platform with a unified software and hardware platform.
Experience unified, scalable security, integration support, and limitless features to manage your buildings’ operations with a virtually networked, data-on-card based locking system.
Salto KS (KaaS: Keys as a Service) is a scalable cloud-based Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) solution that’s built to fit your business needs, today and tomorrow.
Salto KS smart access offers multiple ways of opening doors, including digital keys. It supports a wide range of keyless access methods to improve user experience and the security of any type of building. It also delivers advanced security features on a fully remote and wireless cloud-based smart access management platform.
Salto Homelok - All-in-one smart access solution for residential living
Salto Homelok enables modern keyless living for residents, streamlines operations for managers and owners, and improves security across all types of residential properties.
A cloud-based smart access platform with intelligent, wire-free and virtually networked electronic locking SVN technology optimises hybrid deployments and enables the smart building ecosystem without needing infrastructure.
Benefits of mobile credentials for Access Control
Salto’s digital keys eliminates losing keys, added expenses, and frustration.
- Digital Key: Increases flexibility and improves security. Easy, efficient, and intuitive automated key delivery.
- Bluetooth LE, NFC and Apple Wallet: Proven mobile and secure technology to create a unique keyless experience anytime, anywhere, and on any device.
- Smarter access: Send or receive a Digital Key to open any door. Grant access or block users easily to specific timeframes and/or locations.
- Improved operational efficiency and significant cost savings: Traditional mechanical keys can be expensive to replace and maintain, and the cost of key cards or physical credentials can quickly add up. Operators can instantly manage access permissions to grant, disable and revoke access to optimize user experience and enhance security management.
- Mobile and card-based access control systems are the most secure way to give access to the right person at the right time.
JustIn Mobile Digital Keys: Using your smartphone for access
JustIN Mobile eliminates the need for physical keys or cards and all the associated costs and access management hassles.
The JustIN Mobile technology replaces the need for a physical access card by securely sending a room key “Over the Air” (OTA) from Salto’s Space, KS or Homelok smart access platforms to a registered and verified iOS or Android device. The phone then uses Bluetooth LE or NFC to send a signal to the door’s electronic locks.
Leverage the performance and usability of the fully native Salto JustIN Mobile key delivery experience into your mobile app. With the JustIN Mobile SDK, which is available for both iOS and Android, you can integrate JustIN Mobile for a fully customised mobile digital key integration into any third-party application. The JustIN Mobile SDK makes it easy and secure to incorporate smartphones into your access control solution.
Give workspace members, hospitality guests, or multi-family house residents the convenience of going keyless using their smartphones, enabling community-based access control solutions supporting user satisfaction, security, and safety.
Can’t get enough? Click here to learn about Salto’s smart access solutions.
Follow Salto Systems on LinkedIn or Instagram to keep up with the latest news in the world of access control.
Transfer activated IQs to another device easily with the latest SALTO KS app release
The latest SALTO KS app release brings a new way to transfer already activated IQs to another device.
We strive to provide a smart and efficient access control experience with SALTO KS. For this reason, we value your feedback on our solution and use that information to improve our iOS and Android apps. The following blog post will walk you through our latest developments!
The latest SALTO KS app release brings a new way to transfer already activated IQs to another device. With this feature, we aim to ease the painstaking process of reactivating IQs one at a time, especially for large installations. When users switch their mobile devices, they now don’t need to worry about the hassle of migrating activated IQs. Now, any user can navigate to ‘Settings’ and tap on ‘Transfer IQ Information’ to start the process of migrating all activated IQs. Additionally, if you use the same iCloud account on both of your iOS devices, activated IQs can be transferred through the cloud.
Below you can find an overview of the latest improvements and fixes within the iOS and Android apps including migrating IQs to another device.
How to migrate activated IQs to another device
To migrate activated IQs to another device, please be sure to cover the below points before you begin the process:
- Connect both devices to the same WiFi network.
- Enable Bluetooth on both devices.
- Be sure you are logged in with the same SALTO KS account.
- Have both devices close to each other during the migration process.
- Grant permission to access the camera on your device.
- Grant permission to access the microphone on your device.
