As we all know, there are many confidential business documents stored in the office, which are related to your career. So how do you keep these documents and your employees safe? The best way to do this is to install a good door lock in the office. If you are a novice with office smart locks, please read this article.
All your questions about smart locks for the office are answered in today’s guide. Whether you want to know the benefits, working principles, or types of office smart locks, you can find everything here. Read on to learn more.
1. What is an office smart lock
Like other smart locks, office smart locks are an electromechanical system. It features smartphone-driven locking and unlocking, making it ideal for use on doors across offices. In fact, the emergence of office smart locks is to eliminate traditional physical keys. Owners, managers, employees, and tenants can use their smartphones or enter a PIN to open the door.
For the past few years, office smart locks have only been used by retail business owners to secure their stores. And now, office smart locks are gradually being used by many business owners due to their convenience and security. Since smart locks are connected to the internet, you can view an audit log of each door activity to ensure that only authorized employees have access to the space at any given time. And you don’t need to carry a physical key to enter the building.
2. How the office smart lock works
Knowing how an office smart lock works will give you a better understanding of it. In fact, the structure of the office smart lock is the same as the basic structure of most smart locks, which is to use a motor to drive the mechanical lock cylinder to complete the original manual turning of the key. After installing a smart lock, tenants download the corresponding mobile app or create a unique PIN. When they need to unlock, they need to show access credentials, such as using a smartphone or entering a PIN code to unlock.
Generally speaking, office smart locks use key cards to enter. When employees touch the door lock with their key cards, the door lock system will recognize and respond. When the door lock system successfully matches the code inside the system with the code in the key card Then you can unlock it. After the lock is successfully unlocked, the smart lock will automatically return to the original locked position. With its embedded processor and intelligent monitoring system, it greatly enhances the efficiency of opening and closing the door, and at the same time, it enhances the door lock’s security alarm.
3. Advantages of office smart lock
With a busy life, you won’t have time to look for lost keys, and when you know that using a smart lock can save you from having to carry your physical keys with you, you should consider installing a smart lock. Smart locks bring many benefits not only to the home but also to the office.
1) Effectively prevent strangers from entering
Unlike your home, an office can have many strangers entering your premises if you don’t take steps. This may pose a safety hazard. Therefore, it is very necessary to install a smart lock in the office. It only allows authorized and familiar people to enter, and those strangers who are not authorized cannot enter.
Smart door locks are capable of granting individuals any access to a workplace using key cards, biometric access control, authentication, and identification. This also helps to track the entry and exit of everyone, including employees, customers, or other acquaintances, which is conducive to the unified management of the company.
2) Enhanced security
Of course, we all know that the data stored in the office needs the most security, so protecting the business data in the office is the top priority. Smart locks can help business owners accomplish this. It won’t work if an unauthorized person tries to open the smart lock. Because there are smart door locks on the market that have a built-in “smart intruder catcher” feature that will notify you if someone is trying to infiltrate the security system, providing the highest level of security for the office.
3) Great convenience
Generally speaking, a company has dozens or hundreds of employees. If you use a traditional door lock, it will take a lot of time to open the door and it is not safe. After installing the smart lock, everyone only needs to approach the door or scan their face to enter. This promotes convenience and ease of operation for everyone entering or leaving the office. Accessible without extra effort or outside assistance, this convenience is especially important for the handicapped and elderly, who can easily enter without breaking a sweat.
Plus, if your company is expanding rapidly or hiring temporary workers, you can grant or revoke their access with just one tap. How convenient it is!
4) Less cost
Wanting to install a smart lock in an office is of course more expensive than installing a traditional door lock, but after that, it just saves the company money, less time distributing keys, etc., and no problem issuing new keys.
4. 3 Features of the best commercial smart locks
One of the best ways to secure your home, office, or business these days is with a smart lock. But with so many different smart locks on the market today, you might have a hard time finding one that’s right for your office. There are a few key features we suggest you should be looking for in a commercial smart lock system, so finding one that ticks all the boxes will definitely help narrow your search! Here are the 3 characteristics of the best smart locks for business that we have summarized for you.
1) Compatible with other smart systems in the office
While nearly all smart locks connect to a mobile app, some have more integrated features than others. Choosing this smart lock allows you to connect with other smart systems in the office to achieve one-button control. For example, turning lights on or off when an office door is unlocked or locked. This not only simplifies property management but also optimizes the user experience.
2) Cloud management
Choose an office intelligence system that can be managed in the cloud. If you want to work from home or are on vacation and you have a new employee, you need to apply for access credentials for him. Does this require you to travel from home to the office? Of course not, you can log into the online dashboard and assign or revoke access from anywhere you have internet access.
Plus, cloud-managed software is always connected to the internet, so it can update itself and always run the latest version. It can also correct itself when a fault occurs.
3) Multiple access methods
Choosing a commercial smart lock with multiple ways to open the door can solve your concern — what if my phone dies? In this case, you can use other methods to open the door lock, such as fingerprint identification, entering a password, or even using a physical key.
5. Types of office smart lock
There are many types of smart locks. Here are the commonly used types of office smart locks.
1) Z wave door lock
Z-wave networking, also known as Zigbee, uses a mesh network that can send data farther than wifi and is typically used on large commercial properties where outdoor spaces extend beyond the range of wifi.
