La Poste to launch digital locking product next month

France’s postal operator La Poste is launching a new product next month that would allow people to access their homes with smartphones, instead of physical keys. Called Postaccess, the lock technology will allow individuals or businesses to manage the entry and exit of their homes remotely, granting other people access to their homes on a permanent or temporary basis.

For private households, it could mean housekeepers, baby sitters, neighbours or contractors can be given electronic keys via a mobile phone application for access to a house at certain times.

Children who might not have smartphones can be given special bracelets including RFID chips that would grant them permanent access to the home.

For businesses it would mean no longer having to give out keys to customers or staff, such as for property rentals, real estate agencies.

It will be available initially from 50 post offices in the south-east of France from 26 January, before La Poste decides whether to roll it out nationally.

The company said the technology is easy to install and can be provided by certified postal workers.

“Gone is the problem of keys,” the company said of its new technology. “Postaccess means the user can define who has access to their home, and where and at what time a person can access it.”

Customers will be able to access the system via a mobile application that can be downloaded from the Google Play and Apple Store.

Three different size packages will be available from participating post offices in the south-east of France, called “Simplicity”, “Serenity” or “Connected Services”. Pricing starts at EUR 100, with customers then paying a monthly tariff.

Postaccess represents another way in which La Poste is seeking to expand into new forms of business connecting digital technology with the physical world.