Hotel Lock Upgrade: Why is it Important For Modern Hotels?
A hotel lock upgrade is one of your hotel’s most accessible and beneficial changes. It’s a great way to enhance your hotel’s brand image, improve security and save money on repair costs.
Over time, hotel locks wear out due to heavy use or outdated technology. The best option is always to replace the lock with a new model with the latest features.
ShineACS Locks can help with hotel lock upgrade jobs, from small boutique hotels to large resorts, including all guest room door locks, back-of-house doors, administrative offices, and meeting room doors.
What is a Hotel Lock Upgrade?
A hotel lock upgrade is when you replace all hotel locks on your hotel doors with a more modern lock. This can be a good idea if you have old locks that are not working correctly, but it’s also worth doing if you are worried about security or want to make your hotel more secure.
You should know this isn’t an overnight job, so don’t try it yourself unless you have experience installing new hardware and wiring things together.
A hotel lock upgrade is a great way to keep your doors secure and is not as expensive as you might think.
Old magnetic card hotel locks problems
Old magnetic card hotel locks have been widely used in the hospitality industry for years. However, as with any technology, they come with problems, especially as they age or become outdated. Here are some common issues associated with old magnetic card hotel locks:
- Demagnetization: One of the most common problems with magnetic card locks is the card’s tendency to get demagnetized. This can happen if the card is placed near other magnetic sources, such as cell phones, credit cards, or electronic devices.
- Wear and Tear: Over time, the magnetic stripe on the card can wear out, making it unreadable. Similarly, the card reader in the lock can become worn or dirty, leading to reading failures.
- Limited Security: Older magnetic card systems often have less sophisticated encryption and security measures than newer technologies. This makes them more susceptible to cloning or unauthorized access.
- Memory Issues: Some older lock systems have limited memory, which can cause issues if there are many guests or the system needs to store access logs for extended periods.
- Software Incompatibility: As hotel management systems evolve, older magnetic card lock systems might not integrate seamlessly with new software, leading to operational challenges.
- Mechanical Failures: Physical components, like the card insertion slot or the lock mechanism, can wear out or break, leading to lock failures.
- Lost or Damaged Cards: Guests might lose their cards or become damaged, leading to lockouts. While this is not exclusive to old systems, the frequency of card issues might be higher due to the age and wear of the cards and readers.
- Cost of Maintenance: As the system ages, maintenance costs can increase. Spare parts might become harder to find, and technicians familiar with older systems might be less available.
Despite these challenges, many hotels use magnetic card systems because of their familiarity and initial cost-effectiveness. However, with the advancement of technology, many establishments are now transitioning to more modern and secure locking systems.
What benefits can you expect from upgrading your locks?
Upgrading your hotel locks can have several benefits, including:
- Increasing guest satisfaction. By improving hotel security and safety for guests staying at your hotel, you can create a positive experience that ensures they return in the future. This will increase their loyalty toward your brand and widen your customer base, which leads to higher profits for both you and them!
- Reducing hotel lock maintenance costs. Upgrading your doors with keyless entry systems will save you money on maintenance costs since there won’t be any more keysets needing replacement annually when worn out by frequent use over time (or lost).
- Increased staff efficiency and productivity—with a new system for locking doors, there will be no more fumbling through paperwork or wasting time trying to find keys. Guests won’t have to wait for their rooms or check in later than they’d like because of a poorly functioning lock system.
- Improved hotel security—if you choose an electronic lock that requires keycard access, all outside visitors will also need one. This means it’s harder for unauthorized people to enter your hotel room than ever!
Who would benefit from a lock upgrade?
Many people stand to benefit from a lock upgrade.
- Hotel owners and managers can opt for an electronic lock solution that allows for remote control, so they can always control the room keys even when they’re not at the hotel. In addition, installing hotel locks with features like a digital keypad makes it easier for guests to enter their rooms without fumbling with cards or keys.
- Hotel staff: Hotel staff may also find it more convenient to use Bluetooth-enabled locking mechanisms since this technology will allow them to unlock hotel rooms with mobile phones quickly and easily. Using these types of hotel locks will also reduce the human error associated with handing out physical keys because there is no risk that those people could lose their belongings while working at your establishment.
