In this article:
6 ways how container locks have a positive impact in your business:
Introduction
1. Always better with a lock
2. High security locks = High risk theft
3. Smart locks: much more than a lock
4. A new definition of “Keys”
5. Remote management of the locks
6. Audit trail: data to keep you safer
Conclusion
Introduction
Cargo theft is a global problem. It creates billions of dollars in losses across the supply chain. From random attacks to organized crime, from solo thieves to inside jobs, cargo crime takes many shapes and forms.
Unfortunately, container security is still not a priority for many businesses. They are often left unlocked and at the mercy of whoever can get by their doors: easy access, easy thefts.
In other cases, containers rely only on seals and padlocks to safeguard their integrity. Both of those “security” measures can be broken into in few seconds and often replaced or “fixed” by the criminals themselves, leaving you with a false sense of security.
Luckily, there are shipping container locks that provide high security and many other smart perks to protect -and enhance!- your business.
So, why should you consider using locks for shipping containers to protect your goods?
1. Always better with a lock
Lock or no lock? It’s a no brainer!
In a situation where two or more containers are stored or travelling together, the one offering the least resistance will be attacked.
A container with a lock might catch the attention of the criminal but the additional effort to break into it is not enough: an easier target is always a better option.
Container lock = High value!
Many of our customers are concerned that having a lock will attract more professional, better equipped criminals.
In those cases we recommend internal locks: locks that are installed inside your container or truck and are much more discreet from the outside.
Example: Seguratainer Slam Lock 4.0 has all 4 locking points behind the container doors. The only visible part is the NFC antenna (used by authorized personel to open the lock with their smartphone).
Learn more about both internal and external lock options.
Conclusion: having a lock ensures most criminals will not even look at your container as a potential mark.
2. High security locks = high risk theft
High risk and high resources robbery
Breaking into a Seguratainer locked container requires:
enormous amounts of time
the ability to make significant noise and not be noticed
access to industrial or military graded equipment.
And that’s only to attempt to break into the container.
Using a lock makes stealing your cargo a much riskier and time-consuming operation. It also negates the possibility to slash-and-grab attacks or petty thieves.
Example: criminals caught trying to open a stolen container!
From our own news section, it happened in South Africa: Read an example on how 2 Seguratainer Claw Locks delayed thieves enough to get caught and saved our client more than half a million dollar!
Conclusion: using a Seguratainer lock on your container makes any theft attempt a high risk and high ressources operation.
3. Smart locks: much more than a lock
Choose a smart lock!
We already established locks provide high security against the container doors being opened by brute force.
Even so, gone are the days when a container lock was just a piece of metal. In fact, nowadays, even the best lock boxes come with a lock embedded into them.
Beyond security, smart locks offer a wide range of perks that can help you on your day to day operations. Some of those tools can be:
No traditional keys: smartphone keys with NFC.
Remote management locks (with geo fencing and time rules!)
24/7 audit trail: data and full integrity.
Let’s explore these points…
Conclusion: choosing a smart lock provides you more features to help your business on your daily operation.
4. A new definition of “Keys”
Forget traditional keys.
Traditional keys are often lost, forged or even broken, creating delays and associated costs.
Also, they are anonymous: you have no way of knowing who truly opened your container doors.
Last, any lock with a keyhole can be picked, hence posing a security liability.
Conclusion: traditional keys are a liability!
Smartphone as a key
In our case, Seguratainer locks turn your smartphone into a key. Even better: you can authorize and deny access, in a few seconds, to any person’s phone, from your laptop, from anywhere in the world.
If a phone is lost or stolen, you can revoke the keys associated to that device in just a few clicks.
Conclusion: smartphone as a key allows you to control all keys in real time.
NFC keys for container doors?
Yes! While the new access rights are transfered using data in real time, the Seguratainer smartphone key uses NFC technology to grant or deny access rights.
This means it is a touchless, short distance -virtual impossible to intercept!- and heavily encrypted connection that validates the user’s credentials and allows him/her to open the lock.
NFC is the same technology used on your touchless payment cards, your smartphone and smartwatches.
Read more about Seguratainer NFC key management: how it works.
Conclusion: NFC is the most secured way to establish access control over your containers.
It’s personal.
By using smartphone as an access control step, you make sure every key is personalized and traceable.
