Tag: industries

No matter the industry—be it technology, entertainment, or fast food—the success of a business only partially hinges on the quality of its product. While offering an exceptional product or service is crucial, true success stems from how much a business emphasizes the client’s experience. According to Forbes, customer-centric companies have proven to be 60% more profitable than those that neglect customer focus. In fact, 73% of companies recognize that fostering positive customer experiences is pivotal for building brand loyalty. When clients perceive that a product is tailored to their needs and coupled with a favorable overall experience, the likelihood of repeat business significantly increases. 

Understanding Client-Focused Approach

Being client-focused prioritizes the needs and contentment of clients throughout a business’s operations, strategies, and decision-making processes. Clients are not mere one-time buyers; establishing enduring relationships with them demands meticulous care, unwavering attention, and genuine concern.

Key Elements of a Client-Focused Approach

• Product/Service: The significance of a product extends beyond its intrinsic features. Does it evoke satisfaction, solve a specific problem, or enhance a distinct facet of the client’s life or business operations?
  
• Experience: The client’s interaction with the business, especially during the initial stages, shapes their overall perception of the company. The initial impressions and engagements with front-line staff can significantly impact their holistic view.
  
• Continued Service: Client engagement does not culminate with the initial transaction. How does the business maintain its connection with the client post-purchase? Do clients feel valued and supported beyond the initial interaction?

All these aspects are important factors to consider and are principles Geokey embodies in its pursuit of providing its clients with a white-glove access control solution. But how does Geokey address these three elements of CX within its operations?

Exemplary Product/Service

Geokey equips property managers with robust tools to secure their premises. Geokey strives to furnish a comprehensive access control software platform that merges remote management convenience with end-user security by offering adaptable and innovative hardware. Geokey remains hardware-agnostic, focusing on software and platform development while collaborating with trusted hardware manufacturers.

Geokey’s product addresses numerous challenges faced by property managers today:

• Time and Cost Efficiency: Keys and fobs cost a lot of time and money to have made and replaced. Geokeys’ solution eliminates the need to rely on old access control by having the end user’s phone be the key. Because our solution is cloud-based and remotely managed, administrators can grant and remove access right from the platform: no more manually updating credentials in a door reader or asking for fobs and keys to be returned. 
  
• Adaptability: Why invest in multiple access control solutions to accommodate your needs when you could have everything under one platform? Geokey offers this, focusing on a hardware-agnostic solution that integrates with reliable hardware to provide a unified solution. From indoor handles and deadbolts to gate controllers and even lockers and drawers, Geokey has the software and the hardware to accommodate the client’s needs.
  
• Enhanced Security: With Geokey, concerns about lost keys or stolen fobs become obsolete. Administrators can precisely monitor access, bolstering security and accountability through advanced analytics and reporting tools.

Increased NOI: Besides bringing a modern access control solution to managers, Geokey focuses on presenting a solution that helps generate more revenue. Our access control solution is more than a return on investment. By helping increase the property value, Geokey can also help increase your property’s NOI, allowing you to raise the rent by offering residents a secure and convenient solution. According to NMHC/Grace Hill, residents would be willing to pay between $20-50 extra each month for smart technology and access control in their units!

Exceptional White Glove Service

Our sales and support teams do more than try to sell you on a product or idea: they stay with the manager from start to finish, working with everyone from the decision-makers to the installers to ensure the customer is set up for success. Our team wants you to get the most out of Geokey and is willing to help and accommodate at every step to ensure the client has a fantastic service they can rely on. 

Even after the initial installation, our 24/7 support staff works to help everyone from client to resident to help resolve any issues quickly and efficiently. Our support has garnered a reputation for being quick to help, with response and resolution times regularly clocking in at under 30 minutes. Especially recently, our support team has received a lot of praise for its efficiency and speed. Customers have said they helped improve their overall view of Geokey and their perspective on the product, especially as most issues that have arisen are user errors.

It doesn’t matter how life-changing or incredible a new product or service might be: if it doesn’t key into the needs of your target audience, or the interactions between the client and seller are negative, people will not want to invest time or energy into it. Having a product or service that keys into solving a problem or improving someone’s quality of life, combined with a team that understands the client and strives to make their experience better, is a necessity. It’s why Geokey and its team strive to go that extra mile: to give that experience and ensure the client is beyond satisfied with choosing Geokey as its access control solution.

