Previously, keeping track of keys at Festival Place had become a full-time job. With over 170 shops, a cinema, sports centre and restaurants, the large retail complex has an ever-changing roster of permanent staff, cleaners and out-of-hours contractors. Every one requires secure entry on demand.  At the same time, the public needs open access to a pool and gym, retail outlets and car parks, for 18 hours or more every day. Lockdown was not an option, yet a single lost key could become a security problem for all users and tenants.

Cliq was the solution selected to address all of these issues. Cliq is a security locking system with high-end microelectronics, programmable keys and cylinders.

Now, cleaners and maintenance workers are issued with a key that allows entry to specific doors for a pre-defined time period. After the permitted time ends, the key no longer works. Using simple online software, site managers can immediately de-authorise and reissue a lost key, or amend any key’s permissions. Only genuine Cliq keys with the relevant authorisation will open a Cliq lock meaning security risks from copied keys are no longer an issue. Generating a comprehensive audit trail—who accessed which lock, and when—takes just a couple of mouse clicks.

Cliq has also cut Festival Place operational costs. The electronics in Cliq locks are powered by the standard battery inside every Cliq key, not mains electricity. Installation was wireless, a huge saving on potentially expensive electrical work.  And there is no need for keyholders to return to an administrator to change or update permissions. Everything is controlled remotely from the admin dashboard, streamlining everyone’s workflows.

At Festival Place, Cliq technology now powers a flexible, programmable locking solution. It has put security managers in control of their 102,000 sq. m premises, around the clock, without compromising security.  “We were looking to solve key management issues,” explains Craig Allen, Festival Place’s security centre manager. “Cliq enabled us to have more control. We now have plans to phase out mechanical keys altogether, replacing them with Cliq within two years.”