The distributor of Orbita products in Uzbekistan, Kahramon Shukrzhanov, shared the benefits of using electronic locks in hotels and discussed the electronic locking system.
It is clear that access cards for hotel rooms are convenient. They are easy to issue, store, and track. This is why hotels are gradually moving away from traditional keys. But is this the only reason hotels are transitioning to card access systems? Why is the topic of automation, including access automation, gaining momentum now?
The electronic access system, and as you rightly pointed out, “card access” is an important innovation for the hospitality industry. Most importantly, it allows for a reduction in costs associated with room inventory and significantly increases hotel turnover.
This system is suitable for any hotel, regardless of its star rating or number of rooms. What matters is that the access control system and equipment operate reliably. Based on our experience, there are only a few complaints per year, which is a very good indicator.
It’s still not entirely clear how costs can be reduced and hotel turnover increased through an electronic access system. Could you elaborate on this?
In hotels without electronic locks, administrators can check in guests without registration. We conducted an experiment asking hoteliers to compare revenue before and after the installation of electronic locks. According to their data, revenue increased by 20-30%, indicating a loss of funds. Similar results (or even worse) were observed by hoteliers where relatives were working, even though prior to the installation of locks, they claimed this was impossible.
20-30% of revenue is a significant figure. Does this statistic apply to large or small hotels?
It’s roughly the same everywhere. However, sometimes in smaller hotels, these figures exceeded even 50%. This is the data from hoteliers who installed electronic locks.
Besides unauthorized check-ins, what other weak points exist in a hotel with a conventional, non-automated access system?
Another weak area in the hotel is technical rooms, which store expensive professional cleaning supplies, as well as consumables for rooms such as shampoos, conditioners, tea, and coffee. Here, electronic locks are more necessary for controlling access to these areas.
Does the fact that the locks are manufactured in China deter potential clients, especially premium hotels?
We proudly state that Orbita locks are made in China, which is known for quality products, not low-quality copies. For instance, iPhones and many good Chinese cars are also assembled in China. Europeans and Americans have been bringing their technologies to China for a long time, and now we receive reliable products at affordable prices. We thoroughly vet all suppliers and conducted a “crash test” of the locks, including freezing them in a freezer to ensure their functionality at low temperatures, which reassured our clients from northern regions.
How is the control implemented? Is the time recorded, and is the card linked to a specific individual?
The methods of collecting statistics depend on the type of electronic locks chosen based on the size of the accommodation and its stage (construction or renovation).
The first type — standalone locks. They operate on batteries that last 1-2 years and do not require connection to each other, wires, or Wi-Fi. For example, a card valid for 2 hours allows access to the lock only during that time, after which it is blocked. A reader is provided with these locks, which can read data from 10 locks simultaneously without disturbing guests. The information is transferred to a computer and logs all openings, including mechanical keys, preventing unauthorized access.
The second type — networked wired locks. These are installed during construction or renovation, as wiring is required. This is optimal for large hotel properties. Statistics are maintained online, and batteries are only needed for backup power in case of a power outage, allowing the locks to operate in standalone mode until the network is restored.
Can you provide a specific example where a hotel discovered theft or prevented it using your electronic locks?
For instance, one hotel we work with had such a case. A guest reported that a watch worth several million rubles had gone missing from their room. When we started investigating, we asked the guest to specify the approximate time they last saw their watch. Based on that timeframe, hotel staff checked the electronic lock data. It turned out that during that time, no one else had entered the room besides the guest. The hotel manager asked the guest to search for the watch in their room. The watch was, of course, found, and there was no need to call the police or conduct inquiries and searches of the staff's personal belongings.
If it had turned out that someone else had entered the room, questions would have arisen for a specific employee.
Suppose I have a hotel and I want to purchase electronic locks. How much will it cost to install such a system for the hotel? What is the difference between locks priced at $180 and those at $240?
Much depends on the type of locks. Standalone locks differ mainly in design — more interesting materials increase the price. There are mortise mechanisms, where the price difference is small — about $10-15. Networked locks are more expensive than standalone ones and require additional wired and wireless controllers, one for every 20-30 locks. Batteries in networked locks serve as a backup in case of a power outage.
Our locks are not cheap, but it’s important to consider not only the purchase cost but also the operational costs, as well as the lost revenue due to theft prevention. These funds can be directed towards repairs or hotel expansion. The payback period is easy to calculate — the average turnover for a hotel with 50 rooms is 400-450 million sums per month, and a loss of 20-30% amounts to 80-95 million sums, which is quite significant for a small hotel. The cost of locks for such a hotel is comparable to this amount.
If a hotel decides to install the system, what will be required from them? How do you "interact" with the doors, and what is your installation practice?
The hotel technically requires nothing special; it’s important to decide whether the locks will be for new or existing doors. If new doors are being installed, we recommend pre-milling them for the locks, providing the manufacturer with an installation scheme. First, locks are ordered, then doors, which allows for quick and precise installation.
However, hoteliers sometimes save money by buying doors and locks from different places and hiring unqualified installers, which can lead to damages. If only the locks are being changed, we select them based on the sizes of the already installed ones to minimize installation costs. It is also possible to order custom plates and overlays to cover holes, but this is usually not necessary.
We have installed the locks; they need to be configured somehow, right?
If there is a system administrator at the hotel, it will be easy for the hotel to independently launch the system.
At the same time, we can take on chief installation or turnkey installation with all necessary settings, as well as provide assistance in setting up the software via remote connection.
How long does it usually take from the moment of ordering to installation?
We have a warehouse in Tashkent, which allows us to quickly deliver locks to nearby regions, as well as send orders via transport companies throughout Uzbekistan. Customers can organize self-pickup. If the locks are installed by us, we perform installation and software setup turnkey, but the customer can also install them independently, as the instructions are in Russian.
What is the warranty on Orbita electronic hotel locks?
We offer a long warranty on hotel locks — it lasts for three years. I can say more — in all the years we have been working with electronic locks, we have not had a case where a lock has malfunctioned.
Phone: (+998) 97−333−18−01.
Website: rkeeper.uz
Facebook: fb.com/Rkeeper.Uzb
Instagram: @kahramonrkeeper
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