In today’s fast-paced world of startup companies and small businesses, one of the biggest
challenges is finding a secure and efficient space to operate from. This is where Elevator Spaces
has been able to provide a co-working and warehousing solution that addresses this need in the
Omaha area. Elevator Spaces empowers its clients to grow their businesses effectively by
providing ample room and enhanced security, which is why they have partnered with Geokey,
an innovative access control company and a member of the Elevator community, so that only
approved individuals can access their premises. This partnership has proven immensely
beneficial for Elevator Spaces and the community it aims to foster, as it significantly enhances
security while giving its clients convenience.

Geokey’s cutting-edge mobile access control solution is dedicated to future-proofing buildings
and giving owners control over property access. Building administrators assign residents or
tenants geokeys, combining geolocation and phone security to allow people to unlock doors
with a simple tap on the Geokey app. By eliminating the need to keep track of copyable keys
and fobs, Geokey ensures that clients and staff have peace of mind knowing only they have
access to their space, all from the security and convenience of their phone!

With the installation of Geokey on June 7th, Elevator has taken a significant leap forward in
ensuring its customers and clients can work in a safe environment that doesn’t compromise
efficiency or workflow. By leveraging Geokey’s innovative technology, Elevator has streamlined
its access control process and made the job of keeping its building safe a lot easier.

Beyond the benefits of security, Elevator Spaces’ clients can enjoy the convenience and
flexibility of having quick and easy access to the building. The intuitive and user-friendly
interface of the Geokey app ensures a seamless experience, empowering Elevator Spaces’
occupants to focus on what matters most—their businesses. Elevator clients can also have
Geokey installed on their private workspaces and areas, allowing them to access all parts of the
building from a single platform. Elevator clients can even access the building and their space
outside of normal operating hours and during holidays!

While the installation has many benefits, one of the best is the community being fostered.
Geokey is a client of Elevator, and being able to work together has allowed the Elevator and
Geokey teams to get to know each other better, as well as supporting local Omaha businesses
together. While being interviewed about the integration, Elevator Co-Founder Emiliano Lerda
affirmed this. “(Geokey) is very intuitive, user friendly, and the user management system is very
solid. But what’s best about Geokey is the humans behind (it), the customer service you will
have, and it will always be a five-star experience. I know that because I have seen them interact
with other customers, I know they have a solid team that not only cares about their product but
cares about their relationship with the customers.”

Through its partnership with Geokey, Elevator has enhanced its security measures and provided
clients with convenient and flexible access to their businesses. By leveraging Geokey’s cutting-
edge technology, Elevator Spaces has not only streamlined its access control process but also
created an atmosphere to continue creating a strong sense of community among its occupants.

By partnering with its clients and fostering a community-building environment, Geokey and
Elevator strive to uplift local businesses and create a supportive ecosystem where
entrepreneurial success can thrive.

Why Legacy Access Control is Holding Us Back

Student housing has been around for a long time, with some dorm buildings dating back to the 17th century. Since then, colleges and universities have been constructing and retrofitting more buildings to house students, especially throughout the past century, as attending college has become more mainstream, with some university attendance growing by the hundreds each year.

However, many older buildings in student housing lack the modern upgrades and amenities of newer constructions. One area where student housing needs to catch up is access control systems. While other campus buildings use digital locks and fobs for access, dorm rooms still rely on traditional lock and key systems. As these systems have been in practice for a long time, why change it?

As many students and university faculty are now starting to realize, the old system of doing things might not be as reliable as it used to be. We have found through calls and correspondence with facility directors, and operational VPs that relying on older access control systems is, in fact, quickly becoming a liability. Why is this, and what exactly is the solution?

The Liability of Keys and Fobs

Keys have quickly become a liability, mainly due to how often they are used and how easily the locking mechanism can be exploited. Videos showing people breaking through locks are constantly cycling through popular social media sites, so the information on how to do it is relatively easy to find. While the millions of viewers of these videos might have no intention of ever breaking through a lock, what these videos have done is show that lock and keys will not keep someone out if they want to get in.

The same liabilities that exist for keys are also prevalent for commonly used digital locks, such as fob/card readers. While the dangers might be less apparent, as one cannot just lockpick a reader, there are numerous stories about people being able to bypass readers and trick them into letting unauthorized personnel enter.