- Hotel guests: Finally, guests who stay in hotels where such devices have been installed will experience greater convenience and better security due to reduced chance(s) of the possible unauthorized person(s) gaining access.
What type of new hotel lock will you choose for upgrading hotel locks
You first must decide what kind of new hotel lock you will choose. You may want to upgrade your lock because it’s outdated or because you want a more secure, durable, or stylish one.
Two types of hotel locks can be upgraded. One is the RFID hotel lock, and the other is a mobile door lock.
- RFID Hotel Lock: This new hotel lock lets you unlock your room using your key card or RFID tag. You can also use this type of new hotel lock by entering your reservation code (or booking ID).
- Bluetooth Hotel Lock with mobile app: If you don’t have any experience installing electronic devices, this might not be for you since it requires some technical knowledge to work with these products! However, upgrading to mobile phone apps is worth considering if you have some basic electrical wiring skills or installing electronics. You can reference our Bluetooth TTlock smart lock and TThotel lock system.
How long does a lock upgrade take?
It depends. Several factors can affect installation time, such as:
- The type of lock you’re upgrading. Some locks require a complete replacement, and others only require a simple part swap.
- How many locks do you need to upgrade? If you need all the locks changed in your hotel, this could take several hours or even days, depending on how long it takes to get new ones ordered and installed.
- How many doors need new locks installed (if any)? If just one door out of dozens needs an upgrade, it shouldn’t take too long!
- How long does delivering your new locks (if you purchased them yourself) take? This may depend on where you’re located and if they’re available locally, so be sure to check beforehand!
Hotel Lock Upgrade cost
The cost of upgrading your hotel lock depends on a few factors. The size of your hotel and the type of lock you choose are two significant factors that will affect the price. The number of doors and rooms will also affect your total costs.
For example, if you have 1 door in one room that needs to be replaced, this would be considered a simple project and would cost much less than if you were replacing all locks throughout an entire building with multiple doors and rooms.
The average cost for upgrading a hotel lock is $150 per door. If you have 20 entries, replacing them would cost $3,000. A new keycard system can help keep track of which keys belong to whom—and if someone loses theirs, they’ll be able to get a replacement from the front desk staff at no extra charge!
What needs to be considered when upgrading hotel locks
When you upgrade your hotel locks, it’s essential to consider all of the following:
Your old lock size
This is the size of your current lock and its key. If you have a different size than our offer, we can certainly work with you on getting the right one, but that may involve ordering multiple parts and shipping them separately.
Your old hotel lock mortise
The lock mortise is part of the door frame where the lock sits; it’s essentially an opening in this area where a separate piece fits (in other words, it’s what holds your new hardware). You’ll want to ensure that whatever model of hotel lock system software we’re using will fit into this opening without issue—checking if there are any obstructions or irregularities in its shape before purchasing anything else!
Your old hotel lock system software:
If possible and affordable for your budgeting needs and time constraints explicitly related to renting rooms out again quickly after installing new hardware upgrades at hotels like yours, I highly recommend upgrading from older versions.
Do you need hotel energy-saving switches?
The hotel energy-saving switches can make a big difference by reducing your hotel’s electricity. Some have timers and features that allow you to set when they turn off or on, which also helps save money.
Do you need an elevator control system?
The hotel elevator control system will make it easier for guests to use the elevator by giving them clear instructions on operating and where they go.
Are there any risks to not upgrading your hotel locks?
The main risk of not upgrading your electronic door lock system for hotels is that it will be easily picked, which means anyone with some skill can get in. Any valuables inside, like laptops or jewelry, could mean big trouble for you and your guests.
A poorly secured lock also means an increased risk of break-ins and theft for guests and staff at your establishment. It also harms everyone if someone attempts to make off with something valuable by force.
Finally, not upgrading your hotel locks could cause serious damage to property and reputation if someone breaks into an occupied room and causes havoc (or worse) while stealing from you!
Conclusion
Whether your hotel has a key or an RFID lock, replacing it is relatively simple. It doesn’t require special tools or equipment and can be completed in as little as 20 minutes with minimal effort.
If you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, you can always hire someone else to do it for you. However, this might be the way to go if you want to save money and have more time while still getting the job done quickly!
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