It’s that time again, when we reflect on the past year and look forward to the next. If you’re like me, you do this for both your personal and professional life.
Looking back on LockNet’s 2014 is pretty exciting for me. Having grown up in the business, I can honestly say that this is one of those years that will stand out in the history books. LockNet has grown, evolved, and blossomed this year. 2013 was a banner year for us and 2014 built on that momentum and continued to break records.
What was so exciting about 2014 you ask? Here are some of the biggest highlights:
2014 In Review
LockNet’s New Warehouse
With all of the growth we have been experiencing came the need for more space and increased efficiencies. We moved our warehouse down the road to a bright and shiny new facility, and it certainly hasn’t disappointed. It has resulted in lots of additional storage space for inventory and staging of product and shipments. The production area is also a lot brighter and easier to organize. I think I can speak for all of our warehouse employees when I say that they like their new home!
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Expansion of Our New Electromechanical Solutions Department
The Electromechanical Solutions (EMS) Department was born in 2013, and really took off this year. So much so, that we had to rearrange our office to make space for all of the individuals in the department. There has been a lot of focus on creating custom systems and reports to help increase the efficiency of the department.
Milestone Celebration
LockNet hit a major milestone in our third quarter. We always said that if we hit this milestone we would throw a big party, so party we did! Everyone had a great time getting together outside of work to enjoy food, drinks, and live music.
New Lock Trends for 2015
Doors and locks are continuing to evolve, and 2015 will be no exception. We’re expecting to see more electrified locks and an increase in integrating locks with smart phones.
Electrified Locks
You see it everywhere – everything seems to becoming sleeker, more integrated, and more user-friendly. In the lock world, electrified locks are one way this is happening. Electrified locks are not new to the lock world, but the new developments in them are gaining momentum.
One key area we expect to see in regards to new locks are school security locks. There have already been quite a few developments in this area, but there is still room for expanded capabilities for these locks.
Smart Locks
Along the lines of electrified locks and simplifying their use, smart locks will continue to gain popularity. There are a number of hotels that will soon allow you to use your smart phone as your room key. Pretty fancy, huh? It will be exciting to see what new developments they come out with.
Think The Physical Key Will Die? Think Again
Many people are predicting that the physical key will soon be a thing of the past. But, don’t throw away that key ring just yet. There are numerous reasons that the physical key will continue to be around. The biggest reason is that a key override is always good to have for safety purposes. Yes, there will be many new locks that won’t require a physical key; however, we expect that a keyed option will always be available and preferred.
What trends do you think will be hot for new locks in 2015? How was your 2014? We’d love to hear about it!