A smart locker combines locker hardware with a powerful cloud-based software platform, together allowing organisations to control who can access the locker and at what time. 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.
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.
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.
Organisations 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.
Smart lockers work by connecting hardware and cloud-based software to provide convenient access to assets inside the locker without meeting in person.
Prep: Smart locker is stocked with loaner devices
Prep: IT team sets up users in the cloud portal and assigns users access to groups of lockers, individual lockers or even specific bays
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:
For assigned access, remote admins set up users in the cloud portal and designate who they want to access a specific locker or bay at any given time. Once the bay has been opened, the remote admin can view who accessed the bay via the cloud software portal.
Employees such as shift workers, field crews or substitute teachers can easily access specific Towers or bays to check out assets needed on a regular (daily, weekly, etc.) basis.
A smart locker can be used to swap assets, like mobile devices, through an automated process on an as-needed basis. This may include triaging broken, lost or stolen device issues that need to be addressed quickly.
For public, on-demand access, a smart locker is a secure and convenient place to store personal belongings such as mobile devices.
The user simply identifies an available bay and tucks their items inside. They can reserve the bay by following prompts on the locker display to create a user-defined PIN or by presenting an RFID card.
Once they close the door, their items are secure and charging until they retrieve their items using the same PIN or RFID.
Public usage is tracked in the cloud for remote admins to monitor as needed.
Organisations install smart charging lockers to combat the following problems:
A smart locker can be used to save an organisation significant time and money by automating cumbersome tasks that would normally require scheduled meetings between multiple people.
Smart charging lockers can minimise device downtime by ensuring convenient, around-the-clock access to mission-critical tech.
Broken, lost or stolen devices can bring about serious working and learning disruptions, causing employees or students to fall behind.
Employees (such as shift workers, field crews or substitute teachers) who need access to a charged, ready-to-go device rely on an efficient check-out process to start their day.
A smart charging locker can automate the delivery and tracking of assets. Rather than being interrupted by broken, forgotten or lost mobile devices-managers or teachers can stay focused on more important work.
The cloud software that powers the locker can track locker usage for “who, what and when”, adding a layer of accountability to ensure devices are cared for during use and returned after use. Accountability reduces breakage and device loss.
Smart lockers can mitigate theft of loss of devices, protecting organisations from costly data breaches.
With the influx of mobile devices in schools and businesses, tech teams are becoming overwhelmed with daily device management. It can be difficult to find adequate talent to fill necessary IT roles. Smart lockers can help bridge the IT labor market shortage by eliminating lower-level tasks that would otherwise be laborious to complete.
Smart locker costs start as low as £800/€950 and go as high as £16,000/€19,000+. The cost depends on many factors including available hardware features, features of the cloud software, and possible customisation of hardware or software.
Organisations looking to facilitate broken device exchanges, manage loaner or daily device checkout programs or offer 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 evaluating a smart locker solution, here are some key features to consider.
Internal resources dedicated to consistent Cloud feature releases and enhancements ensure smart locker software will pivot to meet your tech program needs well into the future.
The cloud-based software should include features like Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Single Sign-On to protect your organisation’s data. Quality locker construction will keep devices physically safe while stored inside a locker.
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.
Choosing a smart locker that can work over Wi-Fi gives your organisation flexibility to install the locker in the best possible location without investing in costly cabling infrastructure.
Managing locker users and workflow with tools-such as external directory integrations, help desk software integrations, open API with no call limits, and web hooks-makes process automation endless.
Organizations choose LocknCharge as their smart charging lover for a varsety of reasons.
LocknCharge’s FUYL Tower™ Smart locker is designed to solve pain points that organisations experience using and managing mobile device technology in day-to-day operations.
FUYL Tower can save valuable resources and time for staff and students. They maximise productivity by ensuring devices are accessible and ready-to-go when needed – and that they’re secure when not in use.
Schools or businesses looking to facilitate broken device exchanges, manage loaner or daily device checkout programs or offer public charging on-demand select LocknCharge for the wide breadth of critical hardware and software features, open API able to integrate with other external systems, consistent customer-centric cloud enhancements, superior product quality and exceptional customer support.
We are dedicated to making life easier for our customers.