Is it worth changing a regular mechanical lock to an electronic one just because it is more modern?

The client's name has been changed.

Let's call the client Peter. The old mechanical lock worked fine. But Peter saw new electronic and smart systems controlled from a smartphone. A thought appeared:

“If the technology is more modern, it is automatically better.”

Not necessarily. In the material provided, mechanical, coded, electronic and smart locks are presented as different options that are selected taking into account preferences and budget, and not as an automatic ladder from bad to good.

What does the electronic system provide?

Depending on the model, the following may be convenient:

• access control;
• lack of a regular key;
• smartphone;
• code;
• other authorization methods.

But this answers primarily the question of convenience and access control.

Questions to ask before purchasing

For example:

• who will use the door;
• is remote access needed?
• how important are temporary rights;
• what happens when there is no power;
• what backup method of entry is provided;
• who will maintain the system.

When a mechanical lock is still a good solution

If the owner needs:

• simple;
• understandable;
• serviced

a mechanism without additional functions, it is not necessary to change it just for the sake of the word “smart”.

And when electronic can really be more convenient

For example, for:

• rent;
• office;
• large number of users;
• objects with regularly changing access.