Shared Living Spaces

Earlier this month, Christian (Coliving/PBSA & Vertical Business Development Manager) and Adam (Marketing Team) visited the famous Student Housing conference series: The Class of 2020.

This time, the regional session was held in Amsterdam. The theme was “The City and The Campus: Time to Invest in Talent”.

Continue reading through this blog to find out more about the event!

The panel discussion focused on attracting talented international students and expats while also managing and improving retention. It’s clear that a lot of international students move to the Netherlands for higher quality education degree programs, but the figure tends to drop in terms of retention. Alongside having a strong figure of internationals, massive problems with student accommodation arise when students are forced to find their own accommodation with insignificant help from their universities. For universities outside the Netherlands, it is very common that their campuses have private student accommodation facilities for their students. However, most Dutch higher education institutions do not comply with the same procedure. This distinction must be portrayed more appropriately to internationals who tend to see this as a shock upon approaching the start of their semesters.

Another vital issue on hand revolved around rising rental prices for private housing and student accommodation. After the session, we had the opportunity to talk to Robin Pascoe, the owner and editor of dutchnews.nl, who was also one of the panel speakers at the session. When asked about the issue of rising rental prices, she stated: “Invest in building cheaper housing which can be lived in by people on temporary contracts, as well as allowing flat sharing. Build more purpose-built student housing without forming ghettos and provide basic amenities.” This is definitely one way to tackle this issue. Many students turn to temporary housing facilities for affordability purposes. Flat sharing is also very beneficial. Sharing the rent of an entire apartment/house is a much cheaper option for students, whilst also enjoying the social company of their flat mates at home.

Another matter discussed during the session was integration of international students and expats into Dutch society. We also spoke with another member of the panel speakers, Sander Lapré, the Director Shared Services at Hotelschool The Hague. When asked about the divide between the Dutch and internationals, Sander stated: “It depends on where the internationals come from. The most common issue is culture. The Dutch are very direct and open. It is important that internationals learn more about Dutch culture in advance.” The culture differences are pretty clear. Internationals commonly tend to socialize more with people from similar cultures or other internationals. This raises concern considering that getting along with the Dutch is a necessary part of integrating into the society they live in.

Finally, the topic of supply/demand of student housing was also highlighted during another panel discussion in this session. The Netherlands has seen various nation-wide investments in student housing in order to improve the level of supply. Out of a total 692,000 students enrolled in higher education programs, approximately 49% of them live away from home, clearly depicting the high level of demand for student housing. Although such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Leiden, and Delft possess the highest student populations, they also go on record for having the highest shortages in housing. However, these shortages are expected to significantly decrease in the coming years. Other cities such as Utrecht and Groningen are expected to see surpluses in housing in the coming years, providing an incentive for internationals to pursue living in cities besides the larger ones.

-

SALTO KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control system is easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee the efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!

The increase in students attending higher education has led to a massive restructuring of the student housing industry. Over the last decade, the student-housing market has rapidly grown and seen various record levels of investment. This is mainly due to the increase in enrolment of students in higher education institutions. Not only this, but the number of international students in Europe has also been on the rise.

In 2014, there were a total of 4 million international students studying in Europe. By 2020, the total number is expected to surpass 7 million international students, which clearly indicates an incredible growth. Moreover, because of high rental prices for private housing markets, the demand for affordable student housing is rising. Most students, especially international and foreign exchange students prefer to live in student housing facilities. As a student, living in a student housing facility, or dormitory offers you the opportunity to interact with fellow students and get to know them better.

It is a straightforward way to build a social lifestyle at university outside of the campus itself. Events usually take place at dormitories, which also helps aid with the level of interaction between students. For international and foreign exchange students, this is a pretty vital aspect considering the usual scenario where they move to a new country and do not know anyone there, making student housing facilities and the social atmosphere very fundamental for them.

Overall, the relevance of student housing is depicted here so far, but what exactly makes it a good industry to invest in?

Further in this blog, several nations are analyzed on their student housing markets and the opportunities they offer for investments. All data recorded has been researched by JLL.

Germany is widely known for its ability to attract a great number of international students from all over the world, mainly as a result of the country’s low tuition fees and quality of education. Germany possesses the largest student population in all of Europe. Not only this, but over the last decade, the total number of students in Germany has risen by 28%. Amongst this statistic, only 1% is made up of part-time students, clearly depicting a high demand for student housing in the nation. Unlike the high demand for student housing in Germany, the level of supply is not that great due to the large number of students. Because of this, some students rent shared apartments or studios from private housing markets. With an increase in supply of student housing, the profit from investments is almost certain.

