ASSA ABLOY: A pilot project with NFC phones shows great potential for mobile keys
The world's first pilot using NFC-enabled mobile phones to check in and out of hotel rooms, replacing room keys, is now completed. A survey shows that all guests in the trial appreciated not having to wait in line at the hotel reception. Almost all stated that they would use the mobile key solution if it were available today.
ASSA ABLOY, Nordic Choice Hotels, Giesecke & Devrient, TeliaSonera and VingCard Elsafe have completed a joint pilot project to replace hotel room keys with NFC-enabled mobile phones. During an eight-month long pilot at the Clarion Hotel Stockholm in Sweden, about 30 hotel loyalty guests checked in to the hotel via a mobile key application. After the check-in, the hotel key was sent directly to the mobile phone. Upon arrival the room could be directly accessed without the need to wait in line at the hotel reception. The check-out was also managed through the mobile key service.
A survey was conducted with the participating loyalty guests. It showed that not having to wait in line at the reception to check in and check out was highly appreciated by all participants. Almost all of the guests said that it saved time not having to check in at the reception, more than half said they saved 10 minutes or more. Almost all of the loyalty guests would use mobile keys for their hotel stays if NFC-compatible cell phones were available today and their phone supported the service.
- The pilot has been a success. A broad majority of the guests claim that the service made their hotel stay more pleasant. This shows that technology that helps people save time will be appreciated and used. The pilot also confirms that using mobile keys to open all kinds of doors will be one of the most popular NFC applications, said Daniel Berg, Vice President and General Manager ASSA ABLOY Mobile Keys.
The hotel loyalty guests stayed at the hotel frequently during the pilot period which meant that they used the application repeatedly. This gave the guests the familiarity with the service needed to give valuable feedback on the user experience. When asked what other NFC applications they believed in, most of the guests replied paying for food, drink and hotel services. A majority also believed in getting information about the hotel and the hotel services such as map, room service menus, the spa and gym and information about restaurants, bars and public transport available via the NFC service.
Mobile keys are a great way to enhance the guest experience and add value to hotel loyalty applications, also it is environmentally friendly, said Marcus Majewski, General Manager, Clarion Hotel Stockholm. We get a closer relationship with our guests and can add information on promotions and events. The survey shows that 60 percent are positive to getting information about hotel offerings using the service.
- The pilot has verified user's interest in these types of services and the potential and suitability of using the SIM card to securely store important information as the hotel key. With this real life implementation, based on standards developed during the last years, we have jointly taken important steps towards commercial NFC based services and solutions, said Johan Wickman, Head of Innovation Management at TeliaSonera Mobility Services.
About NFC
NFC, Near Field Communication, is a short-range wireless communication technology standard that enables the exchange of data between devices over up to a 10 cm distance. Applications include contactless transactions such as payment and transit ticketing, keys, data transfers including electronic business cards, and access to online digital content.
Watch the film from the pilot, download the full report and images at: www.assaabloy.com/ASSAABLOYMobileKeys
Pilot Partners
ASSA ABLOY is the global leader in door-opening solutions dedicated to satisfying end-user needs for security, safety and convenience. ASSA ABLOY has developed a scalable secure delivery infrastructure for mobile keys. This solution ensures end-to-end security and is applicable for residential, commercial and hotel applications.
Nordic Choice Hotels is Scandinavia's largest hotel company with 170 hotels and more than 9,200 employees. The company's brand names in the Nordic market are Comfort, Quality Hotels, Quality Resort, Clarion Collection and Clarion Hotel as well as 8 individual brands within Nordic Hotels & Resorts. For more information, please visit www.choicehotels.no
Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is a leading international technology provider headquartered in Munich, Germany. With a workforce of over 10,000 employees, the Group generated sales of EUR 1.7 billion in fiscal 2010. Founded in 1852, G&D is a global market leader and pioneering innovator in banknote production and processing, security documents, and identification systems. It supplies commercial banks, business enterprises, network operators, and public transportation companies with innovative hardware, comprehensive software and services, and end-to-end solutions for mobile security applications. 61 subsidiaries and joint ventures in 32 countries ensure customer proximity worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.gi-de.com
TeliaSonera provides network access and telecommunication services in the Nordic and Baltic countries, the emerging markets of Eurasia, including Russia and Turkey, and in Spain. TeliaSonera helps people and companies communicate in an easy, efficient and environmentally friendly way. Our ambition is to be number one or two in all our markets, providing the best customer experience, high quality networks and cost efficient operations. TeliaSonera is also the leading European wholesale provider with a wholly-owned international carrier network. In 2010, net sales amounted to SEK 107 billion, EBITDA to SEK 37.7 billion and earnings per share to SEK 4.73. The TeliaSonera share is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm and NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. Read more at www.teliasonera.com.
VingCard Elsafe is the worldwide leader in guestroom security for hotel door locks and in-room safes in the hospitality industry. VingCard Elsafe has products installed in more than 39,000 properties worldwide, securing in-excess of 6.5 million hotel rooms. VingCard Elsafe is part of the ASSA ABLOY Group.
For more information please contact:
Daniel Berg, Vice President and General Manager ASSA ABLOY Mobile Keys,
Phone: +46 (0) 8 506 485 06, E-mail: daniel.berg@assaabloy.com
Svein Krakk, CIO/Vice President IS/IT Nordic Choice Hotels
Phone: + 47 90 18 79 82, Email: svein.krakk@choice.no
Stefan Waldenmaier, Press Officer, Giesecke & Devrient
Phone: +49 89 4119-2985, E-mail: stefan.waldenmaier@gi-de.com
Johan Wickman, Head of Innovation Management at TeliaSonera Mobility Services
Phone: +46 40 661 83 93 , Email: johan.wickman@teliasonera.com
Ivan Aramayo, Director of Marketing and Communication, VingCard Elsafe
Phone: +34 610 205 296, E-mail: iaramayo@vcegroup.com