Revolutionizing European Stays: Digital Access Management Drives Short-Let Provider’s Explosive Growth

In today’s fast-paced world, modern travellers and urban dwellers demand seamless, digital experiences, especially when it comes to temporary accommodation. This preference isn’t just about convenience; it’s a game-changer for businesses in the burgeoning short-let residential sector, enabling rapid, cost-effective expansion and remote management that eliminates the need for expensive 24/7 front desks.

Enter City Pop, a visionary provider of design-led, short-let furnished apartments across European hubs like Zurich, Berlin, Prague, and Milan. While their portfolio flourished, their traditional RFID access-card system presented a significant hurdle to their ambitious expansion plans. The manual handling of credentials was cumbersome, costly, and simply not scalable for a company eyeing rapid international growth. City Pop needed a future-proof solution – one that would streamline access management and empower their cross-border journey without breaking the bank.

Their answer came in the form of cutting-edge, card-less mobile access. City Pop seamlessly integrated Aperio wireless locks with an Incedo™ Pro access management system across their entire portfolio. Now, doors to their stylish apartments and communal spaces are equipped with contemporary, wire-free, battery-powered Aperio escutcheons, marking a significant leap forward in guest experience and operational efficiency.

Pawel Gawor, City Pop’s CEO, articulated the strategic imperative: “We were looking for a future-proof, reception-less access solution that could scale with our growth across Europe.”

This innovative integration means entry permissions are automatically distributed to guests the moment a booking is confirmed, eliminating manual staff intervention. Travellers now enjoy unprecedented flexibility, arriving at their convenience without the hassle of a traditional reception check-in. They simply access their apartment securely via the City Pop app or by entering a unique PIN code directly into the Aperio escutcheon’s keypad. The decision to standardize with the Aperio E100 Wireless Keypad Escutcheon also provided a crucial advantage: the ability to retrofit existing buildings seamlessly, without the need for extensive wiring or structural damage.

With reservations software fully integrated into the Incedo Pro system, City Pop wields centralized, real-time, and remote control over time-limited access across its burgeoning network in Germany, Czechia, Switzerland, and Italy. This digital transformation offers unparalleled flexibility, enabling City Pop to cater to diverse needs – from monthly stays to short-term bookings from a single night upwards, expanding their market reach. This ongoing ASSA ABLOY installation project has already surpassed 2,500 doors and continues its impressive trajectory.

Energy-efficient access solution for modern apartment rentals

Beyond operational efficiency and guest satisfaction, City Pop’s adoption of the ASSA ABLOY solution also significantly bolsters its commitment to sustainability. By eliminating physical keys and smartcards, the company dramatically reduces plastic waste. The shift to remote access management also curtails unnecessary staff travel, further lowering their carbon footprint. Energy consumption is meticulously managed; Aperio wireless locks operate on standard batteries, requiring substantially less power than traditional wired alternatives. Moreover, ASSA ABLOY Signo Readers, strategically placed at external entrances, sliding doors, elevators, and high-traffic interior zones, feature an Intelligent Power Mode (IPM) that delivers an impressive 41% energy saving compared to non-IPM equivalents.

Reflecting on the transformative impact, Pawel Gawor concludes: “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.”