We have an increasing number of customers inquiring about global key systems.  The question is often asked:

I understand the positive impact of a key system but my brand is international; can I achieve global consistency?

International brands have been struggling with this issue for quite some time. Many brands want a global key system, but unfortunately there aren’t many products that are compatible across the globe.   Medeco makes five cylinder formats that are compatible across six continents, and Kaba Ilco makes a profile lock that is popular in Europe.  The trick with the different formats of cylinders is that you will likely need to install compatible hardware, which can be an expensive undertaking.

A growing solution to this problem is eCylinders.  The cylinder types considered to be standard vary country to country, but most key systems don’t accommodate the different cylinder types.  The beauty of eCylinders is that the electronic key will work regardless of the cylinder format, and the formats available are rapidly growing.  Unfortunately, this isn’t always a cost effective solution.

If it isn’t fiscally feasible to create a true global key system, there are several alternatives.  The ‘cookie cutter’ answer is for each global region to have an individual key system. Locations would be split based on geographic location and nested under a master system. While this solution doesn’t achieve the global consistency many brands strive for, it is better than a haphazard or nonexistent key system.

Katie Willie, Director – Marketing

 

 

Check out our Key Systems 101 article for more information.

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