Fobs release radio waves that transmit a “barcode” that a reader receives, identifies, and, if the barcode in the system has the correct credentials, grants entrance to the fob holder. While providing better security than a lock and key, they still have significant flaws that can jeopardize the security of an access point. The biggest issue comes from the fob itself: it is small and can be easily lost or stolen. The barcode transmitted from the fob can also be replicated relatively quickly, allowing anyone who finds an approved fob or the credentials list to access the reader (read more in our article on Firmware Readers vs. Hardware Agnostic).

The Effect on Student Health and Security

According to the NAA, safety, and security rank as one of the top considerations for parents when choosing housing options for their college-bound children. This should not be a big surprise given the increase in student physical and mental health risks that have risen within the past decades.

A study conducted by US News in 2022 showed that 52% of students in a 2-year and 43% of students in a 4-year college setting experienced some form of housing insecurity, jumping by nearly 23% from the previous year. In this case, housing insecurity is related to housing and housing conditions, such as whether they feel safe or not in their living environment. This same article highlighted that students facing housing insecurity have poorer health, higher rates of depression and anxiety, and lower GPAs than their peers.

While taken separately, the issues of access control and student health might seem unrelated. However, how safe a student feels directly impacts their mental well-being, translating into their social life and how they perform in school. A dorm room is a student’s sanctuary, and feeling unsafe in a hall or room can be very harmful to them psychologically.

For how access control impacts a student’s physical health, look no further than the emphasis schools place on enforcing Title IX policies. Title IX was passed in the 1970s to combat sexual discrimination in education and education programs, covering sexual harassment and abuse. Many stories have come out of universities about students breaking into students’ dorms and rooms, exploiting the liabilities posed by legacy access control systems, and putting others at risk. Even beyond the severe scope of Title IX, hazing, theft, and “college pranks” all exploit the liabilities of access control and violate the student’s personal space.

The Effect on School Administrators

While the effects on the student body are the primary concern regarding access control, these legacy systems hinder school administrators in other ways. With how rapidly properties have needed to be built and older buildings needing to be updated, universities need to manage hundreds of rooms across many different buildings. New keys and fobs are distributed to thousands of incoming students at the beginning of the school year, and a lot can happen between then and the end of the year. It leaves a lot of time for keys and fobs to be shared around and copied, which is a significant concern.

Locks must be rekeyed, and other systems have to fill in the holes left by legacy access control. Without systems in place to validate who is entering where, anyone with a key, key copy, or fob can enter places they should not be by impersonating the original holder, which can pose a major security risk to faculty, staff, and the student body.

How Mobile Access Control Fixes the Problems

With how well-known and understood these issues are, it is surprising that only a few companies are pursuing student housing as a market for innovative access control. The student body and administration want more from their access control than a simple deterrent. They want security, accountability, and something to make student life less stressful, manageable, and within budget. The solution to all of the issues is an integrated access control solution that guarantees the right people have access, allows the administration to manage all of their access points properly, and is more than a simple deterrent.

This is where Geokey’s cutting-edge mobile access control solution stands to change the game of access control for student housing: by providing that ease of mind for faculty and students while also creating a secure environment while making life easier. With 15 out of 20 Access Control installers now recommending that Mobile Access can replace keys/fobs, what benefits does Geokey bring to the student-housing table?

Decreased Liability

One of the best parts about Geokey’s solution is that it decreases and eliminates the liabilities posed by legacy access control. Hardware integrated with the Geokey app can only be opened with the user’s phone: the credentials are assigned through the cloud. Unlike a key or a fob, the likelihood of someone’s phone being passed around or lost is significantly decreased, especially with some of the statistics coming out today about phone usage showing that 75% of Americans feel uneasy leaving their phone at home (and that is not focusing specifically on Gen Z, who is primarily entering higher education and has grown up with cell phones). On top of that, phones already have several protections in place against unauthorized users, both online and in person, which adds an extra level of security.

For that added level of security, unlike firmware readers, where the credentials are built into the reader’s firmware, the app acts as both the credentials and the reader: the door can only be unlocked from the phone. For students, this ensures that only they can access their space. For administrators, the accountability they want is present. Unlike keys, the door being unlocked by the user is logged by the Geokey platform, accessible only to school administrators. This can help with auditing, and if something malicious occurs, the information can be verified and the record set straight.