Step 1:
For the first step, use the new device (receiver of migrated IQs). In order to migrate the activated IQs from your old device to the new one, you need to navigate to the ‘Settings’ tab and select the ‘Transfer IQ Information’ option under the ‘IQ settings and options’ section.
Step 2:
Next, choose ‘Import IQ Information’ in order to generate a QR code.
Step 3:
On the new device, follow the instructions on your screen until the QR code is generated.
Step 4:
For this step, you will use the old device (sender of migrated IQs). Once you have the QR code on the new device, you need to switch to your old device to scan the generated QR code present on your new device. Navigate to the ‘Settings’ menu and click on the ‘Transfer IQ Information’ option. This time, select ‘Export IQ Information’. This will pull up the scan QR code screen*.
*Please make sure to grant the right permissions to access the camera on your device.
Step 5:
Scan the QR code generated on your new device. After successfully scanning the QR code with your old device, you need to switch to your new device to confirm that the migration is successful.
Step 6:
On your new device, confirm that migration of the activated IQs to your device is completed.
Additional points to note before migrating activated IQs are:
- The maximum number of IQs that can be migrated is 700.
- It is possible to migrate activated IQs between different platforms (iOS & Android), however, there may be some inconsistencies during the migration process in which case we recommend checking that camera and microphone permissions are granted on your device and then re-trying the migration.
- iOS users can migrate activated IQs through the cloud. Make sure that your Apple devices have iCloud Keychain enabled and that you are logged in with the same Apple ID account on both devices. As you activate IQs on one device they should be automatically activated on the other device.
Summary of What’s New in iOS and Android Version 8.2
This app release also enables searching and filtering IQs online and offline on the IQ page.
Finally, we increased the minimum version of the supported operating system for our app to iOS 12 (previously it was supported until iOS 11).
Bug fixes for iOS Version 8
- Moved the ‘About SALTO Systems’ links to the ‘SALTO Legal’ page.
Bug fixes for Android Version 8
- Moved the ‘About SALTO Systems’ links to the ‘SALTO Legal’ page.
- Fix for the crash issues when the language of the app is set to Arabic.
- Fix for the keypad being active after searching for a user and navigating to the user detail page.
- Fix for the Eagle Eye Networks live feed not showing the camera name.
- Fix for the issue where searching for a user fails if a filter is applied.
- Fix for the header of ‘Entries’ not changing when "Incidents" is selected.
The new version of the SALTO KS Mobile App is now available in stores for iOS and Android.
We value your opinion. Contact us if you have any concerns or suggestions regarding the above updates or visit our FAQs page. We’re happy to help!
To find out more about SALTO KS, click here or follow SALTO Systems on Instagram and LinkedIn.
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 help make your business more secure and efficient. Integrate smart locks into your access solution and start easily managing wireless access control now!
The Key in Weave Living Properties
There’s a popular movement going on in busy city centers like Hong Kong: the rise of share living spaces brands. For rental brand operators to optimise the living experience, they need to find more convenient ways to control access across multiple properties for their large number of residents as well as staff.
There’s a popular movement going on in busy city centers like Hong Kong: the rise of rental brands. For rental brand operators to optimise the living experience, they need to find more convenient ways to control access across multiple properties for their large number of residents as well as staff.
Weave Living is Asia Pacific’s leading owner, developer, and operator of rental accommodation, offering hassle-free city living in many prime locations. The company strives to bring individuals together in inspiring spaces, allowing them to thrive in an urban environment.
It provides a range of long- and short-term rentals including Weave Suites, which emulate a stay on the concierge level of a luxury hotel; Weave Residences, which are like traditional apartment rentals; and Weave Studios for co-living accommodations popular with millennial types. Within these properties, Weave Living’s residences boast a range of living options such as furnished apartments with private kitchens and bathrooms, and private studios with shared spaces like kitchens, living rooms, workspaces, and gyms.
To maximise its residential and staff experience, Weave Living realised its need for a keyless entry system. It required a system that would allow residents and staff alike to enter and exit living units and shared spaces like main entrances, gyms, rooftops/terraces and meeting rooms without mechanical keys. Managing traditional mechanical keys with rental residents who might only live in a property for as little as a month would be nearly impossible. Additionally, the use of mechanical keys would pose a significant security risk considering that lost keys are amongst the most serious security breaches. Consequently, it was clear from the offset that an electronic access control system would best serve Weave Living’s residential properties.
