For centuries, locks have secured our possessions, playing a vital role in our personal security. Traditional locks date back to the nineteenth century; some of the names established back then are still household names today. But the most common access credential — the traditional, mechanical key and deadbolt lock — has become outdated. A digital transformation is taking place: the internet, connectivity, and digital technology are merging and integrating into the locking industry ensuring heightened security for today and tomorrow.

We’re already familiar with digitized security in the hospitality industry, where keycards have become the norm. The demand for safer, more secure buildings is now seeing digital technology merging with the multi-residential market.

Recently, options for single-family residential smart deadbolts have boomed. However, their use in multi-residential properties has been limited since they lack integration with access control systems. Physical credentials such as keycards and fobs are now pivoting towards digital technologies like BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) credentials. It’s as easy as tapping our phones.

Easier, Seamless Technologies

“We want technology to make our days easier and seamless,” explains Preston Grutzmacher, Residential Business Leader for SALTO WECOSYSTEM North America. “Investment into the property tech market has risen massively over the last five years. Much of that is geared towards the multi-family market.”

Grutzmacher explains there are clear benefits to using digital tech in multi-residential buildings. “It’s easy to imagine the number of products we use in our homes that connect to Wi-Fi,” he says, “in a community-based system it can be difficult to manage. Having a larger system that’s not individually linked to each unit but can be managed centrally has value.”

Traditional keys are typically made of six teeth which are easy to manipulate. “If you can see a mechanical key, you can copy it,” he warns. For many condominium and apartment buildings, a master key for all individual units is kept on-site allowing access in case of an emergency. If this key gets into the wrong hands, the results could be costly. Smart locks allow for heightened security, and a way to report and audit. If an investigation is needed, a full record is at hand: the locks read and write data, creating an indelible record of every entry.

“There’s an audit of every turn of the door handle, but this doesn’t mean it’s connected to the internet,” Grutzmacher says. “You want to control when a guest can come in—to give a credential that only works on specific days. Doing this through your smartphone doesn’t mean that your lock is connected to the internet in any way. Through a smartphone, a user can send a digital pass, and this connects with a unit lock or building’s main entry.”

Futuristic Security for the Multi-Residential Market

Designed specifically for the multi-residential market, Salto DBolt Touch is a standalone, battery powered smart lock ideal for updating existing mechanical deadbolts. A significant modernization for multi-residential communities, the Salto DBolt Touch gives the property owner or building manager the ability to install individual locks that connect to the main management platform. Users can use their smartphone, or keycard or fob as their access credential, or choose to set up a PIN code.

Perfect for both new builds and retrofits, the Salto DBolt Touch is practical for multi-family applications and replaces a traditional deadbolt lock using the same hole — no drilling or wiring is needed.

The Salto DBolt Touch connects to the Salto Homelok management software. From Salto’s cloud-based Homelok application, building managers can access information via their laptop or computer and single-handedly manage all locks in the facility.

The Salto DBolt Touch is also ready for whatever comes next in the digital locking industry, allowing for flexibility in access control methods, and avoiding the need for hardware changes even as software evolves.

Smart Locks and Cyber Security

To ensure absolute security, SALTO WECOSYSTEM locks get put through rigorous third-party testing with government-trusted agencies. Choosing a trusted brand is important. Salto has partnered with Apple Wallet to allow for Apple credentials to integrate with Homelok.

The nouveau design of Smart Locks is pleasing to the eye and fits with a modern aesthetic. Offering unparalleled convenience and security, Salto continues to champion new technologies and be a leader in the innovation of digital locking mechanisms. The future is ready to unlock.

To learn how your building can benefit, visit www.saltosystems.com