Hotel Door Lock System Options

There are a number of different hotel door lock system options. These range from traditional key cards to smart technology that uses mobile apps and digital keys.

Magstripes are a popular type of hotel lock system, mainly for smaller hotels and resorts. They work a lot like a credit card’s magnetic stripe, so they’re easy to use and read.

Keypads

Using keypads for hotel door lock systems is an easy way to offer modern accommodations without the need for mobile keys or other complicated access control methods. The system uses a digital portal to issue and monitor user credentials, which can be revoked instantly in case of any security threat. This solution is perfect for hotels and vacation rentals that want to save on operating costs and provide a better experience for guests.

A keypad lock system works with the European cylinders in your hotel room doors and is very easy to install. It connects to a wireless network and operates on battery power, so it doesn’t require electricity. A guest can open the door by entering a code generated by the hotel and provided in their online portal. This code is tied to their reservation, so it will only work for the duration of their stay.

This type of hotel lock system is ideal for smaller lodgings and short-term rentals. It is not suitable for high-security environments because it does not include a deadbolt. In addition, it does not have a built-in alarm. The system can also be hacked by hackers.

Unlike magnetic key cards, RFID locks don’t use the card’s surface to communicate with the reader. Instead, they send a unique code to the lock reader and allow access only when the correct information is presented.

Electric locks with a sensor and a chip card

If you want to meet modern guest expectations without high upfront costs, electric locks with a sensor and a chip card might be the perfect solution for your hotel. They work with a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) signal and allow guests to enter their rooms with a smartphone app. You can also control them remotely and make them PIN-protected to prevent unauthorised access by third parties. These locks are a good choice for small independent hotel door lock system hotels since they eliminate the need to purchase new commercial-grade locks and doors and can be integrated into your existing system with relative ease.

The lock reads the information stored in the RFID chip on the key card and verifies it against a database to unlock. The advantage of this system is that it does not require swiping or inserting, eliminating the risk of damage to the reader and the loss of the card. The key card contains information that is uploaded to it from a central system at the front desk or a check-in kiosk and communicates with the lock through either a wired or wireless connection.

This technology has some drawbacks, however. The batteries in the key cards can be lost easily, and it will take time to get a replacement. Plus, there are still some issues with the WiFi protocol. Until this gets resolved, it might be wise to avoid mobile-accessible locks with a built-in WiFi connection.

Keyless locks with a smartphone app control

A smart lock with a smartphone app control is one of the most advanced hotel door lock systems that you can find on the market. This type of lock is compatible with a wide range of smart devices and uses different communication technologies to transmit data between the lock and the mobile device. This technology includes near-field communication (NFC) and Bluetooth low energy (BLE).

These locks are convenient to use, but they also offer a number of security benefits. They are more difficult to hack, they do not require batteries and they can be opened with a code, a fingerprint or an app. These types of hotel door locks are the best choice for modern hotels looking to improve their security and offer a better guest experience.

They are a good alternative to traditional keys, and they can hotel door lock system save hotels money in the long run by eliminating the need for rekeying. They can also be programmed to automatically lock or unlock at a specific time, which makes them more secure than regular locks.

Another benefit of this type of hotel door lock system is that it can be used with other smart hospitality tech. This can include things like Netatmo noise monitoring and other home automation systems. By linking these with a hotel door lock, hotels can manage their entire operations through a single platform.

Magnetic key cards

Traditionally, hotels have used magnetic key cards in their room door locks, and many still do today. These are typically encoded with the hotel’s guest information system at check in and have a magnetic stripe that interacts with the lock to open it. These magstripe cards are often referred to as “magstripe keys” or “Mag-Stripe” and can be scanned by the hotel’s key card reader to unlock a room or the hotel building.

Alternatively, many hotels use RFID (Radio-frequency Identification) cards or fobs to provide access. Unlike traditional keys that require the swiping motion of a credit card or American and European driver’s license, these contactless proximity cards (often referred to as RFID cards) simply need to be close to the door lock to open it. These cards can also be programmed to only work for a short period of time, and some hotels keep logs of which cards unlocked the door at which times.

These contactless RFID chips contain multiple gold-plated contact pads that provide electrical connectivity when inserted into a hotel room lock. This allows the cards to operate more reliably than magnetic strips, and they’re more durable against common guest habits like holding their cell phone against the card or using it as a bookmark. They can also be updated wirelessly with the hotel’s guest management system to enable mobile check-in and other functionality.