Best of 2025: Electronic Access Control
As illustrated in our 2025 State of the Industry Report (see the November issue), electrified door hardware is becoming a must have product option for locksmiths, as they expand their skills within electronic access control (EAC). For example, in our survey, 85% of locksmiths say that electronic access control will either be a major driver or complement their existing portfolio, leaving only 15% saying it won’t factor in at all. And when asked how much their business expects to implement with respect to electronic access control in the next year, 40% said they expect to do more than before.
While mechanical door hardware (see Top Mechanical Products on page 26) remains the dominant product category among locksmiths, electrified door hardware continues to rise in importance for locksmiths with 63.5% (up from 53.8% in 2024) saying it is essential to their business.
“We see continued growth, especially in wirelessly connected locksets on enterprise installations,” explains Beau Edelen, Senior VP of Sales and Business Development for Lockmasters. “The technology has gotten easier to learn, easier to install, and there is more help available than ever before. I’ve always believed that it is an easier jump for a locksmith to learn integration than for a security integrator to learn locksmithing.”
Wayne Winton, Owner, Tri County Locksmith Service, agrees, noting, “I've got contractors that call me, and they need me to install the mechanical portions on projects like the strikes, for example. They know how to run the wire, but we can still get a piece of that business because the contractors don't know how to set these systems up, align everything properly so it all works, the mechanical and the electronics. So, the locksmith really has a huge opportunity there.”
On the retrofit side of the business, Winton is also getting a lot of work with schools and businesses of all sizes. “Every store wants to go electronic access because they want to be able to control that business from their phone or they want to monitor it from their phone. So, we're doing those retrofits, new builds and then there's the residential market where things are picking up as well”
Locks Getting Smarter and More Profitable
In terms of additional revenue that can be made, Winton points out that it just makes good business sense to build out your EAC portfolio.
“Our normal locksmith rate is about $145 an hour and our electronic access control rate is about $185 an hour, so we're already adding about $40 per hour just for that extra expertise we provide,” says Winton, adding that there is additional mark-up on the types of EAC systems and products compared to just mechanical locks as well. “You can make way more money understanding these electronic access control, so there are tons of opportunities here.”
In the recent Locksmith Ledger webcast on Multifamily Security, Winton and others on the panel looked at how much technology is being embraced within this area. Looking from that perspective of what multifamily management, ownership, or a developer, there are many things that they are looking for.
“First, they want an integrated access control system, so they don't want a separate system for their common areas, and for their doors, and for their gates, their garage,” explains Jeff Chamberlain, engagement manager, Multifamily, Salto, who spoke on the webcast. “They want a complete integrated system to accomplish everything that they want for their access control, for their smart access control — a unified platform. They also want mobile or keyless access. Their ability to get rid of the keys but still have the resident have choice.”
The Salto DBolt Touch Interconnected, which is featured in our Top Products for 2025 (see page 12) is a smart electronic deadbolt that’s ideal for both new and retrofit multifamily projects. The DBolt Touch IC provides a manual, interconnected deadbolt and passage latch electronic locking solution with a sleek touchscreen keypad. The ability to retract both the latch bolt and deadbolt in a single motion for a quick and easy exit is the solution that many residential building guidelines require.
DBolt locks are ideal for both retrofit and new-build multifamily projects, as both DBolt Touch and DBolt Touch IC comply with local codes and are fully compatible with industry-standard residential door preparations, notes Salto Residential Building Leader Preston Grutzmacher. “Both the DBolt Touch and the new DBolt Touch IC are built on Salto’s advanced M-series technology,” he says. “This allows all versions of DBolt Touch and DBolt Touch IC to be programmed using any of Salto’s three core platforms: Salto Space, Salto Homelok, or Salto KS.”
Grutzmacher adds that multifamily customers seek consistent and streamlined systems. “Many properties currently offer a disjointed access experience where residents might swipe to open the main door, tap a key fob at common doors, and use a mechanical key for their unit. This swipe-tap-key experience is not ideal and complicates property management.”
