Why use electronic locks at all?

• Easy to manage: Electronic authorizations are a million times easier; it takes just seconds to authorize a key to access 100 different locks. If new locks are added to a department authorized keys are automatically updated, nearly eliminating key management overheads.

• Fast access: Users don’t have to scrabble through a bunch of keys to open a cabinet. In a retail or stock management environment this reduces access times from 15-30 seconds to just a second, significantly improving customer service and reducing staff and customer irritation. This translates directly into improved efficiency and increased sales.

• Can’t copy: You can’t copy an electronic key. This is a particular problem in mechanical master key systems, where a single copied or lost key can require hundreds of locks to be replaced or re-mastered. But the very worst case scenario with an electronic lock is that a lock must be reset, and everyone’s keys will come right at the next sync.

• Time windowed: You can time-limit electronic keys. If someone loses a key it can be set to expire by the next shift, so potential for abuse is limited. There is no longer a need for a key check-out and check-in process at each shift change. Time-windowing also forces users to regularly sync their keys so you can collect daily audit trails on key use.

• Accountability: Every key user can carry their own key as opposed to sharing a bunch of keys. Their name appears on audit trails. The mere knowledge their key use is being monitored impacts significantly on shrinkage rates.

• Other fancy stuff: Such as multi-keying, where more than one key insertion required to open a lock, ideal for stock cages or delivery vehicles; or checkpointing, where a key can access but not open a lock, ideal for security guards doing rounds verifying locks are secure.
  

How secure are Yebotech locks?

Much more secure than conventional locks. Each plug has over 18 billion billion combinations so the locks are impossible to pick. Because of the plug’s patented clutch design, the lock can’t be forced in a conventional manner. No lock is indestructible, but an attacker will have to work that much harder if you use a Yebo lock.

How expensive are Yebotech locks?

Not much more than conventional mechanical locks, and certainly cheaper than conventional mechanical master key solutions – and you’re not going to have to replace all your locks if someone loses the master key.

Do you have products specifically for the commercial market?

Yes. You can manage large numbers of locks and keys at https://secure.yebotech.com. You can define general rules and the system does the rest. For example, Joe Bloggs is a Customer Assistant; Customer Assistants are only allowed to work during working hours; the key labelled ‘Photo 1’ can only be used in the Photography Department in the Customer Assistant role. The system will ensure that only the right key can be issued to Joe Bloggs and that it will only be able to access locks in the photography department during working hours.

To use the management system you need to register for an account and acquire a sync station. You can try it out for free and only when your usage exceeds a certain level will you be billed a service fee.

Do all locks ‘work the same’?

Pretty much. At present all locks distributed by Yebotech are fitted with ‘class B’ commercial plugs, meaning that the features and capabilities of the plugs are all the same. All locks can be autonomously managed using a regular key to performing basic issue, revoke and wipe functions, so you don’t have to use the management system. With the management system and a sync station you can do the more sophisticated stuff, such as:

• Auditing;

• Restrict access to specific times of the day;

• Cause keys to expire so a lost key is only dangerous for e.g. one work shift (a handy way of ensuring current audit trails!);

• Multi-keying, meaning more than one key assigned to one or two groups be inserted to open a lock;

• Check-pointing, meaning a lock can be used as a checkpoint (e.g. a security guard required to check padlocks are secure has a key authorized to act as a checkpoint key on a set of padlocks, but not open them);

• Usage statistics, who is busy and who is not and when;

• Exceptions, which are red flags raised when something untoward is detected. This includes anything from a key with a flat battery, to someone leaving keys in locks longer than allowed, to attempts to access barred locks;

• And of course, access control.

These features are available on all locks, from the most expensive padlock to the cheapest cabinet lock.

6. Aren’t electronics fragile? What happens if a lock gets wet / hot / frozen..?

You can drop a lock into boiling water or from several meters onto concrete and it will still work. The keyway of the plug is much less intricate than conventional locks and doesn’t contain tiny mechanical parts that can jam when exposed to grit or mud; if the keyway is clogged you can just squirt it out with water.

The key is a different story; if it gets wet you may have to dry it out, and it has a plastic cover so you can certainly break it with some effort.

7. Will I get locked out if something goes wrong?

If you are using the online management system, then the answer is “no”. Simply log in, and fix whatever problem it may be. If you are using a master key to manage your locks, then the answer is yes. Our system doesn’t have a “back door”, so we can’t help you recover a lost master key. If you are using online management, the website will act as the master key - so all you need to do is remember your login details.

8. How vulnerable is a standard lock?

Most conventional mechanical locks can be opened in seconds using a pick gun. They require little skill to use and are freely available.