Mobile Key—The Pros and Cons of the Growing Hotel Tech Trend

Have you heard of mobile keys? Today, this concept is becoming increasingly popular in the hotel industry, not just as a term but as a way for hotels to improve their services and the guest experience.

Thanks to innovation, the workflows in a hotel are becoming more manageable, and the guest stays more enjoyable. In this regard, we want to look at an exciting topic today: Mobile Key—The Pros and Cons of the Growing Hotel Tech Trend .

If you’re a hotel owner looking for ways to improve your services or just curious about how technology is evolving today, then continue reading to find out the advantages and disadvantages of mobile keys.

What Is a Mobile Key, and How Does It Work?

The mobile key, also known as digital key and keyless entry, is a relative innovation in the hotel industry that more and more hotel owners are taking advantage of.

The purpose of the mobile key is to allow hotel guests to unlock their room or other areas of the hotel (spa, fitness centre, etc.) using a mobile device. Upon check-in at the hotel, guests can access a mobile app where their key is generated.

To open the door of his room, he must be next to his room, open the mobile application, and click on the screen button to unlock the door. And voila, the door opens.

The mobile key works through a Bluetooth signal sent from the mobile app to the door so that it opens. The guest must be within a few feet of the door to open. It makes it quick and easy to gain access to their room.

What Are the Pros of Using a Mobile Key In Hotels?

The advantages of using a mobile key are many for both guests and hotel employees.

First of all, guests save a lot of time. They do not have to queue at the reception to get a key for their room. They have much more control over their experience at your hotel because no matter what you say, a long wait at the reception can significantly negatively impact their experience and stay.

From the hotel’s point of view, it also has a lot of pros. First, improving the guest’s experience at your hotel can increase positive reviews left on your website or social networks and boost guests’ overall rating of your hotel.

Additionally, your staff will save significant time in issuing cards or giving out keys. For them, having guests waiting in line can also be less than pleasant an experience, as they also want to serve every hotel guest as quickly and efficiently as possible. And the time you save by using mobile keys can be used for much more productive things.

That’s why it’s worth considering the possibility of implementing mobile keys in your hotel.

In this regard, it is essential to note that it is also a good idea to keep an alternative key like plastic, as some still find it hard to trust technology and prefer to rely on what is familiar to them.

What Are the Cons of Using a Mobile Key?

Like anything else, mobile keys have their disadvantages. Mobile keys can save you money but can also result in slightly higher initial expenses. The locks need to be changed to be suitable for a card and digital key unlocking to use mobile keys.

Another disadvantage is the lack of communication between guests and hotel employees. It is no less important for the guests’ stay. Implementing digital services will undoubtedly reduce the instances in which the guest will need the assistance of hotel staff.

Still, the use of mobile keys is more than excellent. The reasons for that are many. Apart from the ones we have already listed, we can also add that a mobile key reduces the chances of losing your unlock card because this digital key is in your phone. And as we know, the phone is essential, and it rarely happens to forget it in the room or lose it.

That’s why it’s worth considering this option. And as for not having enough communication with your guests, there is a way to deal with that. You need to know your hotel guests and their needs well.