FLEXIPASS GUIDE · HOTEL KEYLESS ENTRY
Hotel keyless entry:
how it works and how it compares to key cards
Hotel keyless entry lets guests open their room with a phone, a smartwatch or a code instead of a plastic key card. The PMS holds the stay, the lock software controls the doors, and a platform such as FLEXIPASS connects them so a digital key is issued for the right room and dates. Unlike a key card, it is sent to the guest’s phone, and it is revoked at check-out.
How does hotel keyless entry work?
- A guest books. The reservation in the PMS holds the room and the stay dates.
- The PMS or guest platform asks FLEXIPASS for a digital key, with the room number and the check-out date and time.
- FLEXIPASS works with the lock system’s software to create access for that room and period.
- The guest receives the key by link, app, wallet or code, through a guest platform or the FLEXIPASS portal.
- At the door, the guest taps a phone or watch, opens the link, uses the app over Bluetooth or enters a code, depending on the key type.
- At check-out the key is revoked. The hotel can also revoke a digital key at any time.
Which kinds of keyless entry are there?
Wallet Keys
The key is added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Guests tap a supported phone or watch at a compatible reader. No separate key app.
Webkeys
A secure link opened in the phone’s browser. No app. Needs supported online locks and a connection.
Mobile Keys
The FLEXIPASS app or a supported guest app opens the lock over Bluetooth. A downloaded key works offline until it expires.
PIN Codes
A code entered at a compatible keypad. Needs supported online locks with a keypad.
How does keyless entry compare to key cards?
| Feature | Keyless entry | Plastic key cards |
|---|---|---|
| How the guest gets the key | Sent to the phone by link, wallet, app or code | Encoded and handed over at the front desk |
| What the guest carries | Their own phone or watch, or a code | A plastic card |
| When a key is lost | The hotel revokes it and issues a new one | The front desk encodes a new card |
| When the stay ends | The key is revoked at check-out | The card stops working; the plastic remains |
| Plastic and card costs | No card to produce | Cards are bought, encoded and replaced |
| What the door needs | A supported lock configuration for the key type | A card reader in the lock |
Keyless entry and key cards are not either-or. Digital keys and physical keycards can be used at the same time, and a keycard stays the fallback for a dead battery or an unsupported phone.
Is keyless entry better than key cards?
For guests, keyless entry removes the wait for a card: the key is on the phone they already carry. For hotels, it reduces reliance on plastic keycards and their costs, and access can be updated or revoked without a new card.
It depends on your setup. Keyless entry needs a PMS integration and a lock configuration that supports the key type you choose. Some properties need software changes, licences, readers, connectivity or hardware upgrades. Check your locks and PMS before you plan a rollout.
QUICK ANSWERS
Good questions. Clear answers.
What is hotel keyless entry?
Hotel keyless entry lets guests open their room with a phone, a smartwatch or a code instead of a plastic key card. A digital key is issued for the guest’s room and stay dates and is revoked at check-out.
Do guests need an app for keyless entry?
Not always. Wallet Keys, Webkeys and PIN Codes work without a separate key app. Mobile Keys run in the FLEXIPASS app or a supported guest app.
Does keyless entry work without internet?
It depends on the key type. A downloaded Mobile Key can be used without a data connection until its validity ends. Webkeys need a connected lock system and a connection for the guest.
Can we keep plastic key cards?
Yes. Digital keys and physical keycards can be used at the same time. Keep keycards available for dead batteries, unsupported phones or failed downloads.
Do we need new locks for keyless entry?
Not necessarily. You may be able to keep your locks when the lock models and access software support the key type you choose. Some properties need software changes, licences, readers, connectivity or hardware upgrades.
What happens if a guest loses their phone?
The guest tells the hotel. The hotel can issue a new key or a physical keycard that overrides the earlier digital key, and it can revoke a digital key at any time.
NEXT STEP
Check it against your own setup.
Add your lock, PMS and guest platform for a result that fits your property.