Smart Lockers for Offices: Self-Serve and Easy to Install

Smart Lock for Modern Employee Lockers, Built for Hybrid Workplaces

Awaio Smart Lock turns lockers into shared digital storage units—all without complex IT setups, cabling, power, or expensive hardware. Because it’s battery-powered and non-IoT, the lock can be installed in new or existing lockers in your office.

No cabling headaches. No relying on network gateways and unstable Wi-Fi connections. In other words, just flexible and scalable locker management with zero complexity. 

This means:

• You can set up lockers in a few minutes, even without technical expertise. No lengthy installations or complications.
• Looking for cost savings? Awaio’s Smart Lock hardware-free approach means you don’t spend a dime on maintenance, repair, and service of complex IT infrastructure setups.
• Users have undisrupted 24/7 locker access—no downtimes due to system failures, unstable network connection, scheduled maintenance, or unexpected repairs.

For employees, this means goodbye to keycards, RFID tags, and electric codes that are easily misplaced or forgotten. Instead, they can…

• Find, unlock, reserve, and share access to lockers

….just by clicking a button in the app or scanning the QR code sticker attached to the locker—no lengthy process required.

This ease of use and flexibility is supported by an analytics dashboard that reveals:

• All employee locker reservations,
• The current battery cell capacity,
• Locker occupancy rates, segmented by teams and individuals.

These insights help you replace depleted battery cells and optimize locker space—whether that means reducing the number of lockers, reassigning underutilized ones, or relocating them to new floors.

7 Key Features That Turn Traditional Lockers into Secure, Smarter Storage

1. Quick, Cable-Free Setup for Secure, Versatile Lockers

Retrofit our lock into existing and new cabinets within minutes—all without running cables, taking measurements, or hiring a locksmith. And since it’s Bluetooth-enabled (non-IoT), the battery life lasts long and keeps working without constant upkeep. 

Another major advantage of battery-powered locks is their flexibility. Unlike traditional electronic locks that need complex hardware and network setups, Awaio makes it easy to reorganize your office storage with no cables or installations required.

Because of this flexibility and Awaio’s keyless nature, lockers can be used for:

• Parcel Delivery – For secure delivery and collection of packages. Way better than turning receptionists into parcel handlers.
• Locker Rooms – For employees to store clothing, uniforms, or personal items during work hours.
• Employee Storage – For personal belongings, laptops, or items that need to be securely stored.
• Equipment Storage – For tools, devices, or equipment used within specific departments or teams.
• IT delivery cabinet: — For employees to pick up and return IT equipment at their convenience. 
• Visitor Management – To assign temporary lockers for visitors or contractors to store their belongings during their time in the office.
• E-bike battery charging – To provide a safe and secure way to store and charge e-bike batteries, minimize fire risks, and stay compliant with safety regulations.

Furthermore, Awaio can be a standalone locker solution with no IT integration required. Here are its key features:

2. Central Access Via Mobile and Web

Book lockers on your terms. Whether on the go via our mobile app or from our desktop app, you can find and reserve a locker for any duration—a single day, multiple days, some hours, etc. 

3. Self-serve Locker Management

Employees can create team lockers and remotely grant colleagues access to retrieve time-sensitive documents, shared materials, and parcels—without the intervention of facility managers or having to physically meet up with their colleagues to exchange RFID cards.

4. Integration with Existing Tools

Awaio Smart Lock integrates with Microsoft 365, which enables you to reserve a locker and log in to our app with your Microsoft account details. More secure than traditional passwords and pins, as it relies on Microsoft’s enterprise-grade encryption.

5. Monitor Locker Usage in Real Time

How many lockers do we really need? Are they enough? What size of locker is mostly used? Are the batteries depleted? Stop relying on hunches. With Awaio, you get real-time data on locker usage and battery capacity, so you can make smarter, more informed decisions. Besides this, you can:

• Manage all your lockers and batteries from a single, easy-to-use dashboard
• Routine security testing for protection
• Set custom booking rules to avoid lockers sitting unused
• With insights into opening data, you can avoid over-purchasing and make smarter buying decisions
• Get access to dynamic usage data and track how lockers are being used in real-time

Overall, with each locker typically occupying just 1m², you’ll not only cut costs but also optimize your space and reduce your office footprint, contributing to a more sustainable work environment.

6. Find Nearby Resources

Use the Find Nearby feature to simplify your search for a locker. Locate unreserved lockers 5-30 meters from your current location and use the interactive office map to find where they’re stationed—way better than trekking across the office complex to find a locker.

7. Easy Locker Allocation

Allocate and deallocate lockers to specific teams, individuals, departments, or even visitors. This way, you can restrict access to specific locker areas and strategically allocate lockers based on utilization data.

… Also best suited for

• Corporations — Promote employee well-being and reduce desk clutter by providing secure storage for belongings and parcel deliveries.
• Shared Spaces (offices, coworking) —  Attract more prospective members and differentiate your space from competitors.
• Commercial Real Estate (CRE) — Improve offering and increase the property’s rental value by offering smart storage solutions for tenants.
• Schools/Universities — Reduce the risk of theft and control access to specific resources.

How Do Smart Lockers Work?

Generally, smart lockers are secured by an electrical or battery-operated mechanism connected to the internet. To unlock them, users must first secure a reservation via a central terminal or software interface. And then, authenticate their identity using:

• Digital access tokens: RFID tags and key cards. These can be lost, stolen, or cloned, and rely on internet connectivity—meaning they can’t work when the internet is down.
• Biometric data: This includes thumb prints and facial scans. They offer enterprise-grade security but cost an arm and a leg to install and maintain. Repairs cost even more.
• Memorized access codes: Although this method is more reliable than physical keys, codes can be compromised via social engineering or brute-force attacks. Users may also share their codes or forget them.
• Digital keys: More often than not, they rely on Wi-Fi and NFC (Near-Field Communication).