Students can feel secure in their rooms and dorm buildings, while administrators can feel at ease knowing their students are safe and being held accountable.

Increase Operational Efficiency

Geokey does more than secure a college’s property: it helps increase and streamline operational efficiency. Thanks to the Geokey platform, administrators can assign credentials and students to their rooms, eliminating the hassle that usually comes with the first weekend when students are given their keys. Administrators can manage all of their access points from anywhere. Administrators can immediately grant and remove credentials, remotely open doors, and grant permissions to students and other approved faculty, such as janitorial staff.

Geokey is for both new developments and retrofits alike, and thanks to our solution being scalable, new access points can be added with relative ease. Geokey hardware is cloud-based and thanks to Microsoft Azure, there is no need to have an on-site system to manage all the credentials and access point data.

Conclusion

Mobile access control eliminates the need to rely on legacy systems, providing a solution that keeps student housing more secure while also helping increase the operational efficiency of school faculty. There is so much more that access control can do, and providing a safe space for students to enjoy their years in higher education is something Geokey is excited to continue pursuing. As awareness grows for the student housing market, we hope that more companies will see the importance of investing in the next generation as they enter some of the most critical years of their lives.

Earlier this month, Geokey had the pleasure of attending Apartmentalize 2023, an annual conference/trade show organized by the National Apartment Association (NAA) that serves as the premier event for the multifamily industry. The tradeshow offers the thousands of attending managers, developers, and suppliers a comprehensive platform for networking, learning about the industry, and business development. In addition to engaging in numerous educational sessions and workshops offered at the event, participants had the opportunity to visit booths and interact with fellow attendees.

During the exhibition days of the event, Geokey operated a booth and displayed some of our products and integrations, hosted live demos, and got to interact with a lot of the other people at the event. Our booth buzzed with activity as men and women from across the industry stopped by to talk. Along with the potential prospects who stopped by, many of our partners, including 29th Street, whose recent investment pushed Geokey over the two million fundraising goal, stopped by to talk and get to know the team.

On top of people visiting us, we had the opportunity to branch out and meet with people across the industry. We were able to open dialogue and start conversations with some big names in the development world. It was encouraging for many of us to see how Geokey’s reputation was beginning to spread throughout the industry as more and more people opened their eyes to our solution.

While we had fun showing Geokey off to people and talking with others around the event, many moments stood out to us, highlighted the direction of the industry, and showed how Geokey could continue to grow in the access control field. We discovered that many of the apartment owners who visited our booth knew about mobile access control but didn’t know about its benefits or ease of use and expressed genuine interest in learning more about it. It was great for Geokey to be their introduction to what mobile access control can offer them and the benefits it could provide over older systems. Many of the apartment owners and decision speakers we spoke to said they would be looking to update their access control within the next six months to a year.

Overall, the event showed us just how big an opportunity we have to continue impacting the Multifamily industry and the importance of continuing to stay innovative. There is a clear need in the industry for a flexible, secure, and practical access control solution, and Geokey has a real opportunity to fill that need. The shift away from flashy future-looking tech to solutions that can genuinely increase a property’s value, help generate NOI, and efficiently streamline operations will be fundamental to how access control continues to develop into the future. This is one of the main reasons Geokey is receiving so much attention: people see that at the center of this industry shift, Geokey can provide everything they seek and more. We provide a secure, flexible, scalable, and practical access control solution that can increase a property’s value and give managers more control of their property, and people are starting to realize that.

Another important takeaway is the value of trade shows like this. The ability to gather and establish a community with fellow industry members and engage in face-to-face discussions is invaluable. This relationship-driven industry relies on personal interactions to transcend mere business deals. We are immensely grateful to the NAA for hosting events like Apartmentalize each year, providing a space for companies like Geokey to interact with developers and suppliers. We are looking forward to next year and cannot wait to see what’s in store for both the access control and multifamily industries.

June 15^th, 2023, Omaha, NE – In conjunction with mobile access-control developer, Geokey, Keri Systems has announced that they will be bringing their PXL Door Controller hardware to be compatible with their cloud-based solution, Borealis. This groundbreaking development allows owners of the PXL to seamlessly convert their existing hardware to leverage the power of the cloud, providing unparalleled convenience and flexibility for access control management.

