No organization has an employee turnover rate of 0%. High turnover rates are common in large organizations with multiple locations, such as supermarket chains, restaurant chains, and retail chains. As a facility manager at one of these locations, you’re already familiar with the challenges of managing so many people coming and going, each carrying their own set of keys. Despite following all the rules, keys will inevitably be lost—whether misplaced or stolen, it doesn’t matter. A missing key can create significant problems, which is why rekey technology is essential. Rekey technology allows you to quickly and efficiently change the locking mechanism, ensuring that lost or stolen keys no longer pose a security threat.
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This is Not Just An Inconvenience
it’s a serious security issue. When security is compromised, your organization’s assets are at risk. The more exposed your assets are, the greater the dangers.
It’s clear that new locks and keys are necessary. Ideally, the lock should be changed as soon as the keys go missing. If that time has passed, the second-best moment is now.
While a locksmith can handle a simple lock change, facility and loss prevention managers know that it’s almost never just one or two locks that need attention. Often, multiple locks need to be changed or rekeyed across various locations.
So, what’s the best method to change the locks on your doors? How can this important task be done efficiently, cost-effectively, and effectively? Let’s compare two options: hiring a locksmith or using rekeyable technology.
Call a Locksmith
A professional locksmith is likely the first person you think of when it comes to changing a door lock. These professionals are experts in keys, locks, and everything in between.
While this is true, there are other factors to consider.
Time is precious. The longer you wait, the greater the risk of exposure.
Ideally, you should be able to contact a locksmith and have them arrive as soon as possible—if not instantly—and without a backlog of prior appointments. The locksmith should also be close by so you don’t have to wait long. It’s best to avoid calling after hours, on weekends, or on holidays.
However, This Scenario is Often Unrealistic.
You may find yourself waiting—sometimes for days—for an appointment. This is time you don’t have. Would you be comfortable staying at the office overnight to monitor assets? Is it safe to do so?
Even when the locksmith does arrive, they may not be able to change all the locks in one day. If not, you might find yourself working another night shift, with another night of increased risk.
The “efficiency” of hiring a locksmith is questionable. And what about “effectiveness”?
Consider the blank keys used by locksmiths. These blanks are easily available, cheap, and can be quickly copied.
While they may say “DO NOT DUPLICATE,” you can never be sure if this request is followed. It’s also impossible to know how many duplicate keys are in circulation.
Unless the locksmith is someone you trust personally, how much can you really rely on them? You might end up with an illusion of security. Is that a risk you’re willing to take?
Then there’s the cost. How much do locksmith services cost?
A single locksmith service can cost up to $200, including labor and hardware, per location. Multiply this by 20, 50, or 100 locations, and your organization is spending a significant amount. Surely, there’s a better method.
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Rekey Technology for User-Friendly Access
What if you could change your door locks yourself, with better and cheaper results?
Consider user-rekeyable technology in terms of speed, quality, and cost.
Remember the wait for locksmith services? With this option, it’s unnecessary. You can rekey a lock yourself as soon as you realize it’s vulnerable.
This is possible thanks to the clever design of user-rekeyable locks. The job can be done with a simple step-change key, rendering the old keys obsolete while the new keys are ready immediately.
There are even lock systems with restricted keys that can be rekeyed by the user. These blanks cannot be purchased on the market, as each key blank is unique and cannot be duplicated. This automatically reduces security risks.
Some restricted keys even have unique serial numbers, making it easier to track keys and employees. If an employee leaves without returning their key, you’ll know exactly which doors it opens, and you can begin the rekeying process immediately.
If you think user-rekeyable locks win on efficiency and effectiveness, you’re right. But what about cost?
This option is much cheaper than hiring a locksmith, saving your company money while delivering a better result.
For example, Unico Locksmith’s initial installation reduces rekeying costs to $35 per location, assuming an average of five keys per location. This is $165 less than a locksmith callout, which typically starts at $200.
Now, imagine needing to change or rekey the locks at 20, 50, or 100 different locations. The savings multiply exponentially, along with your company’s reputation.
How Unico Locksmith Can Help
Unico Locksmith specializes in user rekey technology lock systems.
With Unico Locksmith, you can rekey your locks without waiting for a locksmith. Their restricted key blanks ensure that your new lock system is more secure. And these benefits come at a lower cost.
When keys are lost and locks need changing, the best course of action is to call Unico Locksmith. They are the superior option.
