Keyless entry system
A mobile app with a BLE-based keyless entry system for hotels and offices
Client: NDA
Solution: Mobile & Web app
Release date: Completed
About Customer
Our client is a Norwegian hotel chain known for its commitment to excellence in hospitality and guest service. Operating in various locations across Norway, the chain prides itself on offering a unique blend of traditional Norwegian charm and modern luxury, serving a diverse clientele ranging from business travelers to leisure tourists.
Project goal
Our primary objective was to revolutionize access management in hotels and office spaces by introducing a keyless entry system. This innovative approach was designed to streamline the entry process, enhancing convenience and security for both property managers and users.
Roles in the project:
Softcraft
Our team was responsible for the entire end-to-end development of the keyless entry system. Initially, we conducted workshops with the client to understand their needs, followed by designing and refining UX/UI mock-ups. We were involved in research and development, particularly in integrating the mobile app with the lock hardware, in collaboration with hardware vendors. Our development tasks included creating the mobile app, CRM/CMS, backend infrastructure, and ensuring quality assurance. Finally, we focused on system stabilization and prepared it for user acceptance testing, with the NFC device supplied by third-party vendors.
Client side:
The Product Owner involved on the part of Grasp set the direction for product development which included consultation with physicians and collaboration with research institutions in Scandinavia.
Simultaneously Grasp have started research projects with aims of understanding how Grasp can be used to facilitate communication between therapist and patient in situations where verbal communication is challenging.
General problem
The primary problem was the outdated and inefficient system of physical keys and cards for property access in both the hospitality and corporate sectors. In hotels, guests typically had to undergo time-consuming check-in processes at reception desks, which often led to long wait times and a less-than-ideal start to their stay. Moreover, the traditional key or card system posed the risk of loss or damage, creating security and logistical issues.
In the office environment, the reliance on plastic access cards presented similar challenges. Managing these cards, especially in large organizations with numerous employees and varying access needs, was cumbersome. The process of issuing, retrieving, and replacing cards was not only time-consuming but also raised security concerns.
Challenges
Choosing the optimal connectivity technology: A critical task was selecting the most suitable mobile connectivity technology for integrating with the proprietary smart lock device. After extensive research and development, and in consultation with a third-party vendor, we determined that Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) was the ideal choice. BLE stood out for its robust security features, making it perfectly suited for our project’s requirements.
Ensuring mobile app security: Given the project’s sensitive nature, we prioritized security, especially for data at-rest and in-transit. Our approach included the development of various advanced security measures, such as encryption, obfuscation, anti-tampering techniques, and other app-hardening strategies. We rigorously adhered to OWASP standards and GDPR guidelines, successfully passing an external security audit. This ensured that our mobile app maintained the highest level of security integrity.
Developing a secure cloud architecture: The architectural design of our cloud infrastructure was paramount. Our Architect crafted a secure, scalable, multi-tenant backend architecture, complete with a sophisticated key exchange system and intricate layers of access management. It was imperative to store and transfer keys and sensitive data securely, while also ensuring the physical separation of data across different tenants. We implemented a comprehensive access control system, encompassing various parameters such as role, area, time, and other permissions, to maintain strict security and privacy standards.
Solution
We designed an app that redefined access control in the hospitality and corporate sectors. Our innovative Content Management System (CMS) enabled property managers of hotels and offices to create detailed descriptions of their sites and issue personalized digital invitations through our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to guests or employees.
Once a user accepted this invitation, they received a secure, encrypted virtual key within the app. This key provided comprehensive details about the property, including the stay’s duration, room number, and available amenities.
In hotels, this technology streamlined the guest experience significantly. Guests could bypass traditional check-in procedures at the reception desk and head straight to their rooms. There, using their mobile devices, they interacted with a special NFC reader on the door for immediate room access.
For offices, our app presented a modern solution to replace outdated plastic access cards. It functioned as a virtual key, where all roles, user permissions, and essential site metadata were efficiently managed via the integrated CRM/CMS system. Property managers had the flexibility to assign and adjust access permissions as needed.
The app allowed employees and users to check their virtual keys, discover accessible properties, and fully understand their access privileges, all through a user-friendly interface.
What we have learned
This project highlighted the importance of adopting new technologies to improve operational efficiency. Moving from traditional keys to a BLE-based system significantly enhanced both the user experience and management processes. Our focus on creating an intuitive and user-friendly app interface demonstrated the necessity of user-centered design. This approach ensures that technological solutions are accessible and meet the actual needs of end-users.
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