“SALTO KS enables the freedom of movement between properties for staff and residents with a single credential” - David Lee, SALTO Systems Business Unit Manager, Greater Bay Area and Taiwan.
Weave Living was committed to finding a true cloud solution. It found its ideal solution in SALTO KS’ ‘Keys as a Service’ access control management platform. SALTO was the perfect partner for Weave Living owing to its smart solution offerings that catered seamlessly to Weave Living’s wide range of property types.
The solution provides a flexible, cloud-based access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. An online device with internet connection is its only necessity. The key benefits of the SALTO KS cloud-based solution include: very little maintenance; scalable to any number of doors or properties; and extreme reliability. Property management can easily oversee the electronic locks on doors from any device – a phone, PC, or tablet – and residents can conveniently access their homes with a smartphone. Ultimately, this system eliminates the hassle, cost, and security worries associated with lost mechanical keys.
“SALTO makes it easy to manage users and access groups on SALTO KS remotely without physically presenting an access card, key fob, or smart device” - Juliana So, Weave Living Systems Manager.
SALTO Systems Business Unit Manager, Greater Bay Area and Taiwan, David Lee, said that when Weave Living and SALTO representatives first met, it was apparent that Weave Living placed a very high priority on using technology to drive a better user experience for their residents. Furthermore, SALTO KS is integrated with Weave Living’s PMS provider. As such, SALTO KS delivers a convenient digital key that residents can access from their smartphone within the same mobile app where they read news feeds, sign up for events, and make maintenance or housekeeping requests.
“Whether it’s using the SALTO key fob or integrating with the Weave Living mobile app as a digital key via Bluetooth to access doors, we have been able to create a great experience for our residents and our Weave Living staff members,” said Weave Living Systems Manager, Juliana So.
Another key benefit of SALTO KS is the ability to block access remotely, “In the case of a lost or stolen phone, one of our staff can remotely block access for that digital key and either install a new key on one of the resident’s other mobile devices or issue a SALTO key fob until they can replace their phone. The SALTO system even allows senior Weave Living staff to access multiple properties with just one digital key on their smart device,” explained So.
On a final note, SALTO KS, coupled with the elegant selection of SALTO electronic locks, is the perfect access control solution for the sleek Weave Living decor – comparable to luxury hotels. On this theme, So said, “the SALTO locks are stylish and blend in really well with our beautifully designed homes.”
Weave Living will continue to incorporate the latest SALTO smart locking technology as they expand across Hong Kong and into additional markets like Singapore and Australia. For any global gateway city – good, quality, and professionally-managed rental accommodation is the key to keeping the city competitive and attracting the best international talent to the city.
Take a look at the SALTO KS page for more information on this cloud-based access control solution. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest product features, updates, and news from the industry.
SALTO Systems develops and manufactures advanced and reliable wireless electronic locking and access control smart solutions that provide a smoother, more comfortable, and secure daily life for the people using our systems. We bring added value to our clients, making it easier for decision-making and smarter management of facilities. Our goal is to not only be within the top three companies in our sector in the world, but to also be your number one smart electronic access control provider. As an organization, we intend to create an ecosystem of end users, clients, partners, collaborators, and suppliers with whom we build long-lasting, win-win relationships guided by closeness, flexibility, integrity, and trust.
SALTO joins digital nomad communities celebration at Bansko Nomad Fest
In the last week of June, more than 300 digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers made their way to a quaint mountain town in Bulgaria to take part in the Bansko Nomad Fest.
In the last week of June, more than 300 digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers made their way to a quaint mountain town in Bulgaria to take part in the Bansko Nomad Fest. With inspiring speakers, interactive workshops, community events, and lots of time in nature, the week-long festival was a true celebration of the location-independent lifestyle. Digital nomadism has already been on the rise in recent years, but with the increase in remote work opportunities, the community is set to explode. According to The Economist, by 2035, there will be 1 billion digital nomads in the world.
As one of the main partners of the event, our team at SALTO Systems was able to experience the magic behind the nomad community in Bansko first-hand. Previously, Bansko has been known for its ski slopes and old town, but over the last five years, it has become a notable hot spot for digital nomads, drawing in location independent travellers from all over the world and all year-round.
