What’s coming in hotel door lock automation? Article from Hotel Management
In Brief
- digital key platforms can integrate with a hotel’s existing mobile app or can serve as a standalone solution
- third option to using and storing digital keys that does not even require the opening of a separate app
- Other digital service integrations boost adoption
- temperature control, mobile key applications, guest payment and location tracking so that hotels can provide a premier guest experience
Excerpt
Since the pandemic started, there has been an increased acceleration toward all things digital. Things like digital keys and remote access were nice to have in before times, said Fayyad Sbaihat, president of Onity, but now they are an imperative. “It minimizes the touchpoints that the customer has to have coming into the hotel,” he said. “It’s also lowered the number of tasks that the front desk clerk has to do with the check-in process, which is vital with the staff shortage. Hoteliers are reaching out on how to implement this type of architecture in their properties.”
Other significant lock innovations in 2022 will allow for better interface potential with multiple management systems, such as temperature control, mobile key applications, guest payment and location tracking so that hotels can provide a premier guest experience with fewer staff, said David Ginn, VP of sales, hospitality North America at dormakaba. “Mobile will play an ever-increasing role in this outcome,” he continued. “Our job is to future-proof door lock technology to meet both identified and future needs of that guest journey.”
The adoption rate is increasing based on anecdotal research, according to Ginn. “Prepandemic, we estimate that 25 to 30 percent of chain loyalty members used mobile keys regularly,” he said. “The pandemic appears to have accelerated this. For properties who have promoted mobile rates, adoption has been 35 to 40 percent.