Camlock

Camlock Presents ‘A Guide to Choosing Smarter Locking’

Camlock presents a step-by-step guide to choosing the right smart lock. Written by Linzi Agnew of Camlock

Camlock
Linzi Agnew

The world around us is full of technological innovation. Smart locks are commonplace in our homes and control access to buildings, but when it comes to industrial locking and access control for equipment cabinetry, your options can seem limited. Equally, there’s not enough accessible information to help guide you.

The development of new technologies and cabinet capabilities feels as though it is being held back. But that doesn’t have to be the case… At Camlock, we can help.

Common problems seen across the locking industry

  • Mechanical locks are limiting, and they no longer serve you.
  • You want to upgrade the mechanical locks you’re using to electronic, but don’t know where to start. Rolling out across your business feels like a big undertaking.

Security

  • Visible locks are often the attack point for break-ins, or attempts aimed at prying the lock open. Upgrading or changing security levels is not a simple process.

 

Lack of data and communication

  • You can track and audit every area of your business, except access to your machines. Having locks that can’t provide data or communicate with other machine elements presents a problem, e.g. security breaches only being discovered after the fact, leaving no indication of the source.

Lack of access control

  • An inability to easily grant or revoke access leads to long operational steps that may not always result in a simple fix. The cost of fixing an offline, mechanical system like losing a master key, can be expensive.

Key management and associated expenses

  • Managing keys can be time consuming and costly when they need to be replaced. Especially when you must replace the lock and the keys, to prevent future unauthorised access.

Supply chain

Once you’ve decided on the locks you want, securing reliable fulfilment is the next hurdle. Advancements in locking hardware and access control place connected, smart locks as a value-adding piece of IoT technology and a solution to these problems.

Camlock

Camlock Presents ‘A Guide to Choosing Smarter Locking’

Mechanical Locks

  • Problem: Mechanical locking acts as an island – unconnected and unable to communicate with your machine.
  • Solution: Smart locks that integrate with other elements, such as alarms or sensors, to enhance your machine’s ecosystem.

Your locking system can be much more than a method of keeping the door closed. It can be security, peace of mind, data gathering and more, remote control. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to locking. While your options may seem limited, they aren’t. You can choose off-the-shelf locks, build standalone systems with smart locks and compatible controllers, or create custom, integrated solutions that work with your existing software, telemetry or payment systems, and peripherals. Whatever your locking needs, there is a solution.

If you’re just starting out with electronic locking, what are you hoping to gain from it?

Security

  • Problem: Visible attack point and a lack of information on asset security
  • Solution: Upgrade to concealed smart locking with door monitoring, providing visibility on the state of your lock and the door.

Lock picking and break-ins are unfortunately common in outdoor unmanned cabinets, such as vending machines and utility cabinets. Therefore, removing the visible attack point can be an easy prevention method. Concealing the lock also protects it from the elements, reducing the need for IP ratings.

Incorporating lock monitoring provides an additional security feature, as well as visibility on the security of your assets. If you wish to add further deterrents – along with enhancing your machine – you can integrate your locking system with sensors and alarms.

Lack of data

  • Problem: The only area of your business not collecting data is the locking system
  • Solution: An easy way to gain locking data is to add lock and/or door monitoring

This is the simplest way to start gathering basic access information. If you want to scale this and gather a complete profile of access data, look to an electronic locking system that connects with your existing software. One of the benefits of a fully connected system is it will do the hard work for you, so you can easily manage and audit the data. You could even look to integrate with your inventory management system.

How would real time lock and door states improve your business operations?

Access Control

  • Problem: Lack of control and knowledge over access, as well as costly key management.
  • Solution:  Incorporate an access control system in order to grant access remotely, as well as see who has access, when and how.

Access Control lifts the burden of expensive physical key management, by utilising digital keys that can be authorised or revoked instantly, as well as remotely. Control who, when and how your applications are accessed. Integrating access control with other peripherals, such as telemetry systems, enhances the lock and access control functions.Camlock

What if you could have full visibility of machine access, as well as maintenance data, showing exactly who has opened your locks, when, where and for how long?

Integrations

  • Problem: Existing locks cannot communicate with the other technology inside your machine
  • Solution: Smart locking with the capability to not only communicate but also work in conjunction with other external applications.

Smart locking isn’t just Wi-Fi enabled locks; with the right integrations it can elevate any application. By cleverly utilising incorporated I/O ports you can enhance your locking systems to communicate with external applications. These could be sensors, alarms, or lights. Anything you need to work seamlessly with the door opening and closing can be integrated.

How could smarter locking enhance your existing integrations?

Camlock Presents ‘A Guide to Choosing Smarter Locking’

Supply Chain

  • Problem: Extremely long lead times affect your own supply and customer delivery dates.
  • Solution: Look for suppliers who can plan fulfilment around your delivery location and required frequency, hold components and buffer stock quantities, just in case.

The type of smart locks you choose is irrelevant if stock doesn’t show up on time, when you need it.  When vetting a supplier, look for someone who can demonstrate expertise in sourcing. This is to help keep lead times to a minimum, as they are likely to use multiple sources.

The next element to question is their supply chain: where are products made and assembled? Do they use more than one location, with the ability to ship directly from the best location for your preferred delivery hub? If you can’t or don’t want to take a year’s worth of stock, do they offer stock holding, set delivery schedules and buffer stock quantities in case of unforeseen courier delays or events that may prevent you, and your customer, getting goods on time?

I hope this helps. If you’d like to know more, please contact us. Just click here.

Best regards

Linzi

More from Camlock is on Planet Vending, HERE

About the author

The Editor

Planet Vending’s Editor is Ian Reynolds-Young and it’s Ian’s unique writing talent that has made PV what it is today – the best read (red) vending blog in the world, and vending’s best read (reed). Ian ‘tripped and fell into vending’, in the capacity of PR executive, before launching a specialist agency, ‘reynoldscopy’, dedicated to the UK Vending business. The company continues to represent the interests of many of the sector’s leading brands.

‘It’s all about telling stories’, he says. ‘We want to make every visit to PV a rewarding experience. By celebrating the achievements of the UK’s operating companies, we’re on a mission to debunk the idea that vending is retailing’s poor relation.’

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