In order to create a customer-centric experience with our products, we believe in the importance of getting to know our end users and understanding their personal experiences, desires, and needs. At Bansko Nomad Fest, we were able to do just that. Coliving and coworking are all about connection, and having the opportunity to connect with the people who use our products daily in the stimulating festival environment was especially impactful.
To find out all the key takeaways from the event, we reached out to our Think Tank Partner, Leah Ziliak, Founder of The Coliving Consultant and a digital nomad herself.
Read ahead for Leah’s on-the-ground experience of Bansko Nomad Fest!
So, how did a ski resort town in the middle of Bulgaria become one of the top digital nomad destinations?
In 2016, Uwe Allgäuer and Matthias Zeitler founded Coworking Bansko, with the intention of not only building a top-notch coworking space but developing a real community around it. The results have been pretty incredible. Now, with multiple locations and 100+ members at any given time, Coworking Bansko has been able to foster an environment that supports entrepreneurs and remote workers, while cultivating an incredibly close-knit community.
With its picturesque location at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, it’s easy to see the allure of spending time in Bansko, but the real undeniable draw here? The community of Coworking Bansko.
Coworking Bansko has crafted its own unique community experience, one that makes its members feel at home right away. It’s not unusual for members to come for a week or two and end up staying for a few months or years. That’s the power of the community built in just these past few years.
Wanting to open the experience up to a larger audience, Coworking Bansko decided to create a festival to celebrate the location independent lifestyle and connect on an even bigger scale, and with that, Bansko Nomad Fest was born.
With attendees from over 30 different countries, the festival drew in crowds from all over the world. Israel and Italy also participated with their own Digital Nomad communities to join the international nomads who flocked to the festival. With 48% of attendees being women, it's clear that the work-from-anywhere trend is growing among female entrepreneurs and remote workers.
The festival itself was jam-packed with activities all week long, including professional events and workshops, alongside more community-based activities like bonfires, karaoke competitions, quiz nights, horseback riding, and pool parties. But, even during a quiet week at Coworking Bansko, you’ll find an entire schedule of events. With yoga classes, community dinners, skill shares, game nights, group hikes, and more, there are plenty of opportunities for members to connect on a daily basis. No matter your interests, there’s always something you can participate in.
With a strong interest in the coliving and coworking sector, the team at SALTO Systems had been hearing the buzz about Bansko for a while now and wanted to experience it first-hand. Nomad Fest was the perfect opportunity to connect with users and be fully immersed in the community.
SALTO Systems’ Christian Schmitz, Global Lead of Shared Living and Workspaces, and Cate Maoilini, Community and Partnership Manager, presented their talks on The Freedom of the Cloud’ and Growth in Tech in the CO to the main stage audience. Bringing technology to the shared living and working experience is all about creating both a sense of connection and a sense of freedom. Both SALTO presentations took an in-depth look at the user journey experience and the tech needed within the coliving and coworking industries. From communication tools to cloud-based keyless access solutions, the duo discussed how properly integrated technology has the potential to improve the customer experience from the very first touchpoint to the last.
Additional highlights of the week included SALTO’s Sharing Is Caring workshop, bringing together festival participants to collaborate and find solutions to real-life issues they were facing. Along with a Virtual DJ Party, various networking events, and impromptu meetups, SALTO was able to provide their own community experiences and bring further awareness to the possibilities that tech solutions can have within the industry.
Digital Nomads are on the cutting edge of all types of industries: travel, tech, coliving, and coworking to name a few. They’re not the average traveller. Nomads have a very unique set of needs and a unique set of values. They are experience-driven and with a location independent lifestyle, strongly prioritize freedom, which is part of the reason SALTO’s access control solutions are such a powerful tool within the coliving and coworking industry/sector.
One of the things that stands out most while spending time in Bansko is the collaborative, supportive spirit that exists within the community. The personal connections derived from coliving and coworking are immense, but the benefits extend even beyond that. Being surrounded by a group of people with different mindsets and backgrounds allows for an incredible amount of personal growth opportunities.
The sharing economy is about more than just coliving or coworking together. It’s about combining skills, creating together, and sharing experiences that can enhance life in real tangible ways.
