According to The World Bank, in 2020, about 55% of the world’s population – 4.2 billion inhabitants – were living in cities. By 2050, with the urban population expected to more than double its current size, it is predicted that nearly seven out of ten people in the world will live in cities.
By Ulf Jonasson, Country Manager, iLOQ UK
Increased security risks
Rapid urbanisation is driving construction spending, but also brings with it increased security risks. In over-populated areas where land is often scarce or expensive, the tendency is to build ‘upwards’ by creating more high-rise buildings. With more people being accommodated in less space, that means more locks and key users. Building owners need to think seriously about what kind of security measures can be cost-effectively and sustainably implemented into new buildings.
Whether properties are to be sold or rented, a major goal for construction companies and building owners is to achieve the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO). According to a recent survey, TCO is considered the number one consideration for decision makers when evaluating the locking system to be installed in a building.
Closing the door on traditional locks
When it comes to ensuring the security of properties, the latest trend is towards transforming mechanical locking into highly functional and immensely secure access management. Digital locking and mobile access sharing solutions are revolutionising the locking industry by solving issues caused by lost or stolen keys, preventing unauthorised access, and eliminating the need to travel between administration offices and sites to collect and return keys.
In a digital locking system, all access rights are programmed to one digital key and the entire ‘eco-system’ of a property is administered easily and cost-efficiently using cloud-based software. Access rights can be updated when needs change and cancelled if a key is lost or stolen. There’s no need to spend time and huge amounts of money re-keying or replacing cylinders and cutting new keys for all users of that door.
In a mobile access sharing solution, access rights are sent in real time, over the air to a mobile phone running an app making it even quicker and easier to control who has access to what doors or locks and when. Currently revolutionising the utilities industry, mobile access sharing solutions consolidate the management of multiple (and remote) sites into one cloud-based software platform, saving businesses time and resources.
Battery-free solutions
The most sustainable locking systems are those that are battery- and cable-free. This means zero energy consumption and zero emissions from daily use.
In a battery-free digital locking system, the power for opening a lock comes from the kinetic motion of inserting the key into the lock. In a battery-free mobile access sharing solution the power to open a lock comes from an NFC-enabled mobile phone itself.
With no batteries to change, battery waste is eliminated, and maintenance actions are minimised. Far fewer service staff are out on the road, polluting the atmosphere as they visit sites to perform scheduled and ongoing maintenance. With keys, batteries and excess wiring taken out of the equation, time, environmental impact and use of resources are minimised, security is maximised, and significant lifecycle savings are ensured.
Easy integration with 3rd-party services
As today’s buildings grow in size and more facilities are added to the premises, one major trend in relation to locking systems is integration with data-sharing and reservation systems as well customers’ personal databases. So, in an apartment building, the locking system provides secure access to the front door and apartment doors, and also makes it possible to book and gain access to common areas such as gyms or meeting rooms which may be managed by 3rd-party service providers.
Battery-free locks and keys are durable and operate reliably in the harshest environments. They can be easily reprogrammed and reused making them long-term and sustainable solutions. And offering fast, flexible access management, they increase the value of properties and guarantee considerable lifecycle savings. The more keys and locks in a building, the greater the savings.
If you would like to find out more about the market and technology leader in battery-free digital access management, contact us or please visit www.iloq.com. You’ll learn more about the benefits, products and solutions and read references from satisfied customers. To speak to Ulf Jonasson, UK & Ireland Country Manager at iLOQ, please email ulf.jonasson@iloq.com
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