Three separate digital door access experiences are converging into one unified experience

14th January 2025 | by Karsten Nölling (KIWI CEO)

The Current Landscape: A Disconnected Experience

In most cases, digital access operates much like traditional metal keys, with minimal integration between stakeholders:

1. Manufacturers often don’t know who installs their hardware, in what context, or for which use case. They may not even know the software used or the individuals who access the system.
2. Installers and channel partners know where hardware is installed but frequently lack insight into how it’s used or by whom. They may manage permissions, but this responsibility can also fall to other parties – including the end customer.
3. End users in a B2B context typically have no knowledge of the hardware, software, or installation process that enables their access.

For B2C markets, some companies are already breaking down these silos by manufacturing hardware, running their own software, and empowering consumers to install and manage their door systems entirely – albeit with a limited number of doors and users. At KIWI, we believe this integrated model will dominate B2B use cases as well, particularly in residential settings.

Let’s explore how the convergence of installation, permissions, and door opening can create seamless experiences.

1. The Installation Experience

The installation process involves two core elements: hardware and software.

• Software: Setup and registration: Doors must be named, registered, and configured within the correct environment. The good news? Software installation can be made almost foolproof, ensuring anyone – regardless of experience – can complete it quickly. Simplifying this step not only reduces costs but also accelerates adoption of digital access systems.
• Hardware: Installation: This includes selecting the right doors, using simple measurement tools, and following intuitive instructions for mounting and unmounting hardware. While some installations will always require professional expertise, better support tools can reduce barriers and enable more DIY installations by untrained professionals and thereby lowering market acceptance of digital access

2. The Permission Management Experience

Granting and revoking access permissions is a crucial step. This is the heart of any access system: deciding who gets access to what. And yes, this can and should be completely de-coupled from the installation experience, ie it should not matter if permissions are set up before the hardware installation or after.

• For consumer applications, mobile apps are often sufficient to not only open the door but also manage the permissions 
• In B2B contexts, web portals are invaluable for managing large volumes of doors and users with a clean, intuitive interface.
• Advanced integrations, such as APIs connecting to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, can automate permissions entirely, eliminating manual tasks.

With the right tools, even non-specialists can handle permissions efficiently, reducing dependency on highly trained personnel.

3. The Door Opening Experience

Unlike metal keys, digital door access offers a range of options for unlocking doors, each tailored to specific use cases:

• Tapping a card or phone on a reader (including wallet option)
• Proximity-based unlocking, where the door opens as you approach.
• Pressing button(s) on a fob, phone, keypad, transponder etc.
• Biometric options like fingerprint or facial recognition.

While we strongly believe in the beauty of one app – and one app only, there is the need for a 2nd device in a lot of use cases. So this isn’t an “either/or” discussion – it’s an “and” discussion. Different solutions will coexist to serve diverse needs, offering flexibility and convenience across industries.

What Does This Mean for the Industry?

First and foremost, this shift puts control firmly in the hands of the customer, giving them unprecedented oversight of their access system – even enabling DIY management of complex setups. This shift doesn’t spell the end of traditional installation channels or expertise. Instead, it’s a call to adapt. As installation, permissions, and door opening experiences will converge into one unified experience, every stakeholder in the access ecosystem must understand their role in delivering a seamless, end-to-end experience.

At KIWI, we’re excited about this future and committed to driving innovation that empowers businesses and consumers alike by uniting these three experiences