Keys and Room Access Options

BookingCenter can link to a ‘lock system’ (whether keyless, swipe, RFID, Wi-Fi, or Low Energy BlueTooth) and automate delivery.  For implementations using RFID keys (magnetic swipe), we require the Guest Services Module is purchased and installed (more detail here).  But for keyless door locks using codes, the solution is cheap and easy, 

The main keyless approaches we support are:

1. Door Codes are dynamically created from daily PMS operations, and sent via email and/or SMS texts to Guests at rules you decide, such as morning of the arrival or day prior. Each 'room' or 'unit' comes with custom explanation for how to access the specific unit with the automatic created 'code'.  Multiple rooms during the same stay? NO problem, our interface provides a unique code for each room during the stay.  Most guests prefer these 'codes' to both traditional 'key's and 'App/RFID 'keys'.  Read our documentation for how this interface works with RemoteLock (a direct interface not requiring the Guest Services Module) and our PMS system here.
2. RFID and 'app-based' lock systems by traditional hospitality vendors are also supported. Though usually a bit costlier than the 'codes' approach, we support 45 vendors detailed here.  BookingCenter connects to these key vendors via the Guest Service Module.  If you have a vendor who sells key systems not on this list, but you are interested in their product and support with BookingCenter, ask them if they support the same interface specification as one of the vendors on the list, and often times that works, as well.

When it’s only the key system to be interfaced, and it's not used for Self Check-in, there is not much ‘return on investment’ due to the nature of this particular interface.  With a PMS interfacing to a key system, the front desk operator needs to check in the booking in MyPMS, then insert a key in the device ‘console’, confirm the room and number of nights the Property Management System sent, then swipe/dip the card to embed that data on the key (or e-key) system. Thus, the benefit of the Property Management System is to send the Room number, Guest name (some systems), check in date, and checkout date & time to a console.  Without a Property Management System interface, a similar process is followed, but the user has to manually input the Room number and number of nights.  Thus, 2 extra clicks into the console are required (and no Guest name gets associated with the key). 

For this reason, if a customer wishes to only interface a key console, we usually recommend against the investment of the Guest Service Module, as the benefit is too little. If, however, a customer also wishes to use Self Check-in (to automate guest access to the room), or connect to to a PBX, voice mail, restaurant/bar POS system, mini bar, movie system, etc., then the investment in the Guest Service Module makes sense, because that investment delivers much more value.