The Netherlands is one of the most popular destinations for international students in Europe. In fact, the number of international students in the Netherlands has actually risen by an incredible figure of 164% over the last decade, indicating a clear high demand for student housing in the country. Since it is very uncommon for universities in the Netherlands to have their own student housing facilities, the market is mostly occupied by private businesses such as DUWO, The Student Hotel, and XIOR Student Housing. The Student Hotel and XIOR have been investing well in Dutch student housing over the last few years, with several new locations being opened across the country. Moreover, supply levels for student housing are pretty stable in the Netherlands. However, rent prices can be pretty costly for students, especially in the Randstad region that includes Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, and Utrecht, which all possess a very large number of student populations. Because of this, investing in building student-housing facilities at lower rent prices would be a pretty profitable and popular choice for students

Spain is another famously known country for its student body. The country is a popular destination mainly due to its year-round sunny weather and social life of students. As a result, a large number of students are doing their Erasmus semester studies abroad in Spain: Mainly in Madrid or Barcelona. Supply for student housing in Spain does not stand at a positive level. Approximately 5% of all students live in PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation), and most of those usually stand at a full occupancy level. This highlights the relevance of increasing the supply of student accommodation, especially for internationals. Not only this, but with rent prices being quite high in cities like Madrid and Barcelona, Spanish students tend to remain living at home with their families. Investing in this market for a higher supply of affordable student housing would be very profitable for students in Spain.

The previous countries were analyzed on their status in student housing markets and the potential for further investments. The figure above also depicts the levels of supply and demand. Although only a few countries were listed in this blog, other countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, and France also possess similar prospects. Some countries already have major players of student housing in these markets, but the opportunity for entry is still there and is a profitable choice.

Overall, not only does investing in student housing in these markets make a profitable benefit, but it also provides students with the opportunity to find more affordable rent and be part of a socially integrated student body. .

Create the perfect customer experience for your students by implementing SALTO KS into your business. Contact us for more information..

-

SALTO KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control system is easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee the efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!

In Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) the PBSA forecast is looking promising. With a large number of higher education associations but the lowest number of international students the new government of Poland has adjusted it's strategy and are determined to commit financially to the internationalization of the country. Besides the known attraction of the historical culture, low-cost tuition and rent are also factors that are drawing international students to Warsaw and Prague.

This April Vertical Business Development Manager Christian Schmitz and SALTO KS’s local Sales representative in Poland ‪‪Przemyslaw Dawidziuk‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ visited the ‪‪Central Eastern Europe Regional Session‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ in Warsaw to learn more about the rise of PBSA in Central and Eastern Europe.

When in need for student talent good PBSA is of the utmost importance for a city. More and more governments are recognizing the problem of not having clear regulations around this important topic in check like zoning plans. They are slowly but steady owning up to their responsibility of attracting talent.

When in need for student talent good PBSA is of the utmost importance for a city. More and more governments are recognizing the problem of not having clear regulations around this important topic in check like zoning plans. They are slowly but steady owning up to their responsibility of attracting talent.

In recent studies, it comes to the surface less than 10% of the students‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ in the Warsaw district are not content with their university dorms. This comes to no surprise considering the current number of students is now 250.000 and only 18.000 beds are provided to them. Immediate investment in student accommodation is becoming pressing every day, but on a more positive note: This is a big opportunity to create that needed flourishing student community in this area.

In order to attract top talent students from abroad, Eastern Europe is demanding good PBSA now more than ever. Even though the costs of living are quite low at the moment, accommodations that are built and maintained solely for students just might be one of the biggest decision makers for students that are debating to move to a foreign country. Students nowadays value experiences, interaction and the feeling of a community more than material belongings; this is exactly what PBSA ignites.

In order to attract top talent students from abroad, Eastern Europe is demanding good PBSA now more than ever. Even though the costs of living are quite low at the moment, accommodations that are built and maintained solely for students just might be one of the biggest decision makers for students that are debating to move to a foreign country. Students nowadays value experiences, interaction and the feeling of a community more than material belongings; this is exactly what PBSA ignites.

For the most part (60 up to 70%) students rent property from private investors with a small portfolio of 2 to 10 apartments each. The costs are usually low, as is the quality of the property. If students got to pick, most of them would choose an en-suite room with high quality shared conveniences rather than studios. For students the location of their dorms is a number one priority, this not only counts for students within CEE, but around the globe.

