Unlock Doors With Your Smartphone Using NFC Technology
A few years ago, Kisi set out to change the world of access control with a technology that would make the unlock experience faster and easier for anyone. The team decided early on that this could be accomplished by harnessing the power of smartphones, the most ubiquitous device on the planet. The planning phase during the fall of 2017 felt like an uphill battle for the tech and product teams, but the results were "magnificent", as many customers called it.
In Q1 of 2018, Kisi proudly presented an entirely re-imagined office unlock experience using Android technology. With this innovation, widespread use of tap-to-unlock technology was made available to customers. In just 3 months, from conception to implementation, Kisi redesigned it's application to include the most intuitive, fastest and robust mobile access technology.
NFC technology, or near-field communication, is a feature included in most Android phones and devices which allows data to be transmitted securely over short distances. In the same way that Bluetooth technology is used to unlock doors with iPhones, Kisi used a similar method with Android mobile devices and the accompanying NFC technology.
Here are the highlights of the major updates:
- The Kisi access control app can be customized with a company's unique brand, meaning administrators can include the Kisi app in their management ecosystem without confusing employees and visitors with an outside brand - just upload the company logo and done! See example image below.
- Tap-to-Unlock: Faster unlocking - after conducting many user studies to find the ideal unlock design, the Kisi team found that a simple tap or swipe of the user's mobile phone would allow a smoother experience than sorting through keys and fobs usually stuffed in a wallet. Whether you have an Android or iPhone, just swipe and go in. No other actions needed.
- Manage your access card like credit cards in Apple Pay. With streamlined integration between the app and your physical access keys, you can manage your own Kisi Passes from the app to maintain control of your access methods.
- Offline functionality: Your Android phone won't need an active internet connection to unlock the door with the Kisi Pro Reader. The app does not have to be open and you can just hold your phone to the reader for a second to unlock the door, or as we like to call it, "Tap-to-Unlock."
As the most advanced mobile technology in the physical security space, the recent Kisi updates bring more functionality and ease to the user experience. For the full experience, Android users can download it here.
Here's a screenshot of the app branded with a company's unique logo, giving the app a more native look for businesses seeking to establish their brand across all levels of user interaction:
There are some exciting updates on the horizon, particularly integrations with some of the most popular identity and visitor management systems, security cameras and alarms, and much more! Learn more about upcoming features and integrations here.