He notes that Salto software and DBolt Touch address these issues by allowing multifamily operators to manage access at every door through a single software suite. Residents' key fobs, tags, and mobile credentials work seamlessly on every door they have access to, which can include amenities as well as unit entrances. “Looking ahead, we expect substantial growth in the deployment of smart access control solutions in both new builds and retrofit properties. This trend reflects the ongoing demand for modern, secure, and efficient access management in the multifamily sector,” he adds.
Remote Management is Key
dormakaba (see their new CenconX Cash-In-Transit safe lock in the Top Products section), also updated its Saffire EVO Smart Lock earlier this year with the addition of flexible connectivity. This new feature enables greater reliability and a seamless user experience in all areas of a property, with or without complete Wi-Fi coverage, to seamlessly manage access control in the cloud.
Many times, securing multifamily housing properties is about restricting access when needed but having the versatility and reliability for visitor access on demand. Cloud-connected electronic locks like the dormakaba Saffire EVO allow property managers to oversee access from anywhere. Now, even properties with limited wireless connectivity can benefit.
“We understand that a multifamily property is a complex and evolving ecosystem. As residents, guests, and vendors move through the property, we know that security is one of the most important factors in a resident’s decision to rent an apartment,” says Mark Trittipo, senior sales manager, Multifamily Housing for dormakaba North America. “Using smart locks for access control can help drive a more positive resident experience as well as help ensure that access control remains effective, even in areas without constant Wi-Fi, delivering both convenience and peace of mind for property managers.”
The dormakaba Saffire EVO LZ Series are cloud-managed locks that combine high-performance with aesthetics and seamlessly integrate with building technology providers for multifamily housing properties. The Saffire EVO LZ locks provide an easy-to-use, secure, and flexible solution with the benefits of real-time connectivity. They include the convenience of using mobile devices, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) credentials, or secure PINs for access to resident units, common areas, and perimeter doors.
The locks are managed by third party software partners, integrated using the dormakaba Lyazon Cloud API. This allows multifamily properties to use their existing property technology solution to manage access in the same system. One example application is with dormakaba partner ButterflyMX.
“Our goal is to provide secure, convenient, and affordable property access from a smartphone, and these locks and the integrations have enabled our growth towards that mission while solving an industry need,” says Aaron Rudenstine, CEO at ButterflyMX. “We’re proud to work with dormakaba to help make property access simple for our more than 15,000 multifamily and commercial properties.”
Whether it is multifamily housing, retail or a commercial property, the demand for remote management is becoming essential, as security pros can leverage cloud-based platforms to meet this need.
Alarm Lock’s new MVP EZ App, which also made our Top Products list, is a smartphone App that allows you to easily create, configure and control a custom, remotely-managed access control system of Trilogy Networx locks, gateways and panels, each enrolled in the system simply by scanning in their QR code w/ your phone's camera.
With no complicated programming or computers required, the MVP EZ App provides “new revenue-building monthly services today's consumers want, like SMS alerts or lockdown options, in an easy to quote, flat by-door rate, for a couple doors and users or many –- add on as you go, or they grow,” Alarm Lock points out. “Unlock new lucrative service opportunities with the MVP EZ App — the easiest way to add great new customer services to your accounts, right along with the Trilogy Networx Locks you know and install already.”
Designed for locksmiths, this brand-new App allows you to easily create, configure and control a custom, remotely-managed access control system of Trilogy Networx locks, gateways and panels, each enrolled in the system simply by scanning in their QR code, using your phone's camera.
Alarm Lock says the ability to add and manage doors, users and their schedules is a game changer, noting, “Whether it's a couple doors and users for a small or medium business or more, with MVP EZ everything is quick and straightforward. And you can even offer customers an option of having their own Admin function app, with lock-down, or unlock instantly in an emergency plus automatically deployed emergency text alerts to employees and more.”
Connectivity, Convenience and Consistency
Another product that made our list this year is the Centrios Smart Padlock, a weatherproof and rechargeable lock that allows users to manage access right from the Centrios app to virtually anything they can put a padlock on, and includes the Centrios Pro Plan, a new service tier that expands system capacity to 200 users and 50 devices.
