What is a Smart Locker?

A smart locker combines locker hardware, apps, and powerful cloud-based admin software, together allowing organizations to provide instant access to devices without losing oversight and control. A smart locker can automate the exchange of physical assets without the need for human interaction. Software allows administrators to remotely control access to individual locker bays and track all events happening at the physical smart locker.

What types of Smart Lockers are out there?

There are a variety of smart lockers on the market that vary in size, shape, capacity and purpose. They are powered by software that differs in sophistication, depending on the use case.

The main types of smart lockers are:

• Smart charging lockers
• Day-use lockers
• Vending lockers
• Food service pick-up lockers
• Parcel lockers
• Asset distribution and tracking lockers

What is a Smart Charging Locker used for?

A smart charging locker is used primarily to automate distribution and/or collection of mobile devices such as phones, laptops, Chromebooks, tablets or iPads. Charging ports inside individually-lockable bays ensure devices are always charged and ready to go.

Organizations implement smart charging lockers for several reasons: to streamline broken device exchanges, to simplify daily device checkouts or to offer secure public charging on demand. Smart charging lockers ensure devices are always accessible, charged and ready for employees, students or customers who need devices to work or learn.

How do Smart Lockers work?

Smart lockers work by connecting locker hardware, apps, and cloud-based admin software to provide instant, convenient access to device users so they can devices inside the smart locker, without meeting in person or manually tracking device checkouts. They are integrated with cloud-based management systems for real-time tracking.

Here’s how a smart locker system works for broken device exchanges:

Steps to Check out a Loaner Device:

1. User selects the "Loaning" workflow from the FUYL Kiosk.
2. User selects "Loan a Device".
3. User selects their organizations preferred authentication method and enters proper credentials.
4. Once the smart locker system identifies an available loan, the bay will open; the user can grab the device and close the door to lock it.

Steps for Returning a Loaner Device:

1. User selects the "Loaning" workflow from the FUYL Kiosk.
2. User selects "Return a Device".
3. User enters or scans the device ID.
4. Once the locker system identifies an available bay, the bay will open; the user can place their loaner device inside and close the door to lock it.

Here’s how a smart locker system works for secure public charging on demand:

Steps to Securely Charge a Device:

1. User selects the "Charging" workflow from the FUYL Kiosk.
2. User selects "Charge a Device".
3. User selects their organization's preferred authentication method and enters proper credentials.
4. The locker system identifies an available bay.
5. The bay will open; the user can plug in their device and close the door to lock it.

Steps for Picking up a Device:

1. User selects the "Charging" workflow from the FUYL Kiosk.
2. User selects "Collect a Device".
3. User selects their organization's preferred authentication method and enters proper credentials.
4. The locker will automatically identify the user's previously-assigned bay.
5. The bay will open; the user can take out their device and close the door to lock it.

What industries use Smart Lockers?

Smart lockers are used by industries who need to remotely control access to physical assets like mobile devices while keeping devices charged, secured and ready to go. Some of the top verticals are:

• Education
• Manufacturing, Distribution, and Warehousing
• Higher Education
• State and Local Government
• Healthcare
• Energy
• Airlines
• Transportation
• Hospitality & Entertainment

What problems does a Smart Locker solve?

Organizations install smart charging lockers to combat the following problems:

1. Wasted time of skilled staff doing entry-level tasks such as delivering, tracking and managing broken or lost devices.
2. Inability to work or learn while device users wait for a loaner device or wait to check out a device.
3. Unorganized processes and delayed work caused by devices that are not readily accessible nor ready for use.
4. Lack of accountability for devices that are mistreated during use or are not properly returned after use.
5. Increased theft and data breaches for devices that are not physically secured after use.

Why should your organization use a Smart Locker System?

A smart locker can be used to save an organization significant time and money by automating cumbersome Hardware Asset Management tasks that would normally require scheduled meetings between multiple people.

Top Use Cases:

1. Short-Term Device Loan and Return: Quickly borrow a device with no interruption to others.
2. Broken Device Exchanges: (Hot swaps) Swap a broken device for a replacement in minutes.
3. Long-Term Device Deployment & Collection: Easily deploy on-boarding assets and collect off-boarding materials.
4. Secure Individual Charging: Securely charge devices without worry of theft or loss.