Integrating the PXL Door Controller with Borealis and the Geokey App empowers users to effortlessly oversee and utilize their access control system from any location. By eliminating the constraints of traditional on-site solutions, Keri Systems and Geokey deliver an innovative solution that enhances operational efficiency and streamlines security processes.

Previously, the PXL systems operated on Doors.NET, an on-site access control solution responsible for managing door controller readers and access cards within a property. With this highly anticipated update, PXL systems can now effortlessly transition to cloud compatibility. Customers gain access to Keri’s powerful Borealis platform, enabling them to efficiently manage access control from anywhere without manually updating cards and firmware.

With the integration of Geokey’s advanced mobile application, users can conveniently utilize the Geokey app to effortlessly open PXL-controlled doors, eliminating the reliance on traditional card-based access methods. This integration enhances user experience and simplifies daily operations for residents and other authorized personnel.

Ken Geiszler, CEO at Keri, states that “We are excited to partner with Geokey to bring even more functionality to our rapidly evolving Borealis cloud access control platform. Geokey’s revolutionary app-based access control coupled with Keri’s extensive set of integrations and installation base presents a whole new opportunity for our integration partners to upgrade their existing installation base to meet the needs of today’s hybrid work and living arrangements.”

The enhanced compatibility between the PXL Door Controller and Borealis brings a host of benefits to users, including automatic updates without the need for additional installations or system downtime. The cloud-based solution enhances accessibility, optimizes cost-effectiveness, and ensures mobile compatibility, providing users with a comprehensive and future-proof access control solution.

About Keri Systems:

Keri Systems is a leading provider of advanced access control systems, delivering innovative solutions that redefine security management. With a proven track record of excellence, Keri Systems offers a comprehensive range of products designed to meet the evolving needs of businesses across various industries.

Learn more about Keri Systems.
Learn more about Borealis.

About Geokey:

Geokey is a pioneering software company specializing in cloud-based access control solutions. Their advanced platform revolutionizes access control management, providing users with enhanced flexibility, scalability, and convenience.

Learn more about Geokey.

Younger Residents Want Better Access Control

It’s no secret that the prevailing forms of access control are obsolete by today’s standards. Look no further than all the YouTube videos demonstrating how easy it is to break through locks, open deadbolts with rubber bands, or saw away at padlocks. With a little research, anyone could bypass older forms of access control with relative ease, and people are noticing. In 2020, an Allegion survey found that 26% of millennials living in Multifamily apartments feel secure where they live, with less than 10% of them possessing electric access control. This desire for safety is one of the reasons why many looking for apartments are taking access control into consideration, even willing to pay premium prices to ensure their homes are safe.

Before looking at the data, it’s important to stress how much the multifamily landscape is evolving. Gen Z is growing up and flooding the apartment market, combined with millennials, and many of them are looking to stay. According to a study by Allegion, 72% of millennials live in an apartment building, with 75% planning to remain for the next six months or longer. On top of being cheaper to live in, they view multifamily residency as more accommodating than homeowning as millennials and younger see the benefits of being mobile rather than staying in one place.

In a study performed by NMHC/Grace Hill on amenity preferences last year, over 60% of the 221,000 renters claimed they wanted smart locks as an amenity, with 62% wanting smart security in general. The study highlighted that this demand was popular with the younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials. The report would even state that smart apartment systems were high enough a priority to be a deciding factor when looking for a new place to live. A large number of Baby Boomers are also joining in wanting smart access control, willing to pay an upward premium to have smart locks between $20-50 a month!

Why Mobile Access Control?

There are a few reasons why the younger generations would accept mobile access control as a suitable replacement for legacy systems. For one, mobile access control is safer than previous generations, removing the need for keys, changing locks, updating firmware readers, or replacing fobs. No need to worry about intruders forging copies, picking locks, or bypassing systems with secure cloud-based access control. According to Zippia, 98% of Gen Z (born between 1997-2012) and 93% of Millennials (1981-1996) in the United States own a smartphone, making mobile access control very attainable for them as they push into the multifamily market. They would also be more likely to remember their phone over a ring of keys.

On top of being more secure, mobile access control brings ease of access that legacy access control doesn’t. Through the cloud, mobile access control allows residents to swipe to open not just the doors to their apartments but to their building and other resident-exclusive amenities on a property. Depending on how secure a multifamily makes their property, a resident can feel comfort in knowing only other residents will be able to access buildings and amenities. Managers can also utilize the cloud to grant and take access away instantly and restrict access to specific access points at certain times. amenities. Managers can also utilize the cloud to grant and take access away instantly, as well as restrict access to certain access points at certain times.

When looking at the data, the evidence is overwhelming in showing why multifamily properties, both old and new, should consider upgrading their old systems or installing new access control solutions. Geokey is here to help with this process, helping properties bring their access control into the present with secure systems, reliable hardware, and affordable pricing and leasing options. Check out our website to find out how you can help your residents feel more secure while also making their lives easier.

Covid-19 has had a tremendous impact on society, with the tech sector adapting in response to the crisis. Of all the changes, technology progressed a lot as people looked for ways to navigate social distancing, remote work, and the need to decrease operation costs. Access control is one of the industries that saw this change, particularly as people sought ways to mitigate touching surface areas that might be contaminated. Even beyond the dangers and fears of the pandemic, people are seeing the benefits of bringing access control into the new century as society embraces the Cloud and online technologies, opening new possibilities for how we engage with data and tech.

While certainly not a new concept, the idea of Software as a Service (SaaS) saw a boost in popularity. A company based around SaaS specifically creates software that it leases out to people, hosting global data centers and charging people to use it. While this concept was started in the 60s, implementing the Cloud in the modern era has allowed people to embrace this business model as data centers can be accessed from anywhere in the world (Literally!). Geokey is one of many companies that are now utilizing the SaaS model and evolving it alongside access control to create Access Control as a Service (ACaaS).

What is ACaaS?

Access Control as a Service follows the same tenants of subscription-based Software as a Service, though in the context of access control. Although the specific hardware remains on-site, whether a door controller or a deadbolt, the software integrated into the hardware is managed in an off-site data center. Thanks to advancements in the Cloud, the possibilities of embracing this sort of service become much more viable and less time and money-consuming. It allows for firmware systems, which we have discussed in previous articles, to become obsolete since cloud-based software can be automatically updated and maintained from the data center on a needs basis rather than requiring manual updates at individual pieces of hardware.

There are a lot of benefits to embracing ACaaS over more legacy systems:

1. Minimal Cost: The upfront cost of running ACaaS is much cheaper than you might believe, as well as being cheaper to maintain. It brings the ease of modern digital access control systems without needing extensive on-site data centers that constantly require maintenance, refurbishing, troubleshooting, and energy. This saves money initially, as well as in the long term.

2. Accessibility: Because the data is centralized in one location, companies offering ACaaS tend to run their centers 24/7 and provide constant on-demand support. This allows businesses to manage, give permissions where needed, and leave all the back-end work to the professionals rather than needing to figure it out themselves or spend additional money for maintenance.

3. Secure: While cyber threats may be considered a concern, established ACaaS companies have their data very secure, with top-level encryptions running through secure Cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure. If anyone wants to hack into your access point, they will have to fight through an encrypted fortress built to resist cyberattacks to do so.

4. Convenient: Strong security does not compromise ease of use. When it comes to mobile-based access control, the goal is to make life easier for everyone, from managers to employees/tenants, without sacrificing privacy and security. Administrators can manage who has access to their property. At the same time, users can easily swipe to access the places they have permission to use. It should be easy to navigate and understand on any tech level.

5. Environmentally Friendly: In a previous article, we discussed how utilizing Microsoft Azure and being cloud-based was a cheaper and cleaner alternative to hosting on-site data centers. If you want to look at some of the incredible statistics we pulled, go check the article out!

Geokey and ACaaS

Geokey is based on the ACaaS business model and has all of the benefits listed above. By integrating with reliable hardware partners rather than developing it ourselves, we are able to focus entirely on our strength: creating and managing top tier and easy to use software. It also allows Geokey to be very versatile in what it offers, integrating with both indoor and outdoor hardware and offering users access to everything right from their phones. Our app keeps track of the points you’ve been granted permission to access and is a lot easier to manage than a ring with twenty keys on it!

