Increasing numbers of travellers and residential renters are turning to digital access solutions for their convenience, with businesses in these dynamic sectors reaping commercial advantages. Such solutions facilitate the swift and efficient expansion of new sites by enabling remote access management without the expenses associated with a 24/7 front-desk operation.
City Pop, a provider of short-let furnished apartment rentals, operates within this evolving landscape. Their portfolio spans European cities, including Zurich, Berlin, Prague, and Milan. Previously reliant on RFID access-cards, City Pop faced challenges with manual credential management as they pursued international growth. The company sought a scalable access solution to simplify management and support their business expansion.
City Pop has embraced card-less, mobile access across its serviced apartment portfolio by installing Aperio® wireless locks integrated with the Incedo Pro access management system. This setup equips doors in City Pop apartments and certain common areas with battery-powered Aperio escutcheons featuring wire-free designs.
Pawel Gawor, City Pop’s CEO, stated, “We were looking for a future-proof, reception-less access solution that could scale with our growth across Europe.” By integrating access with the booking system, entry permissions are automatically distributed to customers, eliminating the need for manual staff intervention. Guests can check in at their convenience using secure mobile access via the City Pop app or by entering a PIN on the Aperio escutcheon’s keypad.
The adoption of the Aperio E100 Wireless Keypad Escutcheon allowed City Pop to retrofit existing buildings without the necessity for additional wiring or damage to doors.
Furthermore, integrating their reservation software with the Incedo Pro system enables automated, centralised control over time-limited access across multiple sites in Germany, Czechia, Switzerland, and Italy. This digitalisation allows City Pop to offer varied lengths of stay, from overnight to monthly stays, with their ongoing installation project now covering over 2,500 doors.
By choosing the ASSA ABLOY solution, City Pop aligns with their sustainability goals, eliminating the need for key or smartcard management infrastructure, which reduces plastic use. Remote access management also negates the need for staff travel associated with a 24/7 reception.
City Pop’s energy footprint is reduced as wireless Aperio locks, powered by standard batteries, consume significantly less power compared to wired access devices. Additional energy savings are achieved through ASSA ABLOY’s Signo Readers, featuring an Intelligent Power Mode that conserves 41% more energy than standard readers. Pawel further notes, “With Aperio wireless locks and Incedo Pro, we now have a fully digital, mobile-first access experience for our guests with no need for staff on-site.”
