The following is taken from a press release written in 2017
Innovative ‘tap and scan’ key management system improves security and saves time, stress and money
Strutt & Parker has introduced electronic key management in all eight of its central London offices, following a successful year’s trial in its Chelsea and Knightsbridge branches. The prestigious estate agency firm, which handles residential sales and lettings in some of the capital’s most sought-after areas, has teamed up with leading property technology firm Keyzapp to introduce a fully integrated key management system, which keeps track of all their keys at the touch of a button.
Strutt & Parker began its partnership with Keyzapp last year, when it did away with separate key logs in the lettings and management departments of its Knightsbridge and Chelsea offices and linked the two branches via Keyzapp’s electronic key management system.
They found that staff, contractors, clients, surveyors and even rival agents were so impressed by the efficiency of Keyzapp’s easy-to-use system, that they have now introduced it into all eight of their central London branches.
The innovative Keyzapp system, which was launched in 2014, allows agents to track keys by swiping them over a contactless reader or mobile phone. Staff can see at a glance who took a particular key and when, which reduces the time spent signing out keys or tracking down keys that have been given to a contractor or returned to a different office.
Sarah Emmerson, national head of compliance at Strutt & Parker said: “We are trusted with access to some of the most desirable properties in London and hold more than 1,000 keys at any one time, which we could be giving to some 800 staff, contractors and other agents.”
“Introducing Keyzapp across the firm has cost us no more than it would to change a single lock, it saves valuable time on the signing-out process and means we never need to shout ‘where is the key?’ round the office again. We now have a full log of every key at our fingertips, which means that whoever picks up the phone or welcomes a visitor can handle queries even more professionally and efficiently.”
Sarah added: “What’s more, everyone likes using Keyzapp, even the most technophobic of people. Key management is no longer a bugbear, but actually rather fun!”
Tim Hill, Keyzapp founder and director, said: “Our lettings and estate agency clients tell us that Keyzapp’s key management has revolutionised their lives and even given them a competitive edge by allowing them more time to get on with more important things.
“Systems like Keyzapp are the future and are rapidly becoming indispensable in a marketplace of ever greater competition, regulation and scrutiny.”