One of the biggest trends in coliving right now is the rise in rural and destination-based coliving experiences. Places like Bansko are proving that there’s so much value in a community. As a coliving or coworking operator, if you’re able to create an experience that’s truly unique, people will travel around the world to be part of it. On top of that, rural areas tend to offer a lower cost of living, access to nature, and an enhanced quality of life that you simply can’t find in major cities around the world.
As the remote workforce increases, people are becoming more and more conscious about where they choose to live. If you can work anywhere, you can live anywhere too, right? It’s clear that the number of digital nomads will rise in the next several years. The numbers speak for themselves; an estimated 17 million people aspire to become nomads in the future. Analysts say that by 2035, there will be 1 billion digital nomads in the world.
As for those that are already living the nomad life in Bulgaria, and in various hotspots around the world? They are early adopters of the shared living/working experience and part of a rapidly-growing demographic.
Bansko offers community, ease of living, and the freedom to experience the world a little differently, factors that will one day become the norm. SALTO Systems has the ability to make a real impact within these communities by enabling seamless experiences and creating opportunities for connection through their solutions.
Christian Schmitz put it best, “Community is the key.”
Explore the New SALTO KS App Release and Improvements to the Locks Page
Your smart access control experience with SALTO KS is very important to us. This is why we ask for your feedback on our solution and use that information to improve our iOS and Android apps. The following blog post will walk you through our latest developments!
Several new features have been introduced to enhance your SALTO KS App user experience, including an improved interface for the Locks page in order to give more information about the locks that a user has access to. Previously, basic site users did not have an overview of which locks and entry points they have access to. The new Locks page now brings with it an enhanced and comprehensive way of interacting with these locks.
In addition, the new Locks page now gives more insight into the status of the lock; for instance, battery status and online/offline status, so that the system administrator can stay in control while they manage their locks on the go.
The new version of the SALTO KS Mobile App is now available in stores for iOS and Android.
Below you can find an overview of improvements and fixes within the iOS and Android apps.
1. Locks Overview Page
Users now have direct feedback on the lock status (online, offline, easy office mode, office mode), battery status, and warnings from the locks they have access to.
2. Locks Detail Page
Users can get more information related to the individual lock and have a better overview of the actions they can take. These are the following:
- Remote opening
- Use of Digital Key
- Office mode (on/off)
3. Locks Detail: Tooltip
By clicking on the lock icon, the administrator can see the details of the lock. This includes lock type, Mac address, attached IQ, and communication type.
4. Lock Detail: Warnings
Users can now get instant feedback on warnings related to particular locks.
Summary of What’s New in iOS and Android Version 8
Features and Improvements: (*same for both apps)
Version 8 offers an improved user interface for all lock screens. It offers more information about the locks that a user has access to and improves the experience of interacting with them.
- New Locks overview page with updated lock icons and list style. Now showing the type, lock status, and possible warnings.
- New locks detail page with more descriptive information about the current status of the lock, including:
- Lock status (online, offline, easy office mode, office mode).
- Lock battery status.
- "Door left open" and "Intrusion" warnings.
- Lock events.
- Lock settings.
- Tooltip with additional information on lock type, Mac address, attached IQ, and communication type.
Bug fixes for iOS Version 8
- Fix for the invisible back button on the "About SALTO Systems" page.
- Fix for the hyperlinks on the "About SALTO Systems" page.
- Fix for the issue when an IQ is activated for the first time but returns the error: "activated on another device."
Bug fixes for Android Version 8
- Fix for the bug that caused the app to crash when opened for the first time.
- Fix for the issue where the sites were not displayed in ascending order.
- Fix for the bug where the "Office mode" button is not displayed on the Locks Detail page.
We value your opinion. Contact us if you have any concerns or suggestions regarding the above updates or visit our FAQs page. We’re happy to help!
To find out more about SALTO KS, click here or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
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, 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!
What is the Next Generation of Smart Locks - What is it?
In a new video collaboration by SALTO and Group337 we dive deeper into what we believe "The Next Generation of Smart Locks" will be.
