A digital code lock lets the customer open up with a code instead of a key. With an igloohome lock, the code belongs to the booking and is valid for a limited time, and the lock needs neither internet nor mains power. So you can fit it to a trailer, a storage unit door or a sauna by a lake. That is what makes unattended rental possible, but locks differ, and your choice decides how smoothly it runs.
How does an igloohome lock work without internet?
The code is generated in advance, with its validity period built into the code itself. The lock checks the code on its own when the customer types it in, a bit like the code generator you may use for online banking. So the lock needs no connection, only batteries. Only the system that creates the code has to be online.
Rule of thumb: the less power and connectivity a lock needs, the fewer things can go wrong when a customer is standing there on a Sunday evening.
How does the customer get the code?
The code is shown in the booking once the rental has started. The customer arrives, starts the booking on their phone, does the condition check and then sees the code. It can only be fetched while the booking is under way, and it is valid for a limited time window. The next customer gets a new code, so you never have to change locks or worry about copied keys.
The customer does not need an app for the lock. But they do need their phone and mobile coverage on site to open the booking, so check the coverage where the lock is.
Which lock suits what you rent out?
| Lock | Suits | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Padlock | Trailers, containers, gates and tool sheds | Sits outside in all weather and cold. Choose one that can take it |
| Key box | A key that has to be handed over anyway, for a machine, a car or a venue | Good if you want to start without changing locks. The customer has to put the key back |
| Door lock | Venues, studios, storage unit doors and saunas | Fitted in the door. Check that it suits your door before you buy |
Can the locks handle a Nordic winter?
Check the temperature range of the exact model you buy. igloohome’s Padlock 2 is made for −20 to 50 °C and can take rain and being under water for a while (IPX7). Colder than that, the lock may stop working, and cold always drains batteries.
If you rent out where it gets colder than −20 °C, place the lock where it is sheltered from wind and ice, or choose a key box or a door lock indoors.
What happens when the battery runs out?
The lock stops working until it has power again, so the important thing is to see it coming. Padlock 2 is charged by USB-C and lasts up to nine months on a charge, according to igloohome. If the battery is completely flat, you can start the lock with a power bank through USB-C. There is no ordinary key as a back-up.
In Qonnecta you see the battery level of every lock in admin, and when it was last reported. Charge or change batteries in good time, ideally before winter, rather than hearing about it from a customer who cannot get in.
What do you do if the code does not work?
First check whether the customer has typed it wrong or is trying outside the time window. If you can create a one-time code straight from the booking on your phone and read it out, it is solved in a minute. In Qonnecta you do that with Generate one-time PIN on the booking. Say in the instructions by the lock who the customer should contact.
What does the log show?
The log shows which codes have been created, for which booking and when they expire. That is useful if there is a dispute about who had access to the product and when. The log does not, however, show every time the lock was opened.
When is a code lock the wrong choice?
When the customer needs a walk-through before they can use what you rent out, for example a machine they have never driven. Then a personal handover is better, at least the first time. A code lock also does not suit places without mobile coverage, since the customer sees the code in the booking.
For monthly rentals, such as storage units, Qonnecta uses a fixed code per unit or gate. Change the code when the tenant moves out.
Does everything need a lock?
No. Fit locks to what you want to rent out unattended and keep renting out the rest with a personal handover.
In Qonnecta the code is linked to the right booking, customer and time without you doing anything. In admin you see the locks, their battery level and the codes that have been created. You buy the locks separately, and we help you choose. Qonnecta supports igloohome locks, and we’re happy to find a solution for other locks.