Security Sales & Integration November 2021 - 50

Access
Wanna Be Smarting
Something
ily rental market. This includes both long- and
short-term vacation rental markets. " Property
managers and owners in these markets are
seeing the value of connected locks on their
properties as tools to more efficiently manage
their business and provide a better experience
for the guests and/or tenants. This technology
enables self-touring solutions for long-term
rental properties and more frictionless guest
experiences for vacation renters to enter their
property without the hassle of a physical key
exchange. Access control serves as the entry
point for additional sales opportunities. "
Despite any bells and whistles, at their core,
SALTO says its electronic
smart door locksets are
easy to install, need no hard
wiring and provide a wire-free
networked smart electronic
locking solution with a range
of features.
smart locks are about security for the residential
customer. " Some of the newer capabilities give
dealers and integrators additional sell points. For
example, manufacturers are incorporating biometric
technology into newer models to bring a
higher level of security. Since locks are all about
security to begin with, this is a message that will
resonate with many customers, " says English.
" And updated versions of some of the most popular
chips, such as Z-Wave, not only provide
higher security but they also make device enrollment
into a home automation hub easier. "
Speaking of easing user processes, English
says the integration of smart locks with voice
assistants has simplified accessing smart devices
like locks. " So as voice control becomes more
popular, there should be an accompanying rise
in the popularity of smart locks. "
With the growth of the smart home industry
on the rise, the residential smart lock market is
also set to expand, Lovejoy predicts, particularly as
the technology continues to leap forward with increased
connectivity and range, new integrations,
etc. " For dealers who are starting to migrate over
to the residential market, it's important to understand
the evolving smart home market and what
products and features are most appealing to consumers,
ranging from those looking for simple,
entry-level products to more advanced options. "
Courting Consumer Appeal
There are a multitude of reasons why many residential
customers view smart locks as a very
attractive option. The convenience of PINs instead
of physical keys means no more worrying
about accidental lockouts or lost or stolen keys.
Temporary codes allow homeowners to control
who's accessing their home without having to
give authorized users keys. Since they can be set
for specific time periods, temporary codes also
MINING THE MULTIFAMILY MARKET
▶ Preston Grutzmacher, SALTO Systems' residential business
leader for North America, has good news for dealers and integrators.
Smart locks can translate into more business opportunities,
and multifamily residential technology platforms are
driving exponential adoption.
" There's no doubt that smart lock adoption in the residential
multifamily market is growing, " he reports. " Any dealer looking
to enter the multifamily market from traditional commercial
markets should keep an open mind to the solutions they install
and recommend. Many commercial and industrial customers
have strict requirements that may not apply or be within the
budgets of multifamily developers and operators. "
Grutzmacher is also seeing a significant difference in the technology
and software platforms used in commercial/industrial markets
vs. the multifamily residential market. Multifamily residents are
becoming more and more connected, he notes, which means any
modern lock solution a building provides should include access via
smartphones and other technology that residents are already using
elsewhere in their everyday lives. And while it's true that smart
locks and their capabilities are continually improving, one of the
biggest changes in his view has happened at the software level.
" The residential technology ecosystem has had incredible
growth, spearheaded by software and integrations that make
smart locks and other IoT devices better than what they could
have been on their own. Smart locks can now be value-add
enhancements and components of larger systems. Integrations
with building management systems, HVAC, lighting and the
like provide owners and management with the opportunity to
improve operations and maximize efficiency. "
One of the most beneficial advantages of today's smart lock
offerings that are enticing residential adopters is ecosystem
integration, Grutzmacher states. " Smart locks are great but on
their own, they're a separate system. The best smart locks are
enhanced when they can be freely integrated into a variety of
leading residential ecosystem platforms, adapted to every possible
door type onsite, and provide a consistent user experience
regardless of which door is accessed. "
Multifamily operators are adopting a variety of IoT devices
beyond smart locks including, leak detection, lighting, voice
assistants, thermostats, camera platforms and video intercoms.
Grutzmacher says it's all but guaranteed that, over the coming
years, new technologies will emerge and IoT devices will improve.
He also envisions increasingly more building operators
providing mobile credentials that are easier to distribute and
manage across multiple users and devices.
As for now, Grutzmacher says, " It's a great time to be a dealer! "
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