Through organizing high-quality events in several different countries, original research and partnerships with higher education institutions, city leadership officials, real estate developers, providers, and investors The Class of 2020 created a network committed to making student living efficient, international, and welcoming.

Their vision is for cities to attract and retain the brightest young minds, and for them to lead the way to social and economic success in return.

We stand at the forefront of innovating student housing. Let’s shape the student living of tomorrow together.

Meet us at The Class of 2020 in Frankfurt the 23rd of May!

-

SALTO KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control system is easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee the efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!

Accommodation is one of the most important aspects of student life. And quality accommodation should be about more than just a simple room. With Clay, Student Accommodation Developers and Campus Facility Management can expand and improve the scale, reach, and quality of student accommodation anywhere around the world.

Smart Locks: Transforming Security in Student Housing

Most campuses need an out of the box smart lock solution for student accommodation. To list a few of their needs;

Salto Keys as a Service (KS) provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Campus managers can easily manage access for student dorms on-the-go; open doors remotely, block access, view entry activity and receive activity messages on their smartphone. Controlling who goes where and when creates operational efficiency. With Salto KS, campus managers can grant designated access to visitors, employees, or even delivery services whenever it is necessary for them to enter. So, no need for investment in application development and campuses can benefit from trained and certified Salto installer network worldwide.

But some need more!

Campuses of any size leverage various tools to better manage their student dorms and provide a competitive student experience. So, sometimes an out of the box solution is not enough, but also options to integrate with existing tools is necessary; such as alarm companies, camera/ surveillance companies, intercom companies, facility management tools, and many more.

Wondering how this can help you improve your customer experience, imagine this:

“Access management of all your locations, by facility managers, from one place”

And some need even more! Perhaps a custom solution, with needs like;

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

Salto KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control system is easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee the efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!

The gig economy enabled by digital technology has caused Industry 4.0 and laid the foundation for the future of work. With millennials making up 75% of the workforce by 2030 and an increasing amount of resources to work remotely alter the way individuals move, work, socialize and live. As coworking has become a social movement of 3.8 million members by 2020, a concept of co-living is stepping into the spotlight. As trendy and exclusive as co-living may seem with its members-only policy, selection of tenants and authentic branding, its further expansion is a necessity and strategic answer towards extreme urbanization and lack of affordable housing. Recent investment figures show accelerated growth of co-living and its international outreach with Medici Living Group securing the largest investment in co-living of 1 billion euros ($1.13 billion) for its European expansion. Co-living is an international phenomenon. According to JLL Hong Kong, co-living has more diversity of operators entering the market and has secured more investment than the other two main options as a retail and traditional office. With Welive’s expected entry to the Indian co-living market in 2019, the concept of shared living is being rolled out globally.

However, the success of co-living is only partially explained by its convenient plug-and-play model which offers all amenities being taken care of by the provider of the space. Co-living is a strategic tool to beat the shortage of affordable housing in the metropolitan areas and reduce the number of commuters, thus, improving infrastructure of the cities. Depending on the provider, renting a space in the co-living complex comes as a less costly option than renting your own apartment. And most importantly, co-living offers something that is hard to quantify - the community of like-minded individuals at one’s doorstep and social interaction with one’s neighbours. The selling point of the co-living concept is not its fully-furnished private rooms but genuine connectivity with one’s flatmates and welcoming atmosphere of the environment. It is suggested that co-living might even become a solution for decreasing alienation of urban workers from each other.

However, the success of co-living is only partially explained by its convenient plug-and-play model which offers all amenities being taken care of by the provider of the space. Co-living is a strategic tool to beat the shortage of affordable housing in the metropolitan areas and reduce the number of commuters, thus, improving infrastructure of the cities. Depending on the provider, renting a space in the co-living complex comes as a less costly option than renting your own apartment. And most importantly, co-living offers something that is hard to quantify - the community of like-minded individuals at one’s doorstep and social interaction with one’s neighbours. The selling point of the co-living concept is not its fully-furnished private rooms but genuine connectivity with one’s flatmates and welcoming atmosphere of the environment. It is suggested that co-living might even become a solution for decreasing alienation of urban workers from each other.

Co-living falls under a relatively new concept of Housing as a service (HaaS) or space as a service. It is disrupting the way we screen, monitor and select housing. Co-living is seen as a promising potential from industry experts from different market leaders as the real estate developers, hospitality companies, and investment community. Big names in the retail- and automotive industry are adding co-living to their portfolios. Ikea launches its Space10 which is an innovation lab based in Copenhagen. Ikea labels Space10 as its secret research lab where the future of sustainable living is explored. The business model around co-living is a service model which is one of the key attributes of sharing economy. As Uber has transformed the way we move and use a taxi, co-living giants as Welive and Collective are changing the way we allocate resources while making housing decisions. Ownership over goods is no longer attractive for consumers and the trend towards servitization is taking over. Users nowadays prefer access-based consumption, thus, short-term contracts and the opportunity to rent a space is becoming a preferred option over property ownership. As workforce transition is leading to an increasing number of mobile workers, the flexibility of movement from one location to another makes modern employees rethink their housing options to the benefit of co-living providers.

Co-living falls under a relatively new concept of Housing as a service (HaaS) or space as a service. It is disrupting the way we screen, monitor and select housing. Co-living is seen as a promising potential from industry experts from different market leaders as the real estate developers, hospitality companies, and investment community. Big names in the retail- and automotive industry are adding co-living to their portfolios. Ikea launches its Space10 which is an innovation lab based in Copenhagen. Ikea labels Space10 as its secret research lab where the future of sustainable living is explored. The business model around co-living is a service model which is one of the key attributes of sharing economy. As Uber has transformed the way we move and use a taxi, co-living giants as Welive and Collective are changing the way we allocate resources while making housing decisions. Ownership over goods is no longer attractive for consumers and the trend towards servitization is taking over. Users nowadays prefer access-based consumption, thus, short-term contracts and the opportunity to rent a space is becoming a preferred option over property ownership. As workforce transition is leading to an increasing number of mobile workers, the flexibility of movement from one location to another makes modern employees rethink their housing options to the benefit of co-living providers.

As co-living is expanding on an international level, the public image of a co-living tenant is being altered as well. It soon will be a thing of the past when the majority of tenants was comprised of digital nomads or young professionals. Industry leaders and innovative thinkers predict that co-living might serve as a solution to tackle social problems such as a lack of affordable housing for the ageing population. Figures from the UN report show that by 2050, the number of people older than 60 will increase to 2 billion worldwide. According to the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), 43% of people over 60 reports that they feel isolated. And co-living which offers a welcoming network of tenants might decrease high levels of loneliness and social isolation. Senior lifestyle housing has already been included in some of the real estate providers’ portfolio. New Ground Co-housing based in High Bernet (UK) is the first co-living project for senior citizens. It is women-only and tenants’ age ranges from 50 to 87 years. An alternative lifestyle is becoming a reality now for everyone regardless of age and socio-economic background.

As co-living is expanding on an international level, the public image of a co-living tenant is being altered as well. It soon will be a thing of the past when the majority of tenants was comprised of digital nomads or young professionals. Industry leaders and innovative thinkers predict that co-living might serve as a solution to tackle social problems such as a lack of affordable housing for the ageing population. Figures from the UN report show that by 2050, the number of people older than 60 will increase to 2 billion worldwide. According to the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), 43% of people over 60 reports that they feel isolated. And co-living which offers a welcoming network of tenants might decrease high levels of loneliness and social isolation. Senior lifestyle housing has already been included in some of the real estate providers’ portfolio. New Ground Co-housing based in High Bernet (UK) is the first co-living project for senior citizens. It is women-only and tenants’ age ranges from 50 to 87 years. An alternative lifestyle is becoming a reality now for everyone regardless of age and socio-economic background.

According to Ikea’s innovation hub SPACE10, disruptive power of the co-living concept is enabled by digital technology. The service model of co-living provides open platforms, digital applications and tools for granting access and management of one’s space, communication board with tenants and online payments system. Democratic nature of digitization makes processes faster and allows more individuals to perform their transactions. GitHub as an open source technology might become the platform for the co-living experts to share industry insights to optimize their processes. With the development of blockchain, rental contracts no longer create confusion between tenants and owners of the space. Decreased number of mistakes in records and early detection of fraud will be possible with smart contracts. Furthermore, co-living industry leaders invest in white-labelled applications designed for a particular co-living complex to manage community, events and practical matters.

To enable security of their spaces and real-time management, co-living companies choose SALTO KS which is a standalone cloud-based smart lock solution. Granting and revoking access for a definite period of time is a necessity for co-living community managers and is enabled by SALTO KS via its own management platform which controls all the doors of one’s space.

If you would you like your own SALTO KS solution, you can ask for a price quote or even schedule a demo right here.

-

SALTO KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control system is easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee the efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-

SALTO KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control system is easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing access now!

