Electronic locks are an increasingly common investment in companies, health centres, institutional buildings, schools, residences, holiday homes and gyms. They already have a long tradition in hotels, which have been adopting this form of access control from the beginning; thus, reducing their management time and increasing the security of their premises.
Replacing conventional locks with electronic ones contributes not only to improving processes, but also to saving money. In this article we analyse how this technology can help reduce costs in hotels, and in a variety of other areas where their installation is recommended.
1. Greater access control
Each layer of security added to a company safeguards it from possible risks that could cost it millions. That is why electronic locks are installed in a large number of centres where a moderate or high level of security is required; the technological option replacing mechanical locks and traditional keys, which are so easy to lose or copy. Of course, it is important to remember that by themselves they are not infallible and there must be a security plan based on protection needs.
One of the great advantages of these electronic locks is that they reduce risks. For example, if an access card is lost, it can simply be cancelled. When a guest leaves the hotel, their card is overwritten. When an employee leaves a company, the access they had can be restricted by card or mobile phone, via Bluetooth. This degree of control saves not only many uncertainties, but also prevents a number of risks.
Although not all security problems are caused by intruders who break into premises, other times it may be the workers or customers themselves who break the security of the area. In fact, according to a, study carried out by HfS Research for Accenture, 69% of companies have experienced data theft or attempted theft by workers in the last year, with a higher percentage in the media and ICT companies.
In these cases, electronic locks are notable for their traceability. Audits of entries and exits to and from a room can provide a lot of information, including even when failed attempts were made. This allows data to be collected about the incident so action can be taken quickly and efficiently.
2. Lower maintenance and replacement costs
Traditional locks and keys are subject to significant wear and tear, involving cylinder changes, key duplications and replacements. However, the design of modern electronic locks mean they last much longer than traditional ones; thus avoiding many extra expenses for repairs or lock changes due to keys being lost. Of course, electronic locks still need maintenance; for example, batteries need to be changed from time to time, as indicated by the device. For this reason, after installation, it is advisable for a company manager or the maintenance personnel in large-scale buildings to learn how to carry out these basic tasks caring for the acquired technology.
3. Greater efficiency in processes
However, without a doubt, the greatest financial savings achieved once the electronic lock installation investment has paid for itself has to do with saving time, thanks to the optimisation of processes.
This is especially so in centres with a large number of access points, some of them restricted. Until the advent of digital keys, different keys were needed to access multiple places. Now, it is possible to centralise all those accesses on a card or mobile phone with certain opening permissions.
For example, a maintenance employee can have access to most of the premises, but may not be able to enter the management offices; or admin assistants may have access to their office, but not the maintenance store.
This way of working with access via electronic locks is much faster and makes fewer errors, such as going to a place with the wrong key or not having a copy for a new employee. Permission for electronic locks can be granted in a matter of seconds.
At Omnitec, we are specialists in access control using electronic locks and other devices in hotels, companies and large premises. Contact us to learn more about this technology that modernises your company's premises.