In a new video collaboration by SALTO and Group337 we dive deeper into what we believe "The Next Generation of Smart Locks" will be. The purpose of this collaboration is to spark a conversation—a change. We are hoping to help start a new language for the industry, and if we agree that the smart lock industry has entered into its next generation, we should agree we need to look, say, and act next generation.
In part 1, we are diving into the difference between smart, connected, motorized, and mechanical and what the next generation of smart locks will need to stay relevant.
In part 2, we will tackle the value beyond locking and unlocking. And in the finale, part 3, we reimagine door openings and our relationship with entering and exiting.
We plan to cover the different verticals such as single-family, multifamily, and commercial locks. We will speak to all of them generically and high level enough that what we discuss applies to all use cases. There are fundamental functionality and value creation that work across all verticals in the Next Generation of smart locks, and we want to cover them here.
Of course, this is just the beginning, and we can't cover it all in such a short amount of time, but we will do our best.
All right, let's get into it part one.
It is important to note a clear difference between smart, connected, motorized, and mechanical locks. Unfortunately, we sometimes mix them all and conflate their abilities.
If we are honest, most of the electronic locks on the market today are not smart. What they are, is connected. We went from mechanical to motorized, motorized to connected, and we still haven't gotten to what we all want, which is smart.
But we are getting there. One of the most significant barriers to our industry boarding a rocket ship and seeing that hockey stick growth and adoption we all expected to see by today is that we have not innovated the smart lock (enough). We have only iterated the mechanical lock. Motorized and connected were feature iterations off of mechanical. So think about it, we as an industry said, "what if the door opened itself? Well, if it's locked, that won't work, so let's automate the unlock function." So we went and took the same mechanical lock that we had before, updated it a bit, and integrated a motor into it.
Is it an advancement? Yes, no doubt. But it was not very smart.
Then the market and ecosystem said, "We'd like to take your motorized lock and have our system lock and unlock it. We want to control it." We also said, "wouldn't it be cool if we could lock and unlock via our phone or watch?" 100%.
And we were happy to do it, so we took the same motorized lock and added some radios and gave the ability for it to connect to other systems... introducing the connected lock.
Some marketing departments and analysts got excited and dubbed it "smart locks," but unfortunately, once the cool factor wore off and the inability to drive a consistent experience became a reality, what we ultimately had was a connected lock that, frankly, wasn't so smart.
But that is ok because, like many things, the market is shifting. New technology is being introduced.
As a result, new players are interested in the market, and end-user demand has increased, resulting in a renewed interest in smart locks.
So what does the next generation of smart locks look like?
- It is a reimagined platform—all of it, including the hardware.
- It is not a feature of a mechanical lock like a brass finish. It is its entity.
- Some use cases and end game functionality are unknown, which is ok because it is part of an ecosystem. It is an ingredient to a much larger solution.
- It is a software product with hardware that supports the experiences desired by end-users versus administrators and installers.
- It has safety at the core and safety as table stakes. It is a given and includes cybersecurity as well as hardened physical security.
- A team supports it focused on it day in and day out, not as a side hustle.
- It is a product line understood by leadership with the same importance and expectations as its mechanical brothers and sisters.
- Business plans are not predicated solely on yesterday's metrics.
- Distribution and hardware sales are not the only measures of success. It is time for a new spreadsheet.
- Hardware is used to grow the platform's adoption to unlock software potential exponentially, not get in the way of said growth.
The smart lock is this and many other things. But, more or less, the smart lock of today and tomorrow is a complete re-imagination. And those with curiosity and imagination will unlock it.
Contact us if you have any questions on the SALTO product range or visit our website located here for information on all things SALTO. We look forward to helping!
Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest product features, updates, and news from the industry.
SALTO Systems develops and manufactures advanced and reliable wireless electronic locking and access control smart solutions that provide a smoother, more comfortable, and secure daily life for the people using our systems. We bring added value to our clients, making it easier for decision-making and smarter management of facilities. Our goal is to not only be within the top three companies in our sector in the world, but to also be your number one smart electronic access control provider. As an organization, we intend to create an ecosystem of end users, clients, partners, collaborators, and suppliers with whom we build long-lasting, win-win relationships guided by closeness, flexibility, integrity, and trust.
