Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701
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Standalone in an integrated world
We live in an interconnected world. From fridges to cars, there are few devices left to which we haven't assigned an IP address and welcomed into the growing ecosystem of products we like to call the Internet of Things.
There is much to be said for this new age of integration. Both consumers and businesses are realising new levels of productivity and efficiency, saving energy, money and time.
Codelocks makes some of the most sophisticated smart locks on the market. Our digital locks utilise cutting-edge technology drawing on years of R&D. Given the current push for improved integration and interconnectivity, we're often asked why a company like ours - which operates at the apex of its niche - has never produced a 'wired' access control system. After all, access control is a critical component of the smart philosophy.
Smart doesn't necessarily mean wired
It's true to say that we don't subscribe to the 'wired is better' philosophy. But that's not to say that our locks are not integrated.
Our 'standalone' approach is very much by design. Our intelligent locks are used by businesses and consumers around the world and our reputation is built on their usability and reliability.
Standalone locks provide many benefits over their wired counterparts. Standalone locks are far easier to install, especially when retrofitting into an existing building - because no cabling is required. Many of our customers use their in-house facilities team to install and maintain our locks, or call on the services of a local locksmith rather than having to pay a specialist firm.
You can retrofit a standalone lock on a door or cupboard without having to plan the installation. From identifying a need for smart access control to having the lock installed and operational can be a matter of hours - not weeks.
With a standalone lock there's no disruption to business operations, and no mess or redecoration required after the install.
Our smart locks use batteries and consume power for the backlight, operational keypad lights and when activated with a button push or when some other access credential is presented, such as a keycard or smartphone. Energy efficiency equates to lower running costs, which alongside the quick and easy installation adds up to significantly lower cost of ownership over the lifetime of the lock.
To say that our locks are not integrated is a misnomer. We invest significant resources into R&D; we provide a custom-built software platform, which integrates seamlessly with our locks. We also provide an application programming interface (API) so that our customers can integrate our platform with their own services and solutions. In short, our ecosystem is a fully integrated solution, combining both hardware and software, that offers a rich set of features without being assigned an IP address or being wired to the internet.
So how exactly do we integrate our locks?
Our secret sauce: NetCode technology
Codelocks NetCode technology is one of the key enabling technologies for our smart locks. With NetCode, you can provide remote access to a Codelocks lock from anywhere in the world. The lock doesn't need to be connected to the internet in order to grant access, and you don't need to be anywhere near the lock.
You can generate a NetCode from our online portal or app, and send them using email or SMS to anyone who needs access. Some users have automated this process through our API, enabling seamless integration with their facility booking systems, for example.
Codelocks NetCode technology supports multiple modes and features. They are time- and date-sensitive and can be made valid for a specific duration. As well as enabling access to end users, you can monitor use of access codes. A full audit trail is available to download from the lock for monitoring purposes.
Alongside Codelocks NetCode technology, our latest standalone smart locks offer improved flexibility and convenience by offering multiple access methods, including keypad, smart card or smartphone. Building managers can manage locks using their smartphones over Bluetooth and the K3 Connect App. This facility enables you to update basic settings, create multiple individual access periods and inspect the audit trail.
Fully wired systems are undoubtedly still the right choice for some access control applications. However, harnessing wireless standards like Bluetooth and taking a smart approach using our NetCode technology enables integration without compromise for most applications today, while offering all of the 'traditional' benefits of operating a standalone access control system.
14th February 2018