I recently caught up with David Kaplan, of Bluesalve Partners, and Marijn van der Wal, founder of DEN Smart Home, to talk about the Den SmartStrike™ product and the awards and recognition they received during virtual CES 2021. And, what it can mean to integrators.
Maureen Jenson: Congratulations on your client, DEN Smart Home’s impressive awards and recognition during virtual CES. In addition to being named a CES® 2021 Innovation Awards Honoree, what were the other awards?
David Kaplan: Yes, we came into CES having just won a CTA Innovation Award in the Smart Home category and then at the Show received the CTA Smart Home Division Mark of Excellence Award for Emerging Home Technologies. During the course of CES we were selected by CNET for its list of, “The Hottest Products We Saw at CES 2021” and then by Popular Mechanics for its “Best of CES 2021: The Most Promising and Exciting Tech This Year”. We are pleased, but not surprised by this early recognition as it affirms our belief that the SmartStrike is a much needed and truly disruptive innovation in access control.
MJ: Tell us about the product?
David Kaplan: The DEN SmartStrike™ solution is an electric strike that is extended with embedded software. The DEN SmartStrike™ can communicate through BLE, Zigbee, Wi-fi and Z- Wave to an IOS or Android mobile device. It will also be integrated into the popular smart home platforms that are in the market today. Because the DEN SmartStrike™ is uniquely installed into your door jamb, it is invisible and the communication between the DEN Strike and the system’s server is asymmetrically encrypted to make it way more difficult to bypass.
In addition, homeowners have the freedom to choose any hardware that matches their taste and home décor.
Consumers can use the DEN SmartStrike App (iOS or Android) to have contactless access to their home, and/or grant access to others (family, service providers or caretakers) to access their home at specific times.
MJ: What are the specific smart home platforms the DEN SmartStrike™ solution will be compatible with?
David Kaplan: The roadmap is for an initial four SKUs with all four supporting Bluetooth for basic keyless access. We will then add a Bluetooth + Z-Wave SKU, then Bluetooth + Zigbee with drivers for key control platforms such as Control4, Savant and Crestron, and finally, Bluetooth + Wi-Fi for integration with networked security and voice control platforms.
MJ: What markets will you primarily be targeting?
David Kaplan: The SmartStrike is first and foremost an integration product. When we launch in Q2, the plan is to target specifically CEDIA and security integration channel dealers, distributors and buying groups. We then plan to expand into MDU and builder channels as well as specialty retail where and when appropriate.
MJ: What are some of the advantages of the DEN SmartStrike™?
Marijn van der Wal: We are calling the DEN SmartStrike™ the smartest strike plate of the future. It has five inherent advantages over its competition:
- It will be invisible and thus can match any door design, color or size.
- It will be universal and fit multiple deadbolt door situations.
- It will be compatible with all major home automation standards.
- It will be affordable
- It will be secure as a more rigid strike plate it will reduce break-ins and assure safety.
Another advantage for dealers is most door lock vendors require extensive channel inventory management (i.e., color, lever, deadbolt, touchscreen, etc.). The universality of the SmartStrike means dealers can solve more problems with fewer parts to stock. And we believe we can deliver all of that and still offer dealers and retailers a decent profit margin when they sell our hardware.
MJ: So that must make all at DEN Smart Home thrilled with so much recognition so quickly?
Marijn van der Wal: Absolutely! We were delighted when we learned we achieved a CTA Innovations Award in the Smart Home category, and even more thrilled with the additional wins and recognition. It affirms our vision of smarter, better access control and reflects the hard work of our teams in the Netherlands and United States.
For more information contact David Kaplan at: