Early adopters keen on keyless entry - 1 views
www.hotelnewsnow.com/...adopters-keen-on-keyless-entry
I.T. technology investment keyless entry mobile applications hotels hospitality
![](/images/link.gif)
-
Hoteliers say using mobile keys lets hotel employees have fewer “transactional” interactions with guests.
-
Nixing those few minutes in the lobby and freeing guests of a keycard might seem like a small change to some, but many hoteliers are betting it’s an impactful one. That’s why more companies are investing in technology that allows guests to use their smartphones in lieu of keys, bypassing the traditional check-in process.
- ...6 more annotations...
-
Hilton Worldwide Holdings first started piloting the use of its “Digital Key” program—which allows guests to check in, choose a specific room and unlock their door all through their phone—in July and is approaching 1 million digital check-ins per month.
-
Dana Shefsky, director of digital product innovation at Hilton, said the move allows guests to have more meaningful exchanges with the hotel staff than they might during traditional check-in.
-
while most guests still use traditional keycards, those who do use the mobile app as keys use it often and are likely to talk glowingly about it.
-
But despite the pain associated with any new wide-scale technology, each of the three sources said mobile key adoption has been largely painless.
-
One investment that seems to be going well is the use of keyless entry at hotel properties. We already use our phones for more that just the traditional phone calls and texting, so might as well throw room access in there, as well. Hilton Worldwide has introduced this feature through their mobile app and they seem to have much success with it. They found that with this process being implemented, guests are at the front desk for less time and the conversations with front desk associates are "more conversational and less transactional". Hilton plans to expand this keyless entry feature throughout all of its brands through 2016, with more than 170,000 rooms expected to be upgraded. Of course, with it being a technology, flaws are bound to exist. The first fix that is being worked on is the ability to use the keyless system even in the event of a power outage. Also, properties are looking into how to go about extending the battery life of the technology in the doors to prevent any inconveniences for guests.