At a time when home security and secure access control has become a priority and smarthome is becoming the norm, the hospitality sector is doing away with mechanical keys for the wireless, electronic keycards based on RFID technology. Many hotels and resorts across the globe have been using the RFID technology for access control and guest tracking for years and RFID hotel keycards in the form of smartcards and wristbands are the latest addition.
The RFID hotel keycards can be programmed for individual guests and customized for intended access such as hotel room, spa, bar, gym, and canteen etc.
What are RFID Keycards?
RFID is short for Radio Frequency Identification and it is an AIDC technology capable of automatic identification and data capture i.e. it can track and trace an RFID tagged object wirelessly using radio waves.
RFID hotel keycards have an RFID chip (IC microchip that can store the unique id) and when in the range with an RFID reader (room lock or access points), it can send the stored data for granting access to guests.
RFID-based keycards have been in use for last few years but the recent developments in RAIN RFID, bringing the cost of passive UHF RFID tags down to 4-5 cents from 40-50 cents, have presented the hospitality sector with an opportunity to join the RFID bandwagon.
How an RFID Keycard Works?
Any smartcard, QR code based card or magnetic stripe card or even an RFID card, needs to be written with certain data and an access no. is generated which is linked to a particular room or service. You can use your keycard to access your room and other services offered to you by personalization of the card.
An RFID hotel keycard can be configured as a TAP and Go card or a contactless one. In the former case, you just tap the RFID card at your door lock and it lets you in but in the later case, it allows you the access just by being in the close proximity of the RFID room lock/access point and you don’t have to even take out your RFID card from your pocket.
The RFID hotel keycards have been of great use in recent times not only providing great consumer experience but also security. Your RFID Keycard is unique to your room and customized for you only. It provides easy and quick access and lets you in to different areas allowing you to move around the hotel premises seamlessly.
Are RFID Keycards safe?
Before adopting any technology, security is the first thing that we should take note of. RFID hotel keycards are getting adopted rater quickly so let’s just see if these cards are safer in comparison to physical cards or barcode cards:
1.The data encoded in the RFID keycards is protected by encryption as UHF RFID is based on the EPC Gen2v2 (or ISO 18000-6C) standard. So it’s hard to duplicate unlike QR code keycards and mechanical keys.
2.With RFID, you don’t have to take your keycard out every time you need entry into your room. So less chances of dropping it somewhere or misplacing it.
3.The RFID keycards can be made into anonymous designs. It means only the user or the record room can know the exact room the key belongs to.
4.If lost or misplaced, the RFID keycard can be easily deactivated. So you don’t need to worry about theft or anything.
5.It can be personalized as per user requirement. So you can open one room/locker or ten, it’s up to you. Even your lift can be personalized to be used by you, only when you need it.
6. RFID keycards are frequency dependent, meaning it is matched with the RFID reader placed at your door. No one else’s card can open your room.
To conclude, RFID keycards have become quite a trend in last few years with more and more global hospitality businesses joining the RFID keycard bandwagon. These cards are secure and can be personalized for individuals to open rooms and to grant access to areas such as spa, bar, gym etc. as charged by the hotel. The tap and go cards are quite popular as well, but RFID allows you to access your room remotely, without having to reach out for your keycard, an overall better experience.
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