There are a number of smart locks on the market for the smart home. Control4 just rolled out a new addition to its portfolio this week with its Intercom Anywhere and late last month KeyWe began a Kickstarter for a smart lock that offers more than seven ways to enter/exit an entry.
Then there is the package delivery smart lock by BoxLock, August Homes’ automatic lock and unlock device. There's even a smart fabric that could someday be integrated into an article of clothing to unlock a door, Ring’s full line of products and numerous other devices already on the market.
Now, internet of things (IoT) startup Nexkey has launched a smart access lock that turns smartphones into digital keys.
So what makes Nexkey’s offering different from the numerous others already on the market?
“The current consumer smart lock industry is lacking in four major areas: battery life, durability, compatibility and design,” Eric Trabold, CEO of Nexkey told Electronics360. “Consumer smart locks are built for a few openings a day — think how often we use our front door each day — and can last a few months. Nexkey is built for businesses with hundreds of openings every day and the battery-powered core can be actuated 50,000 times.”
Designed for the workplace, the platform works with any type of door and can withstand high traffic over long periods of time. Whereas consumer locks are not built to withstand high traffic spaces, the Nexkey offering comes with commercial grade electric door strikes, magnets and more built for high-frequency use, Trabold said.
Instead of issuing keys or key cards to employees, admins can add or remove users to the database and send employees a text message with a code. After the employee downloads an app, they gain entry to the office.
The Nexkey device uses existing wiring and door hardware meaning installation costs will be lower and faster and each controller can be installed behind the door, keeping the original door appearance. The technology uses different encryption points in the platform, employing Amazon Web Service (AWS) Cloud Computing services with additional encryption overlayed on their Bluetooth connection.
“Constantly creating new keys is a big hassle,” Trabold said. “With Nexkey, managers can control who accesses which spaces and when without the need for any additional hardware. When a new employee joins the team, all they need to do is download an app. Additionally, admins can view reports detailing when certain spaces were accessed and by which employees. If there is a delivery, managers can open doors from remote locations.”
Nexkey works in single, multiple and shared workspaces. In shared workspaces, Nexkey allows managers to send keys instantly to an unlimited number of users. Managers can determine which users will be allowed access to certain spaces at certain times, Trabold said. In single workspaces, the solution can secure multiple doors both inside and out of the office. Keys are no longer needed for current or new employees. For multiple workspaces, access can be given to unlimited users and locations, granting access or unlock doors from anywhere and view who is accessing the space and when.
The app works on both iOS and Android devices, performs on wired power or battery and can be installed outdoors as it features a weatherproof coating.