Following the PSIM 2.0 system, Geokey combines smart access control with data analysis and puts the power in the hands of property managers. They can give and take access away with a single click and look at data to see what buildings are being utilized and how often.

Geokey runs through Microsoft Azure, ensuring our software is highly encrypted, and your data is secure. Managers have access to the tools and data they need when they need it without paying for on-site data centers or paying for maintenance. Managers pay by access point, not user, and because over 90% of the world’s population owns a smart device, there is no need to pay for new keys, cards, or firmware. Everything can be automatically updated and managed right through the Cloud!

If you want to learn more about how Geokey can revolutionize your access control, schedule a 20–30-minute demo with one of our outstanding reps: we would love to help show you how Geokey can meet your needs as a business built around Access Control as a Service.

Geokey, Inc., an access control-first software platform for residential and commercial real estate markets, today announced it has successfully closed on a $2,000,000 Fundraising Round.

Geokey provides innovative software and hardware solutions to transform access control in the residential rental real estate market.

The round, strategically led by 29SC Ventures, LLC, the venture arm division of the multifamily owner 29th Street, will enable Geokey to expand its reach to more multi-family apartment properties across the nation and further enhance the Geokey platform with additional integrations and features.

“Our goal is to provide a more holistic software experience to our clients and their residents, creating opportunities to increase NOI and streamline operations, while bringing a hardware agnostic, cost-effective shift to owner’s adoption of smart-access control,” said Brandon Peterson, Geokey’s CEO.

“Geokey’s patented location-based technology, coupled with their hardware-agnostic platform, provides owners with the opportunity to retrofit existing assets in a significantly more cost-effective manner, as well as rethink and eliminate certain hardware packages on new developments. We are pleased to bring our capital, existing and developing assets, and our team to partner strategically with Geokey in the access control space,” said Mark Chrisman, Managing Principal, 29SC Ventures, LLC.

Geokey has proudly partnered with numerous other organizations and manufacturers and integrated with several different products serving a wide range of functions. Providing a one-management, hardware-agnostic solution to access control, they have and will continue to give other industries, ranging from multifamily to commercial properties, the opportunity to take control of their security while increasing their properties NOI.

Environmental consciousness has been a big topic of conversation over the past few decades, with many people wanting to do their part to preserve the world we all live in. A significant aspect of this conversation has resulted from what businesses can do, whether it comes to how they utilize natural resources or their business practices. As stewards of the environment, we must examine ourselves and whether our impact on the world is positive.

The access control industry is not exempt from the tough questions about its impact on the environment. Plastic key cards and fobs are made to be disposable. It is any wonder how many consumable cards sit rotting in a landfill or end up in the ocean whenever they become damaged or expire beyond their limited use. Even with the creation of cards made with biodegradable parts, there is still a cost when it comes to mass manufacturing them. Manufacturing increases our carbon footprint, and constantly generating thousands of new consumable cards does nothing to bring that down. Large electronic systems are not exempt from this either. Large server rooms or data storage can consume a lot of electricity, which needs to be generated through power plants burning fuel.

Considering both the physical and digital halves of the industry generate waste to one extent or another, it might seem hopeless: you should not have to choose the lesser of two evils to keep your property secure. Geokey’s access control solution mitigates these concerns with its innovative software that eliminates the need to make keys while using the power of the cloud.

Geokey’s most prominent solution to those looking to lower their carbon footprint is how it utilizes keys. Or, to be more precise, its lack of physical keys. Geokey’s software employs a digital key, turning the user’s phone into a means to unlock doors. Geokey’s solution eliminates the need to manufacture keys that need to be replaced in a few months as the phone becomes the only key the user needs. Acting as both the credentials typically found on a card and the reader, the app can unlock any doors the administrator permits it to open, making it as secure as it is eco-friendly.

While this solves the problem of material waste, we also made the claim Geokey had a solution to the electric waste problem. How can a system that relies on technology not require properties to install servers to log all its users or Wi-Fi to interconnect everything?

Geokey is cloud-based, meaning all its data is stored and accessible online. Being cloud-based, combined with global administrative rights granted to property managers to access their data, means properties do not need to store their data. Because Geokeys are sent through Bluetooth, properties do not need a community-wide Wi-Fi network to interconnect all their devices.

