Streamlined Electronic Access Control Solution for Multifamily Housing

Keyless entry for rental units has been around for decades, but Kwikset’s new UNITE software provides a simplified solution for all users.

The UNITE electronic access control software system from Kwikset, tailored to the multifamily market, is designed to meet the needs of property owners, managers, and residents.

The electronic solution simplifies property management, reduces the time and costs associated with key management, and potentially increases profits. It also meets the increasing demand from renters and owners for more technologically advanced living experiences by incorporating features like Bluetooth technology and RFID, which are highly sought after in today's market.

“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,” states Eric Harnischfeger, Senior Product Manager at Kwikset.

UNITE is a simple and convenient way to add seamless access control to a multifamily property. Electronic locks, cloud-based web and mobile software, and smart credentials work together to deliver a comprehensive solution for managing a multifamily property.

The foray into the multifamily housing market's electronic sector is spurred by Kwikset's established presence in the multifamily housing market through its mechanical lock business, which allows the company to gain insight into the specific needs and challenges of the sector. 

Multifamily developers told Kwikset about the pain points experienced with electronic access control systems, about what they want from these solutions, and shared their experience with features that work best. UNITE was built for the multifamily market with the support of market insiders. 

“UNITE is 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,” Harnischfeger says. “By prioritizing dynamic software and a customer-focused model, we’re offering a sophisticated yet user-friendly system that provides real-time updates and a proprietary secure channel for longer battery life and better performance, even in emergency situations.”

Kwikset’s UNITE software includes both mobile and desktop solutions for easy navigation and access control with any web-enabled device. Property managers can customize permissions for various users, manage and monitor locks, and track and report device alerts and user access. Customized building setups are preconfigured before shipping for a simpler installation process. 

UNITE software allows trackable short-term access to units for non-residents, a benefit for residents to provide guests, cleaners and contractors entrance into their units without compromising safety. The system can be configured to allow potential tenants to take self-guided tours, which increases the efficiency of leasing operations. 

Kwikset has a proven track record with electronic locking solutions, dominating the single-family residential market. While UNITE is uniquely focused on high volume class B garden-style suburban properties, it is also highly scalable and adaptable to the differing needs of the wider multifamily channel. Both new construction and retrofit markets present substantial opportunities for the new smart lock unit.

UNITE is designed primarily for multifamily property managers and owners, and it also caters to secondary markets, including builders, developers, hardware dealers, wholesale distributors, general contractors, LV systems integrators, and third-party software providers, highlighting its wide-reaching benefits within the multifamily sector.