Everything you need to know about smart door locks

27 Apr 2022

If you’re looking to make home security and access more convenient, a smart door lock system could be part of the answer.

Not overly familiar with smart locks? The technology is more popular than you might imagine. In 2020 the global smart lock market was valued at almost USD 1.4 billion – a figure expected to continue growing rapidly as more and more people embrace the concept of ‘keyless entry’ in their everyday lives.

But what exactly are smart locks, how do they work for the doors of your home, and do their benefits outweigh any potential downsides? Let’s find out…

WHAT IS A SMART LOCK?

At its most basic level, a smart lock is a powered device that operates wirelessly. If you’ve checked-in to a hotel anytime in the last few years, chances are you’ve opened a door with a smart lock by holding up a special keycard synced to the device.

So unlike opening a door with a conventional lock system, you don’t need to insert and turn a physical key. Instead, depending on the features of the particular make and model, a smart lock can be opened by presenting your paired smartphone in front of the lock, tapping a control in the associated smartphone app, or even approaching the door with your smartphone in your bag or pocket. Some smart locks connected to a smart home assistant can also be operated with the tap of a finger or a voice command.

HOW DO SMART DOOR LOCKS WORK?

For the home, keyless entry via a smart lock is generally made possible by built-in wireless technology such as Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth. A wireless connection can be used to detect the proximity between two devices – in this case your smart lock and your smartphone. Once installed and configured, a smart lock is able to recognise your mobile device and automatically unlock the door for you.

Through the app you’ve installed on your phone, you can not only control the lock remotely, but also monitor the activity of the lock as people come and go. This functionality comes in handy if, for example, you want to make sure your grandchildren have arrived home safely from school.

And what if you need to provide remote access for a visitor, neighbour, family member or service provider when nobody else is home? Many smart lock systems let you create permanent or temporary entry codes to share with individual users.

THE PROS & CONS OF SMART DOOR LOCKS

There are definitely some key (or technically speaking, keyless) advantages of smart locks over regular locks. For one, picture those all too frequent occasions when you’re carrying luggage or a load of groceries and struggling to reach for your keys. Hardly a problem if the door unlocks itself as soon as you get close. At the same time, smart lock technology lets you and other members of your household lock and unlock doors without ever needing to worry about misplaced, lost or stolen keys.

But there are a few caveats to consider as well. For example, if your front door is a long way from your smart home hub, a system relying on Bluetooth alone might occasionally lead to connection problems, while a power or battery issue could impact the performance of the lock – potentially just as frustrating as losing your keys.  

But will you be spending the night in the shed every time your mobile phone runs out of battery? Fortunately no, since smart lock systems tend to include backup options like a fob or a standard key that will unlock your door in an emergency, as well as functionality allowing you to sign-in to the app from a different smart device that will still support your digital keys.

It’s also worth noting that security concerns – like vulnerability to hackers – have been raised about various smart locks over the years. That said, ongoing advancements in this industry are making smart locks increasingly safer. And let’s be honest, anything is safer than leaving a spare key under the doormat!