Sit (The Student Welfare Organisation) has recently completed an innovative project aimed at modernizing and streamlining the key management process for its student housing. For years, the organisation has spent considerable resources on handling physical keys — from issuing and tracking them to managing replacements and responding to lost key incidents. This manual process not only consumed valuable time and staffing but also introduced inefficiencies that affected both internal operations and the student experience. The newly completed Digital Key Project represents a major leap forward, enabling mobile-based access and automating much of what previously required manual work.
The primary ambition behind the project was to eliminate the need for students and service personnel to visit Sit offices to collect or return keys. Instead, digital keys could be issued automatically and securely, directly to the user’s smartphone, through a robust integration between Sit’s customer system and the ARX locking platform. By implementing this change, Sit aimed not only to enhance user convenience but also to contribute to a more sustainable and cost-effective way of managing access to housing.
Work on the project began with a comprehensive planning phase and the creation of a detailed user journey, developed in close collaboration with key stakeholders. Throughout the process, Sit worked with experienced development partners from CGI, Advania, and ASSA Abloy, whose familiarity with Sit’s systems and needs proved essential. Over the course of six months, the project moved steadily through requirement gathering, system development, rigorous testing, and final implementation. Toward the end, a controlled soft-launch was conducted at one housing location, which provided valuable real-world feedback without disrupting broader operations.
Today, digital keys are fully operational and functioning as intended. Students can now receive and manage their keys digitally, without visiting a service desk. In the event of a lost key, a replacement can be issued instantly, with the previous one deactivated automatically. These changes free up staff time and reduce queues at service centers, while also eliminating costs associated with lock replacements and physical key management.
The project was delivered on time and under budget, and its success is largely credited to a small, highly competent team and a clearly defined scope. Sit now plans to include digital key solutions in all future student housing projects and to extend the service wherever existing infrastructure allows. Going forward, Sit will continue to monitor the solution and refine it based on feedback, ensuring that both operational needs and student expectations continue to be met.
In essence, Sit has taken a significant step toward the future of student housing — creating a seamless, digital experience that saves time, reduces cost, and improves satisfaction, one mobile key at a time