Besides privacy, security is one of the most crucial factors in a locker room, as lockers are primarily designed to keep personal belongings and valuables safe while people work, study, exercise, and use other facility amenities. When considering a locker lock solution, it is important to consider security, convenience, effective management, and ultimately what is best for your guest experience and property operations. With the SALTO XS4 Locker Lock, smart access technology is expanded to locker rooms adding both ease and efficiency to the entire guest digital experience, from checking in to checking out.

“With the world becoming more digital every day, the need to introduce the latest technology into the workplace, retail market, healthcare, and education sectors has never been greater,” says Aznar Sethna, CSMO SALTO Systems.

Most recently, the SALTO XS4 Locker Lock was awarded ‘ 2020 Product of the Year’ by Security Today magazine in their annual competition. Read ahead to find out more about how you can add smart access technology to your locker rooms.

Where BLE technology meets locker locks

The capability of effectively extending real-time, online, and mobile-enabled smart electronic access control to lockers and cabinets has long eluded the hospitality market, until now. By incorporating BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology into electronic locker locks, SALTO KS now delivers a product that extends up-to-date comprehensive electronic access control to lockers, cabinets, and essentially anywhere on the peripheral.

The ability to deliver real-time smart access to locker rooms and cabinets wirelessly and to link it to guest services has been long anticipated, to elevate the guest experience and to provide personalized service and extensive amenities. Adding BLE capabilities to the XS4 Locker Lock solution not only offers the most up-to-date protection for lockers and cabinets, but it also enables guests and staff members to control these devices with their smartphones. The SALTO BLUEnet Wireless engine allows the operator to monitor live access control events and provides the ability to unlock the locker lock, change the opening mode, monitor live door status, or change physical access rules in the access plan—all wirelessly and in real-time. This technology can, therefore, be optimized by hotels and building management, to ensure guest satisfaction.

Automate and optimize your guest experience

One of the primary benefits of a smart electronic access control solution is the ability to easily incorporate mobile access use. This makes it possible to take advantage of all the features smartphones can offer. Being able to check-in and out, unlock a guest room, order room service, and make amenity bookings will all be possible for guests to perform via the guest mobile phone application.

“The new SALTO XS4 Locker Lock with embedded BLE technology makes this product an excellent solution for all of those projects that require a locking solution for a controlled, easy-to-operate, and fully-integrated mobile access technology system.” - Aznar Sethna, CSMO at SALTO Systems

Create a more seamless and secure stay

SALTO XS4 Locker Locks are highly durable and have been constructed to withstand the unique environments often found in locker rooms. Security, hygiene, and cleanliness are a crucial element in the maintenance of locker room spaces. Locker locks allow access to space underneath lockers, ensuring your whole floor space can be cleaned thoroughly and to an immaculate standard.

The SALTO XS4 Locker BLE is an ergonomic design based on the same housing and mechanisms of the original version. A locking thumb turn makes for easy use—even with wet hands. The outer thumb turn, with a red and green indicator for the availability of the locker, has an electronically-managed release. Ready-to-install into pre-existing doors, the XS4 Locker Lock BLE is designed to be the ideal product for the replacement locker lock and can be used to quickly secure any pre-existing cabinet.

And in times where contagious viruses and bacteria dominate the headlines, it is valuable that the XS4 Locker BLE comes standard with BioCote® Antimicrobial Technology that can reduce bacteria and viruses by up to 99.99%. This is especially crucial as Locker-room environments are often more susceptible to contamination.

 

‹

›

 

 

 

The impact of SALTO BLUEnet technology

The advanced SALTO BLUEnet generation smart lock technology that SALTO has integrated into every SALTO XS4 Locker Lock BLE model also permits battery status management and audit trail recovery in real-time. With the same features as an online SALTO BLUEnet wireless door, users of the SALTO XS4 Locker Lock BLE can:

• Monitor online the status of the locker.
• Know if the locker was opened (i.e. card presented).
• Monitor online the battery status.
• Open the locker remotely.
• Perform an emergency opening.

The SALTO MyLock online configuration tool—which allows users to select and preview potential door configurations for access control projects prior to purchase—has added the new XS4 Locker Lock BLE to the platform. MyLock users can now visualize their next access control project that requires real-time wireless protection for areas like locker rooms, dressing areas, and cabinets.

To read more about SALTO KS, click here or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest product features, team updates and news from the industry.

SALTO KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control systems are easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee the efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!

We are honoured to announce that Salto Systems has joined forces with Co-Liv in a new technology partnership. Co-Liv is a global non-profit organization, ecosystem and “do-tank” whose mission is to empower the coliving phenomenon. With their values and mission aligning with ours, it is no surprise that the next step was for both parties to come together in the form of official sponsorship and a partnership starting as of June 2020.

Community is key

Co-Liv has a vision which echoes ours: Coliving is the movement that enables people with common interests to share communal spaces and live together. When coliving operations are simplified and adapted to innovation, the supporting communities and businesses will in turn grow. There is strength in numbers and that is precisely what Co-Liv enables. With a team that is built upon several backgrounds, skills, and expertise, the sky is the limit.

Christian Schmitz, Global Account Manager of coliving at Salto Systems, has joined the Co-Liv team as Tech Lead. Salto has always strived to focus on solutions and in coliving, this has resulted in generating more knowledge on new living concepts. These concepts collectively form the Coliving User Experience, which Christian actively studies and uses in his efforts to take spaces to the next level.

“Mutual partnership and supplementary expertise are of great importance. This is why Christian will join the executive team of Co-Liv, to drive the Tech part of Co-liv, the way he knows best.” - Gui Perdrix, Director of Co-Liv

The Benefits of a Technology Partnership

According to Christian Schmitz, this partnership is one that stemmed from a friendship. Director of Co-Liv, Gui Perdrix, has long collaborated with Christian on several projects, ranging from coliving meetups in the Salto KS office in Amsterdam to virtual meetups connecting the coliving community around the world. Gui has successfully led the organization to a global scale and turned the platform into a meet and greet opportunity for coliving professionals and enthusiasts.

It is for this reason that the Salto Systems and Co-Liv partnership has culminated in Christian’s new role as Tech Lead of the Co-Liv team, with Salto as their official tech sponsor. The core value of this partnership is to drive smart solutions that are based on the actual experience within coliving and shared housing.

Another factor that both parties prioritize is community. Christian was inspired by this quote of American writer Margaret J. Wheatley which he says perfectly encapsulates this partnership:

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” - Margaret J. Wheatley

Co-Liv’s Global Ambassadors and Meetups

Co-Liv is responsible for creating a network of user-centric thinkers, creatives and innovators. These individuals drive the movement across continents and deliver their own expertise in various industries and professions. Now there is a place where they can unite to drive their shared interest: as Co-Liv Ambassadors.

Coordinated by Cate Maiolini, the Co-Liv representatives of various operational and professional backgrounds are each responsible for local initiatives within coliving, including meetups, conferences, and collaborations.

“Entering a partnership with Co-Liv helps the organization to build itself out as a global platform - with its own online networks, local communities, and representatives,” says Gui.

The partnership is built on community and network. Salto Systems plays a role in expanding Co-Liv’s network with its global presence.

To this date, Co-Liv counts 18 ambassadors, including:

Williams Johnson Mota, CEO of B-Hive Living, representing Portugal.

Ricardo Neves, CEO of Oka Coliving, representing Brazil.

Kelsea Crawford, CEO of Cutwork Studio, representing France.

Hana Ahriz and Franziska Heuschkel, Co-Founders of Space & Pepper, representing Germany.

Lucas Crobach, Development Manager at Zoku, representing the Netherlands.

Carles Ribes, Founder of LIVO, representing Spain.

Cate Maiolini, House Mayor at Startuphome, representing the United Kingdom.

Amir Baruch, Impact and Public Policy Manager at Venn, representing the United States (East Coast).

Bart Sasim, Founder of SPX Agency, and Alicia Snarska, Founder of Raźniej, representing Poland.

Virginia Scapinelli, Coliving Lead at Stonup, representing Italy.

Elena Rantsevich, Founder of Stockholm Studios, representing Ukraine.

Bryan Leong, Manager at Salto Systems Asia, and Aminath Zaady, Co-founder of Rouf, representing Singapore.

Jorn Wisselink, Former consultant at Hmlet, representing Australia.

Laura Sundin, Head of Architecture and Design at Colonies, representing the Nordic countries.

Laura Matta, Business Development Consultant at Casa Campus, representing Latin America.

Contact your local ambassador to get to know more about the ambassador program and opportunities within your region.

We look forward to this partnership and delivering more content than ever before to build the growing coliving community and platform to where it deserves to be.

To read more about Salto KS, click here or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest product features, team updates and news from the industry.

Salto KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control systems are easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee the efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!

With the population in China nearing 1.44 billion people, and just over 60% of the Chinese people living in cities, the state of the Coliving industry seems more relevant than ever. Some even say that the future of urban living resides in coliving spaces. This is perhaps not surprising, as Coliving offers countless benefits to today’s urbanite. Besides the benefits of lower costs for larger living spaces, Coliving provides young Chinese professionals with opportunities to connect with other like-minded people.

When choosing a suitable coliving space to reside in, there are many factors that possible tenants consider. Among these are location, privacy, the price of rent, and community activities. However, there is a vital factor that potential tenants often do not, or cannot, judge beforehand.

This factor is security.

To investigate this subject further, we offer our platform to Sylvia Lee, Marketing Manager at SALTO Systems Asia. Read on to gain insights into her considerations concerning access control systems at coliving spaces in China.

When a tenant is looking for a coliving property, one of the first things they need to consider is security. With benefits such as convenience, lower rents, sustainability, and being a part of a community, Coliving has become an attractive option for many. However, with tenants sharing a lot of the same spaces, it’s imperative to make sure that security is a priority.

A recently released newspaper article highlighted the security levels of electronic locks being used in a coliving property in China. In the article, the reporter conducted a very simple test to verify the security level of a lock, using just a thin plastic card to attempt opening the lock. Surprisingly, the door could be opened within just one minute, without the aid of any professional tool!

The lock mentioned above is a very commonly used model in coliving properties in China: a single latch bolt. The problem with the latch bolt is that it is easier to pick than other locks, such as dead latches. Another issue with the single latch bolt is that it cannot be locked from the outside.

The concierge at the aforementioned coliving property later checked the lock, deemed it faulty, and replaced it. Thus, to investigate this matter further, the newspaper reporter visited a few other coliving apartments and noticed that this single latch lock, and its vulnerability, was indeed not an isolated case. The reporter found that in buildings managed by the same operator, there were various locks being used, which means the security level varied as well.

According to the Annual Report on the Development of Share Economy by the State Information Center, there will be over six million Coliving properties in China in 2020, which will accommodate more than 100 million people. Clearly, there is a need to establish a secure access control system in order to protect the safety of this high number of coliving inhabitants.

As one of the market leaders in electronic access control solutions with installations at numerous coliving facilities across the world, SALTO Systems has a number of advantages when deploying a coliving security solution.

● Proven security: The SALTO hardware and SALTO KS software have proven to be stable and capable of supporting large amounts of traffic every day.

● Flexibility: Site administrators should be able to grant access to a user at any time and from anywhere. They also need the capability to block the user’s access when their lease contract ends. Finally, the operator needs to be able to alter the tenant’s accessibility to different areas of the property according to the services included in their lease. With SALTO KS, you can unlock doors for your tenants via remote opening functionality, or send them their very own Digital Key, from anywhere in the world.

● Auditable: As there is a lot of traffic in coliving properties throughout the day, both by tenants and their guests, administrators have a need for an overview of door openings. The manager must have access to the log in real-time, so he or she can grant or remove the access authorization with a simple click.

● Integration: It is always highly preferable to choose access control that can be integrated with other systems, such as video surveillance, intercom, and alarm systems, to name a few. With a cloud-based access control system, it is possible to create a digital ecosystem that proposes a great variety of services for users. This possibility ensures seamless communication between the tenant and the Coliving provider, and SALTO KS provides a smart solution to meet this need.

In conclusion, SALTO KS delivers a seamless and secure cloud-based access control solution to coliving spaces. SALTO KS sites are equipped with wireless SALTO locks, making smart access control possible for any door. Wireless locks also mean easy installation with a minimal impact on the existing architecture. With SALTO KS, you can send a Digital Key to anyone with a registered smartphone, resulting in secure, easy, convenient, and flexible access. Every access event is logged, enabling site administrators to see who goes where and when, and allows them to block users from anywhere.

Want to learn more about how SALTO KS can enhance your Coliving security? Click here to leave us a message.

To read more about SALTO KS, click here or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest product features, team updates and news from the industry.

SALTO KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control system is easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee the efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!

We are proud to have solutions that have been implemented globally, from our own turf in The Netherlands to across the pond in the Empire State. For this reason, we like to make it a point to reach out to our customers around the world and find out what led them to SALTO KS and how they make use of it.

In this blog post, we focus on Australia, where we have an incredible Cloud team and colleagues who do their best to learn more about the spaces and sites using our cloud-based access control solutions. Two of these happen to fall under the same category of Student Housing and while both are customers, they are very different in their mission and identity.

This is supported by Josie Rae, Marketing Manager at SALTO Systems Australia and New Zealand, who says that “Australia offers world-class education and safe communities for international students.” According to Josie, these benefits will still hold true post the present pandemic; "As a service industry and home-away-from-home for young adults, implementing a cloud-based access control solution such as SALTO KS is operating with an eye to the future.”