2) Bluetooth door lock
That’s right, we have introduced Bluetooth door locks many times in previous articles. It uses the Bluetooth device on the smartphone to connect to the door lock system and open the door lock when the user is closer to the smart door lock. Its disadvantage is that two devices cannot connect to each other when they are far apart.
3) Wifi network door lock
Wifi network door locks operate by using a smartphone to connect to the building’s wireless network. You only need to use your mobile phone and enter the code to unlock it. Unlike Bluetooth door locks, since Wifi door locks are always connected to the Internet, you can open the door even if you don’t have to be near the door lock, even if you are in another country.
4) Biometric door lock
The use of biometric door locks only requires each employee to enter their face or fingerprints to unlock. Although it takes a lot of time to enter when there are many employees, the follow-up operation is very convenient and fast.
6. How to choose a smart lock for your office?
If you’re new to the world of smart door locks, here are some tips to consider when shopping for the best smart door lock.
1) Price
First and foremost, of course, is price. If you want to buy a smart lock with multiple functions, it means that you need to spend a higher price than ordinary smart locks. It all depends on how much you are willing to spend.
2) Smart home integration
As said above, compatibility with other home systems is a good option. Although this feature is not required, when you use it, you will love it.
3) Install
Smart door locks are different from traditional door locks in the way they are installed. Before purchasing a lock, you should determine whether it can be installed yourself, or if it is best to have a professional install the unit. Professionals can also do the setup for you if you need it.
4) Unlock method
Some smart door locks will still use keys, or at least function as keys. Others rely entirely on fingerprint scanners or digital access codes. You should also consider whether your smart lock has multiple unlocking options because even if your phone malfunctions or dies, there are other ways for you to open the door instead of being locked out.
7. Office smart lock recommendation
If you still have questions about purchasing office smart locks, iLockey will recommend some office smart locks for you below.
1) August WiFi smart lock
The August WiFi smart lock is integrated with a variety of smart technologies, such as smart lights, thermostats, and temperature controls, and has voice control functions.
Advantage:
- Fits most current deadbolts so installation is easy
- Compatible with multiple smart technologies, works with Alexa, Google, and Siri voice commands
- Keyless entry
- Auto lock and unlock
- Beautiful design
Shortcoming:
- Short battery life, only 3–6 months
2) Zhima smart lock, the second generation
Sesame Smart Lock is very similar to August Smart Lock. It mounts directly to your current deadbolt, so installation is simple and straightforward.
Advantage:
- Easy to install and includes batteries
- Ideal for apartments and offices in large office buildings
- Built-in door history and auto-lock configuration
- Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
Shortcoming:
- Need to invest in the Sesame hub or it won’t work
3) Kwikset Aura
The Kwikset Halo is the best smart lock that uses fingerprint scanning.
Advantage:
- Easy to install
- Compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa
- Multiple unlocking methods
Shortcoming:
- Short battery life
- Not as durable as other smart locks
- Not compatible with HomeKit or IFTTT
4) Samsung SHS-H635 FMS digital door lock
It has a sleek, slim design and is made of high-quality materials to fit any door.
Advantage:
- Silent mode, won’t wake anyone up
- Alerts if an incorrect passcode is entered five times
- RFID technology uses the key card to open the door
- Built-in fire detection sensor
Shortcoming:
- It won’t pair with Alexa or Google Assistant
5) Kevo Bluetooth smart lock
The Kevo Bluetooth Smart Lock is the best keyless touch-to-open smart lock.
Advantage:
- LED technology
- Touch to open
- Beautiful appearance
- Unlimited temporary access keys
Shortcoming:
- Does not support Alexa pairing
- Slow, it can take up to 30 seconds to authenticate a user
- Higher cost
While the above products are some of the most popular options out there, there are many other manufacturers with interesting products, including iLockey, Salto, Candy House, HAVEN, Poly-Control, and Unikey Technologies.
8. Office smart lock FAQ guide
Here are some frequently asked questions about office smart locks.
1) How to install a smart lock in the office?
- Understand what employees think and what style of door lock they want.
- Measurements and best possible photographs of existing doors in the office and possibly a site survey of the office. When necessary, the office can be properly modified for the installation of door locks to ensure the smooth installation of door locks.
- Get professional tools ready before installation day.
- Plan where each component will be installed prior to installation, such as planning the location of any buttons or power supplies, devices or units, etc.
- start installation
- Test the device after installation for proper operation.
2) How to reset the password of the office smart lock?
When resetting the password, you must have administrator privileges to reset the password.
1. Enter the smart fingerprint lock management mode interface and press 1# to select “User Setting”;
2. Enter the smart fingerprint lock user setting interface and press 1# to select “Add User”;
3. Enter the smart fingerprint lock add the user interface and press 2# to select ” Add password”;
4. Enter a new password of 6~12 digits, ending with “#”;
5. The user password is set successfully. If you want to continue to set the user password, please continue to set the new password according to the voice prompt; if you want to continue other operations, press the “*” key to return to the management mode interface, and perform corresponding selection operations. If you do not want to continue the operation, press the “#” key or wait for 15 seconds to exit automatically.
