GDU Ninja Update 44 - GuestDiary Links with Door Lock Suppliers Wieldy and Salto

AccuBook GuestDiary is now connected to several Remote Access Door Lock suppliers. In simple terms this means that guests receive instructions via e mail or SMS that allows them to access their room without having to go to a reception to pick up keys or cards. (Very popular with properties that dont have full time receptions) The Door Lock suppliers we connect to are;

• We have a connection up and running with 'Salto' (Kevin Dunne k.dunne@saltosystems.com) using middleware Flexipass (Inês Santos ines.santos@flexipass.tech

• We have a connection up and running with 'Wieldy' (Richard Oliver richard@wieldydigital.com)

• We are currently testing a connection with Onity.

Areas an accommodation provider may need to be aware of;

• You may need to upgrade or install new your current door locks to work with remote access.

• You will need to check that any new door locks will fit the holes placed in the doors.

• Most door lock suppliers allow for RFID cards to be used in a back up if for any reason the door Remote Access mechanism fails. Some even allow for old fashioned door keys to still operate.

• In our view asking a customer to download an APP has a unacceptable failure rate. For this reason middleware suppliers have stepped in to send instructions in a method that is more acceptable to the customer (SMS/E mail).

• In our view the best system will send BOTH an e mail and a SMS message to the customer to reduce the chance that something doesn't get through.

• The customer may receive either a button/link that they press when they are in proximity to the door or a pin number that they enter on the door lock keypad.

• The systems send out the instructions at a specific time of day ie 06.30 in the morning.

• The systems can be can be programmed to unlock several doors ie An outside access door and a room door.

What issues exist?;

Surprisingly any issues that arise are likely to be none technical ie;

• The major problem that exists with remote door locks is the risk of a customer not receiving the instructions for a multitude of reasons and being unable to enter the room. (Ie a customer is just off the plane from America and has no local phone contract, or a customer has entered their landline phone number instead of a mobile number, spam filters etc).

• Group bookings with for example one customers contact details and three rooms provide a problem with all systems. (Should the room access details be sent to the customer 3 times or should one set of instructions be sent that can be used in all 3 rooms?). In practise an alert reservations manager will be looking out for such reservations and attempting to clarify the customers contact details for each room before the customer arrives.

• Room changes after the room access details have been sent out will also present some issues as the customer may receive multiple sets of instructions.

• Late checkout and early checkins can present difficulties and each system will have their own way of handling this.

Additionally;

• All these door locks require batteries and a maintenance program is needed to ensure fully charged batteries are in use.

• Most of these systems require a wifi system with boosters placed around the corridors to ensure wifi coverage is available (So the property wifi system needs to be robust with a backup)

It would appear that the properties that are likely to implement this system are the ones that dont have or dont want a 24 hour reception. They are happy enough to be running daily manual checks to see if any potential room entry problems may exist. They will put up with any issues to avoid the need to have a staff member on site. Interestingly larger/branded hotels are also pushing down this route, presumably as they look to reoirentate their staff towards areas that offer value ie Upselling.