I have read plenty of posts from home security providers exclaiming how smart locks make consumers safer and more secure. I get what they are trying to do. It’s part of marketing home security. But I don’t necessarily know that a smart lock secures a home better than a traditional deadbolt. What I will say is that smart locks offer an unbeatable combination of convenience and automation.
The Smart Lock Defined
Let me start by defining a smart lock, for those who aren’t into smart home technology. A smart lock is an electronic lock that utilizes some sort of keyless entry. It might be a keypad and PIN, a fingerprint, a retinal scanner, or even a smartphone app. Keys are still included just in case the electronic entry system fails.
Smart locks are also remotely accessible. They are connected devices that can be activated and deactivated from the cloud. All you need is an internet connection and an app. You can also fully integrate smart locks into a home automation system, making them available for all sorts of programming routines.
The Convenience Aspect
For my money, the most important feature of a smart lock is keyless entry. You can’t beat it for convenience. Consider this: the other day I returned home after going out by myself. I had a backpack, a cup of coffee, a shirt, and a water bottle to carry into the house. I also use a cane.
How I wish I had a smart lock with keyless entry. Instead, I fumbled with my keys while trying not to drop anything – including the previously mentioned cane. Had my home been equipped with a smart lock, I could have swiped across my phone and unlocked the door from my car.
In addition to keyless entry, smart locks offer convenience by way of:
RemoteAccess – Remote access means a homeowner can lock and unlock his door from anywhere. If he leaves for work and forgets to lock the door behind him, no worries. He can lock up en route or when he gets to the office.
GuestAccess – Smart locks make managing guest access a snap. Guests do not need a set of house keys. They just need a PIN (for a lock with a keypad).
Notifications– Real-time notifications make it possible to track who is coming and going. Every time a smart lock is activated or deactivated, a notification is sent to the homeowner.
It is clear that none of these things is possible with a traditional lock. Traditional locks do the trick in terms of securing a door, but they are not the most convenient devices in the average American home.
The Automation Aspect
As much as I love convenience, I am more excited about the automation aspect. Vivint, a nationwide leader in smart home and home security installations, explains that a fully integrated smart lock can be automated just like any other device. The perfect example is tying a smart lock to the GPS feature on a consumer smartphone.
By taking advantage of geolocation technology, a homeowner can draw a virtual fence around his property. He can make the fence as large or small as he likes. Then he can program his system to lock the door when his phone leaves the area. As soon as his phone re-enters, the door is unlocked.
There was so much more I could write about smart locks and their capabilities. I can tell you this: they represent one of the more exciting aspects of modern smart home technology. Everybody should have a smart lock on the front door.