The world’s largest coliving gathering: Co-Liv Summit 2021
A common denominator for all pioneers is that they don’t stop for anything until they reach their goal. This is also the case with SALTO’s partner Co-Liv.
A common denominator for all pioneers is that they don’t stop for anything until they reach their goal. This is also the case with SALTO’s partner Co-Liv. This May they held the world's largest coliving gathering and even a global pandemic couldn’t stop them from making this online event a huge success.
As residential communities that host like-minded people, coliving has become a welcome solution to the growing desire to live in communities and the lack of individual real estate possibilities. This popular housing concept is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs, developers and professionals to contribute with smart technology and new innovations.
SALTO believes in a future built by people, that enhances the way we live and work by technology. A human-centered future that benefits from smart innovations that supports a healthy lifestyle, whether that’s in an office, a shop or a shared living space.
If you have been keeping an eye on the SALTO LinkedIn and Instagram accounts, you are probably familiar with SALTO’s biggest partner in the coliving industry, Co-Liv: a global association of coliving professionals that have the same beliefs on the future of living as SALTO.
Co-Liv unites those professionals who are looking to make a difference in the coliving experience. They believe that together, they steer the coliving movement towards an independent, flourishing, and stakeholder-centered industry that creates value for residents, cities, neighborhoods, operators, investors, and real estate owners alike.
The theme of the Summit was “Laying down the foundations for the future of coliving” and to date is the largest coliving gathering ever held.
On day one Alexander Rosdorff, Global Technology Partner & Integrations Lead at SALTO Systems was a panel member together with fellow industry experts Ari Dinar, Oscar van Wel, and Dimitri Belin, for the insightful discussion 'Deep dive into the coliving tech ecosystem’. The summit was topped off by the very first edition of ‘The Coliving Awards’ live-streamed from Paris, where SALTO’s Christian Schmitz, Global Lead, Shared Living and Work Spaces, and head of tech at Co-Liv, acted as a jury member and simultaneously accepted the award for ‘Best Sponsor’ in name of SALTO Systems.
"I believe that when you are together and you share information, doubts, fears, successes, and more, very strong bonds are created and this will remove many of the current roadblocks in the coliving movement." - Christian Schmitz, Head of Tech at Co-Liv and global Shared Living lead at SALTO Systems
By bringing the whole ecosystem together during the summit, Co-Liv has empowered the movement to grow even further. Small and big players now feel more connected and part of something bigger. With this summit, the word ‘Coliving’ has for once and for all evolved from just a buzzword to a word with meaning.
"This event was a great opportunity to learn about the often overlooked aspects of technology in Coliving, and bring them to light. Integrations being a vital part of this. Choosing the right integrations is essential to create a thriving community, and I enjoyed diving into this important aspect at the summit." - Alexander Rosdorff, Global Technology Partner & Integrations Lead at SALTO Systems
It was an honor to be part of this celebration which casts a much-deserved spotlight on the coliving community.
"This event showcased the core values that we strongly share with Co-Liv which are to educate, empower and connect. These are values that are still felt strongly by the whole coliving ecosystem. Winning the award at the Coliving Awards was the perfect ending to this incredible event.” - Caterina Maiolini, Community and Partnership Manager for Shared Living and Workspaces at SALTO Systems
To conclude this article SALTO would like to congratulate all winners, finalists, and nominees, particularly our partners: Co-Liv for their Ambassador Programme, OurDomain by Greystar, on their awards, and lastly, the winner of the PropTech and ConTech award for which Christian acted as jury member: Hmlet Coliving Software.
Co-Liv has just released a comprehensive report on the key highlights, exclusive industry statistics, key insights from panel discussions, and much more! Make sure to download the report through this link if you want to read exclusive insights from the world’s largest coliving gathering.
SALTO Systems develops and manufactures advanced and reliable wireless electronic locking and access control smart solutions that provide a smoother, more comfortable, and secure daily life for the people using our systems. We bring added value to our clients, making it easier for decision-making and more innovative management of facilities. Our goal is to not only be within the top three companies in our sector in the world but also to be your number one smart electronic access control provider. As an organization, we intend to create an ecosystem of end-users, clients, partners, collaborators, and suppliers with whom we build long-lasting, win-win relationships guided by closeness, flexibility, integrity, and trust.