What are the main benefits of using Smart Lockers?

They offer secure, contactless delivery and storage solutions, improve efficiency, reduce human error, and can be accessed 24/7. They’re also customizable for various industries like retail, logistics, education, and real estate.

Top Outcomes:

1. Automate Device Distribution & Collection: Provide self-serve access to devices while maintaining oversight.
2. Improve IT Response Times: Device users can access loaner or replacement devices in two minutes.
3. Remotely Manage Device Access: Offer IT support and service even when not physically present.
4. Hold Device Users Accountable: Know who, what, and when a device is taken and returned.
5. Stretch Tech Resources Further: Automate manual processes to save time and money.
6. Empower Easy Device Access: Device users can quickly access the tools they need.
7. Minimize Device Downtime: Get device users back to learning or working faster.
8. Keep Devices Charged Up: Securely charge devices while not in use.

How much do Smart Charging Lockers cost?

Smart locker costs start as low as $1,000 and go as high as $20,000+. The cost depends on many factors including available hardware features, features of the cloud software, and possible customization of hardware or software.

Organizations looking to facilitate short-term device loans, broken device exchanges, or public charging on-demand often select a smart locker in the mid-range. These lockers typically offer a wide breadth of useful hardware and software features, open API to integrate with other external systems and provide regular cloud upgrades/updates.

When budgeting for a smart locker system, consider the costs of your current process:

• Lost time or wages of staff managing the HAM program manually.
• Missed opportunities of students and employees caused by device downtime.
• Increasing costs of lost or broken devices for programs that are unable track devices or hold device users accountable.

When comparing costs of smart locker vendors, narrow in on:

• The cost of installing the smart lockers.
• Simplicity of the kiosk and locker for the device user.
• Workflows and features that most closely meet your needs.
• Ability to easily set up multiple workflows at each tower.
• Integrations with other existing systems.
• Longevity of the total solution.
• Total cost of ownership.
• Quality of the smart locker hardware.
• Responsiveness of customer support.
• Decommissioning smart locker hardware when you're ready to upgrade.
• Flexibility of purchase options, subscription terms, volume discounts.

What important features should you consider when evaluating a Smart Locker?

When evaluating a smart locker solution, here are some key features to consider.

Agile, in-house software development

Internal resources dedicated to consistent feature releases and enhancements ensure smart locker software will pivot to meet your tech program needs well into the future.

Easy-to-use kiosk interface

Students, teachers, and employees shouldn't struggle when interacting with the smart locker. A simple, easy-to-understand kisok interface is critical in ensuring the lockers are being used to their full potential.

Robust security features

Data security should be a top priority for the vendor you choose. The cloud-based software should include features like Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Single Sign-On (SSO) to protect your organization’s data. Integration with your directory or SIS is a great way to protect and centralize personal data.

Quality smart locker construction will keep devices physically safe while stored inside a locker.

Administrative access

It is important that smart locker administrators can remotely control locker access (who, what, when) via a cloud-based portal. It is also important that lockers can be accessed locally via the locker display, so on-site staff can manage day-to-day usage as needed.

Wi-fi compatibility

Choosing a smart locker that can work over Wi-Fi gives your organization flexibility to install the locker in the best possible location without investing in costly cabling infrastructure.

External system integrations

Managing locker users and workflow with tools – such as pre-built external directory integrations, help desk software integrations, open API with no call limits, and web hooks–makes process automation endless.

Past-due loan notifications

Knowing if a loaner device is overdue is important to keeping inventory on track. Automatic past-due notifications allow admins to reduce lost or missing loan devices.

Why choose a LocknCharge Smart Locker System?

Organizations choose LocknCharge as their smart charging lover for a variety of reasons.

1. LocknCharge’s FUYL Smart locker System is designed to solve pain points that organizations experience using and managing mobile device technology in day-to-day operations.
2. FUYL Smart Lockers can save valuable resources and time for staff and students. They maximize productivity by ensuring devices are accessible and ready-to-go when needed – and that they’re secure when not in use.
3. Organizations looking to facilitate device loans, broken device exchanges, and offer public charging on-demand select LocknCharge for the wide breadth of critical hardware and software features, customer-centric enhancements, superior product quality and exceptional customer support.