Integrate charging cabinets with access control systems – turning every charging compartment into an access point
By integrating charging cabinets with access control systems or access solutions, it becomes easier to manage permissions, access, and structure when many users share the same charging infrastructure.
Home care services use electric bikes to travel between patients, employees cycle to work, and employers offer leasing and benefit bikes as an alternative to cars.
The growth of micromobility means that property owners and businesses not only need to offer secure charging and storage for electric bike batteries, but also need to manage permissions and access and create structure when many users share the same infrastructure.
By integrating the OD Bike ACE smart charging cabinet with your existing on-prem access control system or a cloud-based access solution, the same identity and authorization logic can be applied to the charging compartments to create a scalable and future-proof charging infrastructure.
Integrate charging cabinets with access control systems for traceability and prevention of unauthorized use
The need to integrate charging cabinets with access control systems first arose through one of our customers in the healthcare sector. The workplace, which uses electric bikes as work vehicles, suffered several incidents of theft of the highly desirable electric bike batteries. At the same time, concerns arose about improper use. When anyone was free to use the charging lockers, it became difficult to know who had access to the lockers and what was stored there.
We received a call from the company's security manager asking if it was possible to track charging. This was the starting point for the development of a charging infrastructure solution where charging can be linked to the company's access control system.
The question itself shows that it is no longer just a matter of being able to offer safe charging and storage of electric bike batteries.
When charging is linked to identity and authorization with full traceability, friction is reduced and it supports procedures linked to both SBA and SAM.
Scalable operation and large user flows on campus
Another of our customer groups that has been quick to install a charging infrastructure for electric bikes is universities and campuses, due to stricter requirements for handling lithium-ion batteries.
As part of this development, bicycle facilities such as bicycle storage and fireproof rooms with charging cabinets are being upgraded to enable the storage and charging of electric bicycle batteries.
Campuses are home to large user flows, multiple user roles, and geographically dispersed properties. Authorizations can vary throughout the semester, and the administration needs to manage codes.
With OD BIKE ACE, you can:
- Control access based on roles and terms
- Manage geographically dispersed access points in different buildings or cities.
- Integration into existing apps, portals, or access systems.
Simpler management and high level of service in housing associations
Housing companies and housing associations use access control systems to manage access to common areas such as garages, entrances, storage rooms, and laundry rooms.
Offering charging and integrating charging cabinets with access control systems in condominium associations and housing companies is a way to improve service levels, but it also raises operational issues. When the charging cabinet is connected to the access control system, it becomes just another access point with the same rules, tags, and procedures as the rest of the property.
- Charging compartments can be dedicated to specific apartments
- Access is granted using the regular tag.
- OD BIKE ACE can be connected to on-prem access control systems – such as ASSA ARX, Axema, RCO Security, Salto, or Aptus – or cloud-based access systems.
Charging as a service to charge for
With OD BIKE ACE and our open API, it is possible to integrate the charging cabinet with SaaS services such as accommodation platforms, accommodation apps, property platforms, and facility management solutions.
When access, bookings, errands, and communication are already handled in a housing app, Tenant Experience platform, or facility management system, the next logical step is to also connect charging as part of the same digital flow. This allows charging to be handled in the same interface as other services and gives management a more efficient and scalable handling.
For businesses such as parking companies and mobility operators, charging electric bike batteries can be a revenue opportunity in the same way as parking, carpooling, or public transport. By cloud-integrating OD Bike ACE, charging can be made into
- a billable service in the organization's existing app or platform.
- part of the mobility offering as a subscription, pay-per-use, or packaged service.
That's why charging cabinets should be part of your access control system or access solution.
When charging is handled as a standalone passive function, the same situations can arise as in other shared environments – codes are spread and compartments are blocked, which can lead to extra work, especially when usage grows and more people share the same infrastructure.
With OD BIKE ACE integrated into your access control system or access platform, the charging cabinet becomes not just a place to charge, but a controlled and future-proof part of your digital operations.
- User identification and full traceability
- Reduced risk of improper use
- Policy and compliance
For some businesses, the benefit lies in reducing manual handling and improper use. For others, it is about creating a higher level of service where residents, employees, or students enjoy a seamless experience in existing systems and apps. Once charging is part of the digital infrastructure, it also becomes possible to package it as a service with rules, roles, and payment.
Are you interested in learning more about how to integrate your access control system or access solution with OD Bike ACE?
Don't hesitate to get in touch!
