Between 2021 and 2022, there were over 1 million break-ins in the UK, meaning it’s never been more important to make sure your property is secure. Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, keeping your property safe is of paramount importance. A digital lock is a great solution to increase security measures in your home or business, protecting your assets and your loved ones.
More and more people are choosing to install a digital door lock on their front door or rear gates to keep them protected – read on to find out what a digital lock is, how it works and the advantages of choosing one.
What is a digital lock?
A keyless digital lock allows you to lock and unlock your door by clicking a button, without the need for a key. When you install a digital door lock on your property, you and anyone who is granted access to the building won’t need a physical key to enter.
The main function of a smart door lock is that it protects your property via a Wi-Fi connection, but you need to be sure that you’re only sharing the code with trusted people. For residential properties, it offers that extra level of security and for commercial buildings, it makes the process of accessing the property as a large team more efficient.
There are two main types of digital lock: electronic and mechanical. An electronic lock requires a power source, whether mains or battery, while a mechanical lock operates via a set of push buttons. Depending on the style chosen, digital door locks can be fitted on a range of door types, including timber doors and gates, multi-point uPVC doors, external doors and glass doors.
There are ranges to suit different levels of security required, whether it’s a rarely used internal door or one which undergoes heavy use. The most robust door locks can cope with heavy impact and even the most violent of attacks, but they’ll also deliver many years of reliable service even when subjected to constant use. If you’re considering replacing your traditional locks with a digital alternative, here are five top benefits for doing so.
5 benefits of a digital lock
Convenience
One of the primary benefits of choosing a digital lock for gate purposes or your front door is that it’s incredibly convenient. You don’t have to worry about being accidentally locked out of your home or business when you forget your key or worrying about someone gaining unauthorised access by stealing a key.
Keypads and electronic door locks are easy and quick to install, and they offer a secure upgrade to a traditional lock with minimal disruption. Perfect for main doors or a garden gate, digital lock systems are a great way to make your life simpler, and since most smart locks are battery powered, you don’t have to worry about them cutting out during a power failure.
Access control
For security-sensitive applications, such as commercial premises where there’s a high rate of employee turnover, it’s essential that you have strong access control to prevent unauthorised access. Digital locks are perfect for this, since mechanical keys can be lost or stolen, as well as copied.
A password removes this risk, and can be updated as often as necessary to keep your property secure and safe. Some keyless locks have in-built access control, such as audit trails and multiple authority levels, and can be programmed with thousands of unique access codes for specific users.
If you’re managing a multi-occupancy house, renting out an Airbnb or even just expecting visitors when you’re not going to be home yourself, you can simply share your access code with them, and they can let themselves in without any issues. It’s an easy and accessible way to control the access to your property without the risk of a key falling into the wrong hands.
Time and cost-saving
Re-keying may be inexpensive, but when it’s a constant task, the cost can soon add up. If you have a high employee turnover in your business, such as supermarkets or storage firms, it can be a significant expense that eats into your profits. Additionally, it takes time and effort to keep track of physical keys, which could be better spent elsewhere in your business.
A keyless lock makes it simple and incredibly quick to provide or revoke access, and with user-friendly features such as touchscreens and multilingual voice guidance, you can manage a large number of individuals’ access to the property instantly.
Refined visual styling and integration
The technology for digital door locks has evolved considerably in recent years, and the visual styling has too. Many door locks come with user-friendly screens that make them easy to use and quick to get to grips with. Sleek and seamless, they’re an elegant addition to your home and are just as intuitive to use as a smartphone or tablet.
What’s more, many models of digital door lock can be integrated with other smart security devices, such as doorbell cameras or home security systems, which means you have complete assurance that your home or business is protected around the clock, and synced with other devices with remote access.
From an aesthetics point of view, property buyers want a beautiful property, whether as a resident or to give the right impression as a business. Design innovation has always been essential in differentiating and positioning a property in the market, and property-based technology such as this is a great way to do that. These devices help property owners stay competitive and with options to suit every budget or security need, there is something for every taste to give the property a cohesive look.
Enhanced security
The likelihood of someone being able to find a key hidden under a doormat or in a shed are much higher than the chances of them correctly guessing a unique four-digit PIN code. Criminals don’t want to be seen lingering in front of a property trying to guess the code to access your home or business, so even the very presence of a digital door lock can act as a deterrent against someone breaking in.
A passcode-protected lock is a great way to enhance your security, so that whether you’re travelling, running errands or working, you can be confident that your property is protected. With some digital lock models, you can also set notifications to ensure you remember to lock the door on the way out, which gives you peace of mind.
With a digital lock system, you have clear visibility over who comes in or attempts to break into your home or business. This offers great insight into how secure your home is and when connected to a smart alarm, it also means that police or fire services can be notified immediately of an intrusion.
Final thoughts
We no longer need to depend on traditional locks and physical keys to keep our property safe. With a digital door lock, you don’t need to worry about being locked out of your home or commercial premises from losing or forgetting your key, or worrying that someone unauthorised can gain access to the building.
Digital locks are easy to install and offer unrivalled security, and they add value for property owners and business owners. Not only are they a sound investment from a security perspective but they also add convenience, time- and cost-saving measures, and they’re easy to install and use.
