Meet two startups taking access into the 21st century

As for security, the system still works when the power is out and the internet is down, which is great. What’s not so great is that the reader recognizes a private token stored on a user’s phone, so if an employee loses their device or doesn’t leverage two-factor authentication, a stranger could pick up their phone and make their way into the building.

Enterprises have been turning toward various automated systems in an effort to make getting in and out of buildings more convenient. Indeed, anyone who has visited a corporate office as a remote worker has likely experienced the frustration of standing out on the street while waiting for someone to let them inside. This type of product could make such experiences a thing of the past.

A similar shift is happening in the world of apartments and dorms. Instead of key fobs and keys, a company called Latch is putting connected locks on individual apartments and linking them to access readers located in the lobby, elevator, and other public spaces in the apartment. The benefits to residents and landlords are similar to the benefits found in the enterprise.

Landlords will likely appreciate not dealing with physical keys and the ability to let workers into apartments as needed, while also logging who came in and out. Other issues like residents who lose their keys become less of a hassle if a resident can call their landlord, offer an alternate credential, and have the landlord grant them access into their apartment. Both residents and landlords benefit from remote access. Plus, it’s nice not to have to carry your keys with you.

Unlike Openpath, Latch offers physical locks and doesn’t have a large focus on corporate cloud integrations. However, Latch CEO Luke Schoenfelder believes his company could eventually move into the enterprise market. But for now, he’s focused on working with companies like Walmart to give them access to apartments so they can deliver packages and services. These sorts of access programs, similar to Amazon’s Key program, let residents allow delivery people into their homes when they aren’t there. If the resident approves it, Latch gives credentials to delivery drivers who can drop things inside or pick things up. Walmart is using it to deliver and stock fridges with groceries for residents in apartments that use Latch.