A key factor for companies today is the universal concern for sustainability and environmental management.
In the past, having a sustainability-oriented corporate philosophy was a thing for large corporations, influencing only a small group of “enlightened” users. Fortunately, sustainability is no longer an isolated issue, it is a global megatrend that affects each market and consumer segment, becoming a priority factor in the purchase decision. Today it is universally accepted that each of us plays a role to protect the future of the planet and we must act in a responsible way, now.
A RAPID URBANIZATION
According to the World Bank, about 55% of the world’s population – some 4.2 billion people – live in cities. Several experts agree that this phenomenon will continue to increase. By 2050, when the population in urban centers is expected to double its current number, about 7 out of 10 people in the world are expected to live in cities.
The global consulting firm McKinsey & Company, predicts that there will be a significant increase in sustainability in the construction sector and a parallel transformation of consumer habits that demand healthier buildings and living spaces.
GREATER SAFETY RISKS
Rapid urbanization is driving investment in the construction sector, but also increasing security risks. In overcrowded areas where land is scarce or very expensive, the trend is to build vertically creating high-rise buildings. More people occupying less space means more locks and key users. Building owners need to rethink the type of security measures that are put in place in new buildings, but also take a hard look at how to modernize the current housing stock in a cost-effective and sustainable way.
CONTROLLING COSTS
Cost control has been, and always will be, an essential indicator in any construction project. From the conception of the building structure itself, but also in the installation of internal elements and their components, the owners and operators of buildings will review the cost of each item in detail. Whether they are assets for sale or for rent, a primary goal for developers and homeowners is to achieve the lowest possible total cost of ownership (TCO). According to a recent study, the TCO is the indicator that prevails in the decision about the installation of lock systems in buildings.
CLOSING THE DOOR TO TRADITIONAL LOCKS
We have talked about the rapid growth of cities with their consequent safety risks and the need to control the costs of construction and operation of buildings in a sustainable way. To be competitive, many companies have been immersed in digital transformation processes. It has taken longer than in other sectors, but construction is already transforming to take advantage of all the opportunities that digitization brings. According to research carried out by Virgin Media Business with Oxford Economics, the construction sector is the third most likely sector to benefit from digital transformation.
THE DIGITAL AGE
In a digital lock system, all access rights are programmed into a digital key and the entire ecosystem of a property is easy and cost-efficient managed, using a cloud-based operating system. Access permissions can be updated whenever required and lost or stolen keys can be overridden. There is no need to spend time or money changing locks, cylinders, or making new keys for each user of a specific door.
In a mobile access solution, access rights are updated in real-time through communication networks to a mobile phone application, making it even easier to control who has the right to access which doors and at what time. Currently, the asset management industry is being revolutionized, with cloud-hosted platforms that allow the management of multiple assets (remotely) saving companies time and other resources.
BATTERY-FREE SOLUTIONS
The most sustainable lock systems are those that do not require the use of batteries or wiring. This means zero energy consumption and zero emissions from your daily use. Some countries, such as France, are considering implementing a total ban on the use of lithium-ion batteries in the coming years.
In a battery-free digital lock system, the energy required to open the lock comes from the kinetic movement of inserting the key into the lock. In a mobile solution without batteries, the energy required to open the lock comes from the mobile phone itself.