“We see the padlock as one of the biggest things to happen in the commercial smart padlock space,” says Lucas Mason, Technical Solutions and Marketing Specialist for Centrios. “When I was a locksmith, I constantly had my customers coming up to me asking, ‘do you have a smart padlock?’ So, when I found out about the Centrios padlock, I was so excited because up until that point I had been wondering, ‘why hasn't anybody done this yet?’”
The Centrios Padlock is a weather-resistant, rechargeable Padlock that works with the Centrios platform. With an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, a reinforced chromed steel shackle, and a battery that lasts up to six months per charge, the Centrios Padlock is built for tough environments. Business owners can grant and revoke access through the mobile app without ever having to track down a physical key. For those installing access control solutions, the padlock extends Centrios’ capabilities beyond doors, allowing businesses to manage access to all their assets using the same intuitive app.
Centrios also unveiled a new digital Product Configurator earlier this year, allowing customers and security professionals to visualize and customize devices in real time. Through the configurator, businesses can see different finishes, keyway options, and lever styles before installation, eliminating uncertainty and ensuring they get exactly what they need. Security professionals can guide customers through the selection process more efficiently, helping them make informed decisions without the back-and-forth of product samples or physical demonstrations.
The outdoor-rated 9800 with LBM and LBSM options can be integrated with existing access control systems for data and reporting on the current integrity of the opening, enhancing overall security and perimeter door reliability. The 9800 is part of HES’s feature-rich 9000 family of electric strikes, a complete, premium line of no-cut solutions for applications with rim exit or tubular vertical rod exit devices. The 9800 is the only electric strike designed to work specifically with the Adams Rite 8800 Rim Exit Device, where the unique Starwheel bolt interlocks door to frame for enhanced strength and to prevent jamb spread.
Electric strikes must comply with fire, life safety, and building codes to be suitable for commercial and institutional environments, which is why HES strikes are engineered and third-party tested to meet the standards that matter most, the company explains.
HES strikes are tested and certified to perform in real-world environments:
- Fire-Rated & Windstorm-Rated: Ensure compliance with NFPA, UL10C, and ICC 500 requirements for safe egress in emergencies.
- Outdoor-Rated Models: Weather-resistant designs sealed and certified under UL1034 to withstand harsh conditions.
- Strength & Durability Testing: Third-party verified for forced-entry resistance and millions of operation cycles.
- Fail Safe or Fail Secure Options: Select the strike mode that aligns with your life-safety and security needs.
Another cool product in the electrified hardware category that made our top product list comes from Command Access, which introduced its LPC190-HD motorized latch retraction cylindrical lock this year. Built with high-quality, American-made Grade 1 components, this lock is designed to “take a beating and keep working,” said the company. “Whether it’s for handicap access, push-pull doors, single-occupancy restrooms, or automatic operators, the LPC190-HD is the perfect solution, so you no longer have to cut an electric strike into the frame. With continuous-duty performance, it powers through anything — whether it’s a quick activation or a week-long operation. If you’re looking for a lock that’s as tough as it is innovative, the LPC190-HD is the ultimate choice for strength, convenience, and reliability.”
CL190-HD Features:
· Electrified – motor-driven lever control
· Universal voltage input (11-30v)
· Fail-safe or fail-secure with the flip of a switch
· 25-year mechanical warranty
· 5-year electronic warranty
· Made in the USA
If you are a distributor the CL190-HD offers you:
· Fewer returns (the flexibility means it’s easier to be “the right choice” for more customers)
· More configurations & options with only 1 SKU on your shelves
· Versatile inventory
· Confidence in your recommendations to customers
· Appealing price points for a wide range of customers
· Premium customer support
If you are an installer, with the CL190-HD, you can:
· Offer a cost-effective, flexible solution
· Provide confidence in durability through a longer warranty period
· Stock more configurations & options with only 1 item on hand
· Support USA-made products
· Rely on premium customer support
· Know you have a product that will work in most situations
About the Author
Paul Ragusa
Senior Editor
Paul Ragusa is senior editor for Locksmith Ledger. He has worked as an editor in the security industry for nearly 10 years. He can be reached at [email protected].