The Hidden Costs of Smart Locks for Hotels

Key Summary

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No Maintenance Trap - Eliminate rolling battery replacements, Wi-Fi outage risks, and expensive hardware repairs across individual room doors.

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Massive Capital Savings - Automate late-night arrivals for a fraction of the cost of retrofitting every single hotel door with expensive smart locks.

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Zero Guest Friction - Tired travelers don't need to download apps or create accounts; a simple 8-digit code dispenses their physical keycard instantly.

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Lobby Traffic Relief - Prevent check-in bottlenecks during peak flight arrival windows by shifting guest, cleaner, and contractor access to an automated kiosk.

The reality of smart locks for automated hotel check-ins is that they come frontloaded with a few issues that hotel management need to consider at all times. Smart locks are prone to operational failures (dead battery, internet outage, digital vulnerabilities), and are highly expensive if outfitting every door with one.

A KeyNest Locker on site combines the convenience of automated guest check-ins with the reliability of a physical key or key card. 

The maintenance trap of digital locks

With a hotel’s already-busy maintenance schedule, 50+ smart lock batteries now need to be incorporated, with one missed door resulting in a very irate guest and a potential poor review. Should said irate guest tamper with the smart lock and damage it while trying to get into their room, replacing it will cost hundreds in hardware. 

Let’s not forget that smart locks are reliant on an internet connection to work - any Wi-Fi blips or internet outages will cause a site-wide issue for all guests, cleaners and contractors.

Providing Automated Check-ins Without The Hidden Smart Lock Costs

A KeyNest Locker on-site means you don’t need to ditch the key cards, while now having a reliable and secure way to store them. 

Guests are sent a collection code before arrival, allowing them to seamlessly collect their card with a unique, 8-digit code rather than waiting for reception to handle it for them. 

Cleaners and contractors get access to keys with a user badge; guests can pick-up their room access without having to clog up your lobby in high-traffic times, like when a new flight arrives and 30+ new guests need to check-in. 

Reliability Over Unnecessary Tech

By using a KeyNest Locker for automated check-ins rather than smart locks, hotel management can benefit from a few operational improvements:

No Learning Curve: Travellers are typically tired after a long day of travel - they don’t want to get to grips with a complicated locker system, they just want to get to their rooms. No app is necessary, and no need to create an account - all guests need is the 8-digit code to grab their key card or key.

Robust Storage: KeyNest Lockers are made from galvanized steel with tamper-resistant key-compartments. Designed to sit in a lobby, or on an exterior wall - the touchscreen is designed to be usable in harsh, dusty and wet conditions. 

24/7 Access: Travel schedules can be prone to delays. A KeyNest Locker means guests can retrieve their room access no matter what time of the day they arrive - no need to pay out for late-night staff to cover the reception. 

Cost-Effective Automated Check-ins

Retrofitting all your hotel rooms with smart locks is a massive capital expense - especially when you factor in fitting costs and the inevitable teething issues from onboarding staff and guests with the new check-in system. 

The KeyNest Locker is designed to be easy-to-use and traveller friendly. It’s a one-time installation that takes less than 30 minutes - just plug it in and it’s ready to go. Guest check-ins are automated at a fraction of the cost of smart locks, without compromising the security of your room access storage. 

• Do I need to replace my existing door locks?

  No, you keep your reliable physical keys, and the locker manages the automated handover process.

• How do guests access their keys/key card?

  Guests simply enter a one-time, 8-digit code into the locker to retrieve their physical room key in seconds.

• Will the system work in areas with poor connectivity?

  Yes, lockers use high-gain external antennas to maintain a strong signal even in locations where individual smart locks fail.

• How does this system handle maintenance?

  It eliminates the rolling maintenance schedule and expensive hardware replacements required for individual battery-powered smart locks.

• Is it cost-effective for smaller properties?

  Yes, a single locker automates your entire check-in process for a fraction of the cost of retrofitting every door with digital hardware.