Akiles: The key to accessing properties is in the cloud
In recent years, companies like Akiles have emerged to drive innovation in the real estate sector and offer solutions that allow managing access to a property 100% remotely, eliminating the need for keys and travel. Greater cost savings, increased asset security, and a better user experience are additional advantages. To date, 35 million accesses have been made with Akiles’ systems. We spoke with Nicolás Salame, co-founder and CEO of this Spanish proptech with presence across Europe, as well as in countries like Dubai, Panama, and the USA.
How did Akiles come about?
Akiles was founded in 2018 to address the inefficiency, insecurity, and inconvenience surrounding traditional access management in the real estate sector. The project arose for three specific reasons. Firstly, due to the emergence of new classes of assets characterized by high user turnover (such as coworking spaces, co-living spaces, or tourist accommodations). Secondly, due to the centralization of geographically dispersed assets in the hands of professional operators, such as investment funds. And finally, due to the emergence of new generations of consumers who are highly tech-savvy and very critical of their user experience.
We identified that the solution was to develop a Cloud access control system, which did not require complex hardware installations, had powerful software to manage access completely remotely, and could be continuously updated and improved without interrupting the service.
Finally, we shaped a unique value proposition: in our case, the development of all the technology, the installation and commissioning of the systems by our own technicians anywhere in the world, and 24/7 customer service.
Your business model aims to change an almost ancestral habit, the use of keys. What kind of solutions do you offer?
We provide Cloud access control solutions that allow properties to be managed 100% remotely, eliminating the need for keys and travel to grant/revoke access to an asset.
On one hand, our technicians install devices that allow the opening of all types of access: communal entrance, main doors, gates, automatic doors, elevators… At the same time, we offer an administration panel to remotely manage unlimited access permissions, applying restrictions based on start and end dates, access to specific rooms, schedules, or remote opening. Moreover, our systems offer multiple opening methods: via mobile (through app or web app), personal PIN code, or NFC cards.
What advantages does cloud-based access control offer compared to traditional systems?
It offers multiple advantages over traditional systems, such as operational cost savings, a better user experience, and increased asset security.
For example, a manager of tourist apartments with assets spread across Spain can manage all accesses from anywhere, only with a computer or mobile phone, thanks to Akiles.
In this way, they can create unlimited access permissions, customize them based on the type of user (such as guests, cleaning staff, or maintenance staff), and send them digitally.
“The categories in which we have experienced the most notable growth in the last year are co-living and offices”
This remote management allows for significant operational cost savings, as it eliminates the need for staff dedicated exclusively to on-site check-in. Guests, on the other hand, enjoy a wait-free experience. Additionally, asset security is increased, as there is no key susceptible to copying/loss and there is absolute traceability of all accesses made to the property.
These same benefits are also applicable to all types of assets, such as co-living spaces, offices, coworking spaces, Build to Rent developments, and hotels.
How many clients does Akiles currently have and how many accesses have been managed to date?
We have 1,200 clients (some of them with hundreds of assets under management) in various categories, including offices, coworking spaces, tourist apartments, hotels, co-living spaces, and Build to Rent. To date, 35 million accesses have been made with our systems.
Our solutions allow our clients to scale their businesses exponentially, and our consultants actively support them in this growth, providing continuous advice.
Our growth is closely tied to that of our clients, so it is crucial to offer them the best possible experience.
How does Akiles ensure the security of properties and the privacy of user data?
At Akiles, we work on data security and privacy at multiple levels. On one hand, we use double end-to-end encryption and authentication through Asymmetric Key Cryptography, protecting against the most sophisticated attacks (such as replay and time shift). Additionally, our data is hosted under European legislation, complying with GDPR, multiple ISO standards, and PCI DSS.
Physically, our devices are very robust, and cryptographic credentials are encrypted and protected in the hardware, making them inaccessible even with physical access to the circuit. Furthermore, our devices receive permanent firmware updates (OTAs), ensuring they are always at their most advanced version, adding new functionalities, improvements, or bug fixes without interrupting their operation.
Finally, our systems offer absolute traceability of accesses, allowing real-time consultation of who accessed, where, when, and how.
In which areas is your model most widely implemented?
Traditionally, the area where our solutions have been most widely implemented is in the category of tourist apartments. This is the sector with the most evident pain points, and for which our solutions have been a true revolution by allowing 100% automation of the check-in process.
However, the categories in which we have experienced the most notable growth in the past year are co-living spaces (due to the rise of this type of asset) and offices (where smart access is significantly increasing operational efficiency).
Could you share a significant success story for the company?
We publish monthly success stories of clients from all categories we operate in on our social media (YouTube, LinkedIn, and X). I invite you to follow us and discover them.
You will see, for example, how CREC Coworking can now offer 24/7 access in their coworking spaces; how Badi has gained operational efficiency, security, and better user experience thanks to remote management of their co-living spaces; and how Clink Rooms & Flats (recently rebranded as Concept Flats) has scaled their operations and managed their portfolio of tourist apartments in Valencia completely remotely.
How are users adapting to this new approach?
Our clients constantly report that Akiles users are very satisfied. The solution provides them with autonomy and convenience, eliminating dependency on third parties.
We are aware that some less tech-savvy users might prefer traditional methods, so our systems also offer alternatives to mobile use, such as manual PIN code entry on devices or the use of NFC cards.
“Our strategic plan aims to surpass 10 million in revenue over the next 2 years”
This flexibility ensures that all users can benefit from our solutions, regardless of their comfort level with technology.
What stage is Akiles currently in? What is your international presence, business volume, and medium-term outlook?
Akiles is in a very sweet spot, with double-digit growth year after year. Despite our commercial efforts focusing on Spain – where there is still a lot of market to open – we have presence across Europe, as well as in countries like Dubai, Panama, and the USA.
This is due – besides the growing interest in our solutions – to the fact that we have clients with geographically dispersed asset portfolios and in full expansion.
Although our business has been aimed at companies (B2B) from the start, the demand from end-users is increasing, leading us to explore the possibility of entering the B2C market.
As for business volume and forecasts, our strategic plan aims to exceed 10 million in revenue in the next 2 years.
Will cloud-based access control prevail and will we permanently abandon physical keys?
If there is one sure thing, it is that it makes no sense to continue with all the disadvantages that traditional access management generates: inconvenience, inefficiency, and insecurity.
However, the adoption of Cloud access control technology will depend on the needs and ambitions of each person or sector.
While many users and businesses will decide to adopt it, aware of its potential, some will continue to prefer physical keys out of habit and familiarity.
The key will be to offer, as we have done so far, a superior, frictionless experience, as well as solutions that adapt to all types of users. This will eliminate entry barriers and contribute to wider adoption of this technology.