Read on to find out more about Ultimo Terraces and The Student Housing Company.

Ultimo Terraces

Sydney’s universities and colleges attract a large number of overseas students. This generates a demand for council approved, safe, and secure accommodation, like the Ultimo Terraces student house-shares. Ultimo Terraces has three adjoining terraced houses, each with several bedrooms, a shared lounge, kitchen, bathroom and courtyard, and a communal laundry. While Ultimo Terraces are not primarily limited to student housing, they provide a valuable option for all renters.

According to the owner and operator of Ultimo Terraces, managing access to the houses and rooms was quite a headache before the decision to switch to SALTO KS. This was not only demanding on management time but inconvenient for the students, who had to wait for access. Additionally, there was a lack of visibility for the owner and operators who had no real-time clear view of who had access to which houses, doors and bedrooms.

“If a student lost their key card, a building manager had to come onsite with a new card, and physically reprogram it (which meant accessing the space under the stairs). Resetting a PIN code was a 10-minute process per door, involving taking the PIN pad apart,” said the owner.

After seeing SALTO Key as a Service (KS) at an expo, Ultimo Terraces’ owner decided it offered the perfect solution. The student’s phone becomes their ‘key’ for access to all parts of the house and is linked to a central management system via the cloud. Using their phone is an attractive and intuitive option for students, who are far less likely to lose the phone than a keycard. A flat battery is a potential risk, but Ultimo Terraces has a simple and practical solution, with a charger kept outside the front door.

Nevertheless, bedroom doors still have PIN pads or Keypads, as a backup option (in case students leave their room without their phone), but these SALTO Keypads can be programmed remotely from the central control system, rather than having to be physically taken apart. This means that changes and updates to access can be made on the fly, with no waiting for a manager to get to the house.

"As a service industry and home-away-from-home for young adults, implementing a cloud-based access control solution such as SALTO KS is operating with an eye to the future.” - Josie Rae, Marketing Manager at SALTO Systems Australia.

The Student Housing Company

The Student Housing Company is part of the Global Student Accommodation family. In Australia, they operate 4 properties housing over 1600 students. University Square in Melbourne opened its doors in July 2018, followed by The Boulevard in Perth, Infinity Place in Melbourne and most recently Park Avenue in the heart of the student precinct surrounding The University of Melbourne. With prime locations, all-inclusive rents, exceptional customer service and great community spaces, The Student Housing Company sets new standards for student accommodation providers.

Complete peace of mind for parents and students alike is an integral part of their brand promise and secure and flexible access control is an important element in delivering this. Students need to be accounted for and have access to their individual rooms, as well as various communal spaces. Some of these communal spaces are only accessible during certain hours of the day such as the swimming pool in Perth, or open to certain individuals, as is the case with the communal bathrooms split by gender at Park Avenue.

SALTO KS allows The Student Housing Company to centrally manage all their properties in real-time. For instance, the residence office can now see when a student last accessed their room which is vital for student monitoring. Notifications allow instant alerts to be sent to activity in the system based on their parameters. This has been used to identify when a student returns from a period of absence so that they can be welcomed back reliably every time.

The ability to remotely open doors also supports after-hours services. Since COVID-19, this has been used for opening the main doors for parcel deliveries and housing doors for when students are locked out. It has kept their students and staff safe by limiting human contact, while still providing the same level of service and ease of access.

“Once you learn how to efficiently use the system, it’s very simple and streamlined. The different functions are easy to navigate and simple to use.” - Becky Blakeway, General Manager of Infinity Place and University Square.

The right access control system can transform the student housing experience for both management and residents. This streamlined process can increase security while simultaneously giving students more independence and control over their spaces which while temporarily belong to them, provide them with a home away from home.

As Josie Rae points out: “Flexible security and safety measures have never been so important, and the integration possibilities with other service platforms allow these properties to truly differentiate their offering.”

To learn more about how SALTO KS benefits Ultimo Terraces, The Student Housing Company, among other spaces, visit our selection of Customer Stories.

To read more about SALTO KS, click here or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest product features, team updates and news from the industry.

SALTO KS provides a flexible access control management system that requires no software installation or the added expense of a fully-wired electronic product. Modern cloud-based, wireless access control systems are easy and simple to use for businesses including Coworking Spaces, Coliving Buildings, Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Retail, Multi-Tenant Housing, Gyms and many more. Our best in class wireless access control solution and smart locks guarantee the efficiency for your business. Integrate smart locks, start easily managing wireless access control now!