When I started working with 30-year old lock manufacturer PDQ Manufacturing, I knew that I was at the start of something really exciting for my business and at the start of a great relationship as well. I’m talking about smart locks with access control.
Since my business is literally on call, I have the opportunity to see up close the challenges my clients are faced with to keep their properties, families and employees safe and secure. While working with clients, I began seeing a trend; the desire to have a better solution to managing keys. Co-working spaces, Airbnb homes, warehouse facilities, day care centers, apartment buildings; whatever the facility, you name it- I have a client that could benefit from a smart key management/access control system.
And as with security systems on the market today, there are also numerous solutions for keyless entry. However, buyers beware! While attending the Kansas City Commercial Real Estate Expo earlier this year, I had a conversation with a guy that had just bought on e-bay a Bluetooth door lock that had previously been installed in a hotel. He has a small warehouse with people coming and going at all hours and he didn’t want to have to make and track a bunch of keys. After we talked, he realized he could have had a better solution, with each person granted access having their own unique code, giving him a complete audit trail; and at about the same price for what he had just paid!
Proximity Cards and Keys must go!
And have you seen the You Tube video demonstrating how to override proximity cards? That alone should prompt anyone needing secure access to look for a better solution. Because of these issues, I decided to add the PDQ smart lock installation to my business offerings. PDQ Manufacturing has a variety of smart lock options; they’ve been supplying industry-grade locks and hardware for 30 years. This experience and industry-leading history has enabled PDQ to tailor families of products based on customer needs. These systems have 3 Major components: the lock itself, user access and management.
All SMART lock products have the following features:
- Access options: smartphone, PIN, smart watch and key
- Works in conjunction with: Nest, Alexa, Google Home or none
- Multiple user access
- Audit trail
And did I mention: PDQ is all American-made. In Amish country Pennsylvania no less!
In this article, I’m going to focus on the SMARTstp—the stand-alone smart lock. This solution is great for facilities with one to ten doors, at roughly the same investment as old-style push button locks.
The SMART stp is perfect for:
- Office/Co-working spaces
- Warehouses/distribution centers
- Daycare/volunteer centers
- Retail spaces
- Multi-tenant rental properties
- Assisted living centers
- Airbnb
- Vacation homes
- Many, many more
The Lock
You have the choice of cylindrical, deadbolt, mortise or exit device. These all utilize standard door preps, making retrofitting from your existing lock a breeze. Aesthetically pleasing, you also have choices in the form factor, handles and finishes.
User Access
Give access to up to 100 users, each with their own unique PIN or mobile phone code. And yes, you can still use a key!
Management
You decide, by user, what type of access to grant: 24/7 access, a defined number of events, or scheduled access. Supports two-factor authentication. Get an audit trail or who’s accessed the space and when. Access records are kept within the app (25 events) or in the cloud for 1 year. Event filtering and report export is standard. Remote unlocking capability is available with additional network equipment and can be added seamlessly at any time. Think about all those times someone was locked out of the office, home or Airbnb. You had to go to where they were, with a key. Time wasted for all involved! Thus, remote unlocking. Through the power of the SMART access controls and your smartphone–you can grant immediate access–even if you’re in the stands watching the Chiefs!
Want to learn more?
Does this make sense for your facility? Not sure? Give me a call for more information or detailed specification of the products available and best suited for your needs.
I said at the outset this was the start of a great relationship with the team at PDQ Manufacturing. Frankie OnCall is proud to provide the PDQ products; backed by their 30-year industry experience and warranty. We install the lock, configure initial access with you and show you how to manage your new access control system. And as always, I guarantee your satisfaction with my service.
I hope this helped to inform you a bit more on this exciting line of products and I’ll bet you’re beginning to think of how you could benefit from smart locks with access controls. Give me a call, hit up my contact page or send me an email; I’ll come to your site and give you an honest assessment of the best application for your situation.
