Aperio helps an accommodation provider to expand Europe-wide

Challenge

City Pop is a short-let apartment rental provider with a growing portfolio of design-led properties in European cities including Zurich, Berlin, Prague and Milan. They previously relied on an RFID access card solution. However, manual handling of credentials created challenges in achieving their growth ambitions. They needed a scalable alternative which would simplify access management and enable business growth across international boundaries.

Key requirements

• Offering City Pop customers a convenient digital solution with a choice between mobile and PIN access
• Easing the rollout of cost-efficient, short-term rental apartments which do not need on-site staff
• The ability to retrofit premises without damaging doors or the buildings’ interior aesthetics
• Integrating apartment booking and access systems within a single, real-time software solution
• Help to meet sustainability targets with reduced plastics usage and energy-efficient door devices

Solution

City Pop standardized access to its portfolio of serviced apartments with Aperio wireless locks integrated natively with an Incedo Pro access management system. This seamless solution gives them centralized, real-time and remote control over access across sites in Germany, Czechia, Switzerland and Italy.

Doors to apartments and some common areas are equipped with contemporary-styled Aperio wireless locks. These integrate seamlessly with Incedo Pro and were installed without wiring or door damage. Integrating access with the booking system automatically distributes entry permissions to customers without City Pop staff handling this manually. Guests can arrive at convenient times without any need for a 24/7 reception. The solution gives them a choice of secure mobile access via the City Pop app or a PIN code to enter directly on the Aperio escutcheon’s keypad.

Choosing this ASSA ABLOY solution also contributed towards City Pop’s sustainability goals. With no key or smartcard management infrastructure, they use less plastic. Eliminating the need for a 24/7 reception reduces unnecessary staff travel: they manage access remotely. City Pop have also limited their energy use: wireless Aperio locks are powered by standard batteries and draw much less power than equivalent wired devices. HID Signo readers, installed at external doors, sliding doors, elevators, and some high-traffic interior doors, have an Intelligent Power Mode (IPM) which saves 41% in energy compared to equivalent readers without IPM.

“We were looking for a future-proof, reception-less access solution that could scale with our growth across Europe. 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.”

Pawel GaworCEO, City Pop