Now, these authentication systems typically require employees to be physically present to reserve lockers from a central terminal. Not to mention they rely on hardware and a complex IT infrastructure, whose costs add up really fast. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Buying and installing the hardware.
• Ongoing maintenance and support.
• Energy bills.

Conversely, Awaio’s smart lockers works without complex integrations and systems—be it cables or IT integrations. Users can locate, reserve, and unlock lockers via their smartphones—all without physical keys, RFID cards, padlocks, combination locks, or tags.

This saves you costs and also enables employees to reserve lockers from the Awaio app or via their Microsoft account. Here’s how it works:

Book On the Go — Always Have a Locker to Store Valuables.

Imagine this:

You’re heading to the office, backpack and lunch in tow, hoping for a free locker. So, you decide to take a chance and arrive at the booking terminal, only to be met with a sea of red lights! All lockers are fully occupied!

Now, you must either carry your backpack along with you to your desk or leave it at the entrance.

Though frustrating, this scenario is all too common with traditional smart lock systems that limit locker reservations to central terminals.

Now, imagine a different scenario. One where you arrive with the assurance that a locker is available. This is possible with Awaio’s remote booking functionality, which allows employees to reserve lockers in advance for the days they’ll be in the office.

On a Sunday evening or Monday morning, while planning for the week, all employees need to do to reserve a locker is:

• Open the mobile app
• Tap “Storage” on the mobile app’s home screen,
• Select a locker or cabinet, and 
• Specify the duration—hours, days, etc.

Planning ahead doesn’t stop at lockers. With Awaio, employees can reserve parking spaces, desks, meeting rooms, and other bookable resources ahead of time. 

Simplified Booking — Find Lockers Nearby

Ever experienced this?

1. You sorted through a list of workplace lockers 
2. Found one ( 😀)
3. But wait; It’s far away. Now, you either make the trek or start the search all over again ( ☹️).

This is a common headache, especially in large office complexes where locker clusters are far apart. And it leaves you feeling frustrated, wishing you could see which lockers are closest to you. Well, with Awaio’s Find Nearby feature, you can.

Using Bluetooth Technology, the feature finds and displays unreserved smart lockers within a 5 to 30-meter radius. From there, you can:

• Check out each locker’s specification and image,
• Select one that suits your needs,
• Locate it using the interactive map and the number on its QR code sticker.

This simplifies the process of finding available lockers, freeing up more time for employees to focus on productive tasks while giving them an enjoyable experience at the office.

Encourage Collaboration — Create Team Lockers and Share Access.

Awaio’s smart lockers allows employees to create team lockers and share their access with colleagues without the intervention of an administrator.

For example, let’s say employee A is on sick leave and a team member needs to retrieve a shared project laptop from their locker.

From home, Employee A will find the team member from their favorites tab and make them one of the locker’s owners. The team member will then be notified, receive the digital keys to the locker, and use the Interactive Map to locate it.

Automate Reservation Rules and Maximize Your Current Storage Capacity

Sometimes, employees may book lockers for extended periods just in case they need them and then don’t use them. This creates a false impression of high demand, making it seem like there aren’t enough lockers available. 

So, to address this artificial shortage, you may buy more lockers only to find that they too remain largely unused, leading to waste.

Awaio prevents this by allowing you to set custom booking rules that determine how long a locker can be occupied, how far in advance it can be reserved, and providing a complete overview of real-time usage data, including opening and activity logs. This ensures you do more with less, preventing waste.

It doesn’t stop there. Awaio also has other custom booking conditions that determine:  

• The minimum and maximum duration for all locker bookings 
• The number of times an individual can book a locker
• The number of lockers an individual can book daily
• A locker’s purpose—parcel delivery, employee storage, visitors, etc. 
• And, whether or not an employee needs to confirm the booking to prevent unused lockers.

This saves you the hassle of physically inspecting lockers to ensure they are truly occupied and are being used for their intended purpose.

1️⃣ Reserve a locker – Employees can book through an app, QR code, or calendar.

2️⃣ Unlock with a smartphone – No keys, no RFID cards—just digital access.

3️⃣ Share or reassign lockers – Grant access to teammates or departments.

4️⃣ Monitor locker usage – Get real-time insights via cloud software.

What are the Different Types of Smart Lockers?

Smart lockers are broadly divided into four categories based on their working mechanism:

• Biometric Smart lockers use fingerprints, facial features, iris patterns, and voice recognition. They provide high-level security but require specialized hardware and IT setups that dig a hole in your pocket.
• Electronic Smart lockers work with electric power. They operate with RFID chips, keycards, and tags. Although cheaper than biometric locks, they still cost a lot to install and maintain. Also, RFID keycards are easily lost, which can pose security risks.
• Smartphone-enabled smart lockers can be reserved and unlocked using a smartphone. They are either battery-powered (which is hardware-free and cost-effective) like Awaio or IoT-enabled (which requires expensive hardware).

Notice that each type of smart locker captured above trades convenience for cost and complexity.

For example, biometric smart lockers let you reserve lockers using your biometrics but are complex and costly to set up and maintain. The same can be said for electronic and IoT-enabled smart lockers.

However, Awaio breaks the mold by offering a smart locker system that’s: 

• Convenient—Employees can find, reserve, and unlock lockers via the mobile app.
• Cost-efficient—Because it works without complex IT infrastructure and is non-IoT, Awaio eliminates the cost of installing, maintaining, and repairing IT infrastructure systems.
• Easy to install—Awaio’s Bluetooth-enabled smart lock can be installed on new and existing lockers within minutes.

Here’s an overview of how Awaio compares to other smart locker solutions for hybrid offices: