Smart Door Access

Every building in the Kootenays has a key problem, and it's rarely the lock. Someone moved out and didn't return their key, or a former employee still has a copy. Maybe the cleaner's key has been lent to a friend. Once a key has been copied, the only real fix is re-keying, and most owners put that off.

Smart door access replaces physical keys with credentials you control from a phone or computer: a mobile app, a PIN, a tap from a phone wallet, or a key fob. Access can be added or removed in seconds, and every entry is logged.

How it works

Each door has a reader and an electronic lock or strike, connected to a small controller on your network. People unlock the door with one of the following:

Phone app: tap to unlock, or unlock remotely for a visitor
PIN code: handy for staff, crews and trades who need access for a set period
Phone wallet: a tap from Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, like paying with a card
Key fob or card: for people who'd rather not use a phone

Access is assigned by group and schedule. For example, staff can enter weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., cleaners on Tuesday evenings, and owners at any time.

Many existing doors can be upgraded without replacing the door or frame. Mango IT installs and supports UniFi Access, which can also connect to UniFi cameras and intercoms, so a single app manages doors, video and visitors.

Trades shops and industrial yards

Trades businesses often have the most keys in circulation and the most at stake. Tools, equipment and materials are worth stealing. Crews start early, and subcontractors and suppliers come and go.

Smart access helps with:

Crew turnover. When someone leaves, their access is removed the same day, with nothing to collect or re-key.
Early starts and late returns. Crews can have access from 5 a.m., while the office door stays locked until business hours.
Subcontractors and deliveries. You can issue a temporary PIN that expires when the job ends, or unlock the door remotely for a delivery while you're on another site.
Shared spaces. Tool cribs, parts rooms and fuel storage can have their own rules, separate from the main door.
A record after an incident. If something goes missing, you can see who came in and when. Paired with cameras, you can see what happened too.

Condos and strata buildings

Strata councils spend a lot of time managing fobs: ordering them, tracking who has one, and dealing with lost ones. Buzzer systems that rely on an old landline are becoming harder and more expensive to maintain.

Smart access helps with:

Move-ins and move-outs. Access is added or removed from the portal, with no need to get fobs back.
Resident choice. Residents can use the app, a PIN, a phone wallet or a fob.
Modern intercom. Visitors call a resident's phone from the entry panel, and the resident unlocks the door from wherever they are.
Shared amenities. The gym, bike room, parkade and garbage room can each be restricted to the right people and hours.
Lower lost-fob costs. Most residents move to phone-based access, which costs nothing when a fob goes missing.

We provide strata managers with an administrator guide and a resident guide, so the council has a clear process from day one.

Rental buildings

For landlords, every tenant turnover is a security question. Re-keying between tenants is expensive, so it often doesn't happen.

Smart access helps with:

Tenant turnover. The outgoing tenant's credentials are removed and the new tenant's are issued the same day.
Trades and inspections. Maintenance staff or contractors get time-limited access, with no lockbox or hidden key.
Remote management. You can manage the building without living nearby. This is common for owners whose properties are spread across the region.

Offices and professional practices

Offices face the same problems on a smaller scale: staff changes, cleaning contractors, and after-hours access. Clinics and professional practices also need to show who can reach areas where client records are kept.

Smart access helps with:

Onboarding and offboarding. Door access can be part of the same checklist as email and computer accounts.
Restricted rooms. File rooms, server closets and medication storage can be limited to the right people.
Scheduled unlocking. The front door unlocks at opening time and locks at close.

What to plan for

Internet outages. A properly designed system keeps working on the local network if the internet goes down, so credentials already issued still open doors. Remote unlocking and app notifications return once the internet is back.

Power. Door hardware and controllers should be on battery backup. Each door is also configured to either lock or unlock during a power failure, depending on its role.

Fire and building code. Doors on exit routes must allow people to get out freely. We design around the BC Building Code and coordinate with your local fire authority where needed.

Privacy. Access logs record where people were and when, so they are personal information under BC's Personal Information Protection Act. We help you set a reasonable retention period and decide who can view the logs.

Getting started

Mango IT assesses your doors, recommends hardware and access rules, installs the system, and trains the person who will manage it. We support buildings across the East Kootenay, from single-door shops to multi-unit residential buildings.