Geokey also puts this into practice in how it runs its servers. Because our software runs through Microsoft Azure, we do not need on-site servers to manage our data. According to Microsoft, Geokey’s current emissions output is 0.02 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mtCO2e). If Geokey ran a typical on-site data center, our output would be 13.59 mtCO2e. Those emissions savings are comparable to about 33,000 miles of driven distance! Geokey’s access control solution is as eco-friendly as it is secure. While providing consumers with an easy and secure access solution, it also provides ease of mind knowing they are utilizing a product that, compared to the rest of the market, has less of an environmental impact.

While the traditional lock and key is still widely used today, fobs and readers have been the top of the line regarding high-quality access control for the past several decades. While the means have changed over the years, the process has remained relatively the same: a panel near a door scans a card, magnetic strip, or fob sensor, reads the transmitted credentials, and, if approved, grants access. Fobs specifically emanate radio waves that the electronic reader picks up, serving the same purpose as a card without needing to be as precise.

Compared to the lock and key, it isn’t hard to imagine why it has become prevalent for businesses and apartments. Where hundreds of team hours and thousands of dollars each year would go to copying keys and rekeying locks, the fob allows tenants to provide and restrict access to employees and tenants on a broad scale, allowing them to access certain areas vs. denying access to locations they shouldn’t. It is a lot less of a headache to manage, at least compared to what preceded it.

However, as is the case with a lot of technology, the system is quickly becoming obsolete. The reader’s basic programming comes from the firmware inside of it, which holds the list of what fobs are allowed access and not. The firmware is hard to program, and if permissions need to be added or changed, it will have to be manually installed into each reader. This severely limits where apartments can implement these readers, which tends to boil down to communal areas, clubhouses, pools, and amenities. The use of firmware as a credentials reader also raises an issue of propriety: the manufacturer of the reader will only allow their credentials to be used with their reader. This can limit the reader’s usage even more, as property managers need to choose between implementing the hardware in select areas (while using keys for everything else, defeating the purpose of upgrading and resulting in more wasted team hours) or relying on different manufacturers for different access points (forcing managers to juggle numerous fobs and apps). That doesn’t even mention the security risks of people holding on to fobs once they leave a property or getting their hands on fobs that are not theirs.

The solution to this problem is to look beyond the firmware and create hardware-agnostic products. Hardware agnostic is an IT term that, according to Technopedia, is a system “that do(es) not require any special hardware adaptations and can work with different types of systems without suffering compatibility issues.” Regardless of hardware or manufacturer, it can be compatible with external systems, meaning it does not require firmware to read the credentials. Geokey is a hardware-agnostic software that can fit into this role and addresses many of the issues presented by a reader-based system.

Without firmware and a reader, how can Geokey unlock doors

Geokey acts as both the reader AND the credentials, allowing it to unlock a door controller with a simple swipe. Because it is connected to the cloud, the app can unlock the door from anywhere and doesn’t require proximity or a Wi-Fi connection. Property managers can now grant and remove access to users through their phones: no manually updating firmware to readers. This ease allows Geokey integrated hardware to be put anywhere without creating a logistical nightmare

How does this fix the propriety issue?

Geokey only creates software, integrating with various manufacturers and partners to give property owners the access control solutions they need. From door controllers to padlocks and outdoor intercom systems, Geokey and its partners are prepared to fill any gap a business or complex might need. This allows property managers to control everything under a single umbrella and not have to mishmash with other systems or fall back on keys (saving you all those team hours).

Geokey’s hardware-agnostic solution extends beyond hardware integration, as it can also integrate with other software. This can be appealing for apartments that have resident experience apps, which can make requests to see if we can integrate. That way, you can draw traffic to the app and simplify tenant life.

What about security concerns?

Geokey’s access control solution is run through Microsoft Azure, ensuring it is encrypted and secure: only property administrators, tenants, and approved parties will have access. No more worrying about lost or stolen fobs and keys.

On top of this, Geokey allows managers to collect live data on when doors are accessed. The Live Tracking tab will show who is swiping, which access point they unlocked, and when they did it.

Conclusion

With technology continuing to progress, the move to a mobile-based, hardware-agnostic system is the future. While secure, it creates ease of access for tenants and can fulfill the needs of property managers. It gives administrators an umbrella to manage all their access control needs while not being a “one-size-fits-all” approach.