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Case Study

Smart-Lock Access Management

A centralised platform for issuing, scheduling, and revoking time-limited PIN codes across multiple smart locks — giving property managers full visibility and control over who enters, when.

⏱ 4 weeks implementation 💰 ROI in 7 weeks
1

Booking or Assignment

A booking is created (manually or via integration); the system determines the access window and the target lock.

2

PIN Code Generation

A unique time-limited PIN is generated and pushed to the smart lock via the manufacturer API.

3

Code Delivery

The PIN is sent to the guest or staff member by SMS and email, with clear instructions and the access time window.

4

Entry & Logging

Guest uses the PIN to unlock the door; the entry event is logged with timestamp and user identity.

5

Automatic Expiry

At the end of the access window the PIN becomes inactive automatically; no manual revocation is needed.

Project Scope & Capabilities

Multi-Lock Management Dashboard

A single web interface for managing PIN codes across any number of smart locks — assign, schedule, extend, or revoke access in seconds without touching any lock hardware.

Time-Limited Access Codes

Every PIN is scoped to an exact start and end time; the lock rejects it outside that window automatically, eliminating stale keys and forgotten revocations.

Full Access Audit Log

Every entry and exit event is timestamped and logged, providing a complete audit trail for security compliance, dispute resolution, and occupancy reporting.

Implementation Timeline

Phase Duration Description
Discovery & API Evaluation Week 1 Audit existing lock hardware, evaluate smart lock API capabilities, map access requirements, and design the PIN management data model.
Core Development Weeks 2-3 Build Next.js dashboard, Supabase data layer, smart lock API integration, PIN generation engine, and Twilio SMS/email delivery.
Hardware Testing & QA Week 3-4 On-site lock testing across all access scenarios, time-window boundary validation, expiry and revocation testing, and load testing.
Deployment & Training Week 4 Production deployment, property manager training, monitoring setup, and handover documentation.

Cost Analysis

Development

$5,200

Dashboard UI, Supabase backend, smart lock API integration, PIN engine, notification delivery, and audit logging.

Infrastructure

$70/mo

Supabase hosting, Twilio SMS costs, smart lock API subscription, and cloud compute.

Maintenance

$100/mo

Lock firmware update compatibility, new lock onboarding, monitoring, and technical support.

Return on Investment

30 seconds

Access Provisioning

A new time-limited PIN is generated, pushed to the lock, and delivered to the guest in under 30 seconds.

Zero

Stale Key Incidents

Automatic time-scoped expiry eliminates all incidents of unauthorised access via forgotten or unrevoked codes.

–100%

On-Site Key Handovers

Digital PIN delivery removes the need for physical key handovers entirely, saving staff time on every booking.

Full trail

Audit Compliance

Every entry event is logged with user, timestamp, and lock ID — providing a complete record for compliance audits.

Testing & Quality Assurance

Automated Testing

  • PIN generation uniqueness and collision tests across 10,000 codes
  • Smart lock API push reliability validated under concurrent booking load
  • Time-window boundary tests: access granted at start, denied after expiry
  • Twilio SMS and email delivery reliability with 500 test notifications

Manual Validation

  • On-site testing of all access scenarios on physical lock hardware
  • Revocation flow validated: PIN deactivated within 5 seconds of manual revoke
  • Dashboard UX review by property manager with 5 test bookings
  • Audit log accuracy verified against physical entry records

"We manage 12 rental units and used to spend hours every week on key handovers and chasing guests. Now every guest gets their PIN automatically and the whole process runs without us."

Thomas Bauer · Property Manager, a short-term rental operator · Implemented May 2025

Ready to Modernise Your Access Control?

Let's discuss how centralised smart-lock management can eliminate key handovers and give you full visibility over who accesses your properties.