It’s Time for a Smarter, More Convenient and Secure Resident Door

The multifamily housing tech landscape is changing faster than ever; staying ahead of the tech curve is essential for multifamily owners and operators. The days of relying solely on mechanical keys for unit access are long gone, and as we move forward, security solutions are advancing to meet the demands of today and tomorrow.

Smart deadbolts are nothing new; over the last few years, options for single-family residential smart deadbolts have boomed—a simple search on Amazon will attest to this. However, as smart as they may be, these standalone locks don’t translate well to the multifamily market because they do not integrate with each other or with the rest of the access control system, not to mention other building systems.

This has been a major hurdle for those in the multifamily industry who know they need to upgrade and want to retrofit their doors with smart locking technology but do not have any truly viable options that meet their needs or budget. The demand from the market was evident; we needed to create a smart deadbolt that would be affordable, simple to swap out with the old mechanical deadbolts (using the same hole, no wires), and would integrate with the existing access control platform. The SALTO Systems R&D team set to work with a charter to develop the industry’s most advanced smart deadbolt, a lock purpose-built for the multifamily market. Today, that lock is a reality, and we are proud to introduce you to the DBolt Touch, a smart deadbolt designed to seamlessly integrate with the dynamic needs of multifamily communities.

The deadbolt has been the standard for residential door security for more than 100 years, but like everything else in life, things change, they evolve, and when we’re lucky, they get better. A decade ago, mechanical keys were the norm; five years ago, PIN codes and keycards gained prevalence. Today, we’re experiencing a shift towards more secure technologies like BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) credentials. Soon, we’ll see the next change and embrace NFC (Near Field Communication) wallet credentials like those in Apple Wallet. While technology progresses, user experience remains an essential factor in determining the most suitable smart lock hardware. With the DBolt series, SALTO addresses the balance between security and usability for today and what’s to come next.

Multifamily developers also need to account for changes in access control and resident experience software. Properties might choose the best management platform for 2024; however, that same platform may not be the right fit for the building in 2034. What might cause the shift? The property could be sold to a new ownership group with a different software standard. Macroeconomic shifts may push multifamily operators to reduce software subscription fees. Innovation will happen, and new software could warrant making changes.

Choosing access control hardware can lock you into a single tech-path, removing the flexibility of multifamily operators to adapt to market demands or resident expectations.

Enter SALTO Systems, the DBolt Touch, and flexible smart locking.

SALTO DBolt Touch is packed with technology and supports the credentials used today and ready to for the technologies of tomorrow including: 

• User pass codes 
• RFID DESFire EV3 key fobs 
• RFID DESFire EV3 key cards 
• Apple Wallet 
• NFC 
• Remote openings 
• BLE mobile keys 

Better yet, DBolt Touch isn’t limited to just one access method. Using PIN codes today? Great. Want to switch to BLE mobile credentials tomorrow? Easy. Interested in enabling access using Apple Wallet? Done.

DBolt Touch is not only flexible in terms of access control methods but also in its overall integration. Whether transitioning from on-premise applications to cloud-based solutions or shifting from a subscription-based model to a capital expenditure model, DBolt Touch remains constant, eliminating the need for hardware changes even when software needs evolve.

DBolt Touch is an excellent product for both new builds and retrofits! There’s little need for additional infrastructure, and DBolt Touch fits the most common multifamily door preparations without the necessity to drill large holes in the door!

SALTO's DBolt Touch stands as a testament to innovation in multifamily security solutions. Simple, secure, flexible, and attractive, it not only meets the demands of the present but is also ready for what’s next. Embrace the future of multifamily security with DBolt Touch, where security and experience meet.