This negates any possible anonymous access and gives you a complete understanding on how your team works, which might allow you to even improve scheduling, shifts and even better customize access rights.
Conclusion: each key is associated to one person only.
No keys at all
Is it possible to have a container with a lock that has no keys? Yes.
With Seguratainer, you can ship from A to B -or store your container in a warehouse- with no keys assigned to that lock.
When the moment comes, you can create the key for the right person. On the spot.
Conclusion: you can have locked containers with no keys!
Video: Take a quick look at our NFC keys in action!
5. Remote management of the locks
We’ve explained how smart container locks -also known as smart electronic locks, or smart digital locks- give you flexibility to manage the keys.
Now, let’s see how they give you remote power over the locks themselves!
Geofencing
With a smart lock -at least with Seguratainer- you can establish safe areas on a map where a lock can be opened.
This allows you to define only your warehouse or loading dock as places where the lock can operate. You can also mark both your venue and your customer or delivery address as safe zones.
With Seguratainer, the user’s phone is used as a GPS beacon so the lock battery is not involved, hence significantly increasing its lifetime.
All of this can be done from your laptop, in a few clicks, and in just a few seconds.
Conclusion: locks that can only be opened at a certain place.
What’s the time?
Very similar to the point above, but related to the time of the day: define the right moments when the lock can be opened.
Conclusion: locks that can only be opened at a certain time.
Battery
Electronic locks require battery, and batteries might require to be changed after a certain amount of cycles or time.
A good smart locking system will give you the battery status of the locks, with reminders, so you can monitor their status and act in advance.
Seguratainer works with the best battery suppliers in the world to ensure you years and thousands of cycles before you even have to think about replacement.
And, as stated above, Seguratainer uses the user’s phone as a GPS beacon. This means the lock is effectively “asleep” during storage or journeys which provides a much longer battery life.
Conclusion: smart locks have smart battery usage!
6. Audit trail: data to keep you safer
24/7 data about your locks and keys
Electronic locks allows you to have access to a live account of each key and lock interaction. This includes “attempts at opening” by any user with no credentials -by mistake or with ill intentions.
This data can help you understand better your business and better plan and prepare deliveries, shifs and warehouse or transport spacing.
Conclusion: 24/7 data of each lock and key interaction.
Verify the integrity of your cargo
Theft is not the only outcome from cargo crime.
The contents of your container might be tampered with, boxes replaced with empty ones, illegal substances hidden within your goods. Your container or truck might even become a vehicle for human trafficking.
A locked container with a 24/7 audit trail and full access control -no anonymous openings thanks to smartphone keys!- provides you with a clean sheet when talking to custom authorities, port authorities, insurance and your end client.
Conclusion: protect your business beyond theft, also against tampering, smuggling or human trafficking.
Read more about Seguratainer Management System and NFC smartphone keys: how it works.
Conclusion
Smart digital shipping container locks give you both, security and control.
The locks are heavy duty, the smartphone keys are personalised and traceable, and you can establish geofencing and time rules, and always have access to 24/7 audit trail to review operations and confirm the integrity of your containers and goods.
Don’t settle for less!
About Seguratainer:
We bring you smart locks for shipping containers and closed body trucks.
Our locks don’t use traditional keys: your smartphone is the only key you need!
This is how it works:
Place one of the Seguratainer locks onto or inside your container or truck. All our locks can be installed by you with no external help needed.
On your laptop, create new keys by adding your smartphone as an authorized key into the Seguratainer Fleet Management Platform. With this browser based platform, you add new users, create or cancel keys, create geofencing and time rules. All changes are done from your laptop in a few clicks and a few seconds.
Open the free Seguratainer Mobile App. Place your phone upon the lock you will be authorised to open the lock. The app sends each action back to the Fleet Management Platform which gives you a 100% accurate 24/7 audit trail per each lock and each key.
NFC (Near Field Communication) technology is a highly encrypted, safe and touchless protocol used by financial institutions around the world for payments. It is the same technology you use to pay with your touchless cards, phone or watch. NFC is an offline technology that does not require access to the internet or GSM network to operate.
About our patented locks: our shipping container locking mechanisms are patented and market tested in South Africa, where the company started, and one of the most dangerous markets in the world.
For more information, contact us.
Or send us an email: contact@seguratainer.com