Smart Locks started from a simple idea – giving people remote access to their homes. However, new devices on the market now offer an extended range of features, including voice control and one-touch entry.
Remote access is still the primary advantage of smart locks, but in recent years functionality has been extended to include new features, such as one-touch entry and voice assistant integration.
"The focus here is on keeping the experience simple. It's a lock, so there's no need to complicate things, and every new feature has to reflect that otherwise consumers won't go for them," said Ramon Llamas, research director at IDC.
Smart locks now allow users to check if a door is locked or grant friends and family access from any location, all using a smartphone.
One-touch entry can automatically sense a smartphone and unlock a door when the user approaches. The feature eliminates the need to enter a passcode, find a key or open an app.
Some smart locks are burnished with the added security of a built-in biometric fingerprint scanner, ensuring only authorized persons are granted access.
Another trend in the smart lock category is integration with voice-activated platforms and smart assistants, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Smart locks from August Home. For instance, let users lock and unlock the door and check a lock’s status using Alexa.
Control4's Smart home system Intercom Anywhere and Door Station feature a smartphone voice and video intercom, activated via a smart doorbell. Homeowners can also schedule doors to be locked automatically at certain times.
Amazon Key, an Amazon service enabled by smart locking systems and other connected gadgets, has created a new way for deliveries. Not only does Key allow an Amazon delivery person to put packages inside a customer's door, with the help of smart locks and smart cameras users can also view live video of the delivery via a mobile app. Key additionally offers in-car delivery, whereby a package can be delivered to the trunk of a car using a smart locking system.
Back-end management tools key for commercial users
Smart locks aren't only used in the home, but also in commercial buildings and rental apartments. In this market, property owners or office owners have shown a preference for multilock back-end management platforms. These allow users to check the status of all locks from a single interface, as well as receive notifications if any locks have been breached or tampered with.
Mitchell Klein,
Executive Director of
Z-Wave Alliance
“From the commercial side, keyless entry systems with back-end management tools are ideal for multidwelling units where the building owner can grant access to property managers, electricians, or plumbers that typically only require a one-time entry and should not need a tangible key to access a building," said Mitchell Klein, Executive Director of
Z-Wave Alliance.
For those using short-term rental platforms, smart locks let owners provide remote access for specific time periods without worrying about circulating keys or reprogramming locks. With Airbnb (which has worked directly with smart lock providers including
Danalock, August Home, Schlage and Yale) users can conduct the whole process via the site's own platform, creating a streamlined check-in and check-out experience.
Notes: Image courtesy of Danalock