Kwikset Enters the Growing Multifamily Market

Kwikset, now a brand of ASSA ABLOY Americas Residential Division, will officially launch its Kwikset Unite multifamily access control platform on Aug. 28. Electronic locks, cloud-based web and mobile software, smart credentials and smart reader controllers work together to deliver a user-friendly and easy-to-install solution for property owners, managers and tenants.

This new system is initially targeted at the front door. Smartphones, fobs or cards can be used as credentials, and access is granted or revoked through cloud-based web and mobile software.  The electronic locks come in standard or interconnected lock models. Later phases will include common areas and integration with third-party property management software and possibly smart home features.

These dual-credential locks have the ability to integrate with existing property management software, explained Eric Harnischfeger, senior product manager at Kwikset. He noted that Kwikset is prioritizing security and ease of use, with full audit trails available to both residents and property management.

Property managers can use the desktop dashboard for quick and easy access control or the mobile app for on-the-go management. For instance, they can let maintenance or outside vendors into apartments as needed and can schedule virtual showings of vacant apartments, giving potential renters access during a set time period. And they can easily add and delete credentials as tenants move in or out.

Tenants get the ability to manage access to their homes through the Kwikset Unite app, unlocking their doors with their smartphones, remotely granting access to visitors or even giving the dog walker or housekeeper access during a certain time range. This is one of the features today’s younger, tech-savvy renters are requesting, which helps multifamily properties attract new tenants, keep occupancy rates high and even charge more in rent for the perceived added value of mobile access.

“We recognize the unique challenges that property managers and developers face in the multifamily market, which is why we're excited to introduce UNITE — an electronic access control ecosystem that streamlines security and management for an enhanced on-site living and working experience,” stated Eric Harnischfeger, senior product manager at Kwikset.

“UNITE is not just an advancement in lock technology,” he continued. “It's a cloud-based solution that integrates a web portal and mobile app, transforming it into an intuitive security tool that adapts to the roles and requirements of various users, from property managers to residents, without compromising on safety or ease of use.”

UNITE is particularly suited to Class B garden-style suburban properties, though there are also opportunities in Class A high-rise urban developments. Both new construction and retrofit markets present substantial opportunities for the new smart lock unit, which is sold both direct and through distributors. As older properties update their purely mechanical keyed locks, opportunities are there for locksmiths.

The locks were designed to be “incredibly easy to install.” That was a priority, Harnischfeger said. As an example, handing on the interconnected locks can be changed by moving a simple lever. 18-month battery life and batteries are easy to replace without removing the lock.

In developing the UNITE platform, Kwikset collaborated with partner companies such as DHI Communities, AMLI, Crescent Communities, and Woodfield. These companies played critical roles throughout the development cycle, offering feedback on existing platforms, suggestions for enhancements, design input, and future participation in beta testing. In fact, the Kwikset UNITE product has been in research, testing and development for four years. The launch was originally announced in June 2023, but was delayed by ASSA ABLOY’s acquisition of the Kwikset brand during the same time period.

That is a positive, according to Harnischfeger, because developers were able to tap into the expertise and experience behind ASSA ABLOY’s commercial locks. “The integration with ASSA ABLOY has been amazing. We’re getting all the expertise and experience that we hadn’t had before from the commercial side, and we will be able to offer a wider range of components and accessories as well.”

Though ideal for new construction, there are also opportunities in the retrofit market as older properties update their purely mechanical keyed locks. This may be where the most opportunity exists for locksmiths.

For more information, visit https://www.kwikset.com/unite.