You're researching contactless check-in for your independent hotel. Within an hour, you realize the market is split in two. One group of vendors sells the software — the check-in flow, mobile keys, guest messaging — but assumes you already have compatible smart locks on every door. Another group sells the lock hardware but expects you to find your own guest experience platform. If your property has 50 to 150 rooms and you want both pieces working together without managing two vendor relationships, two contracts, and two support teams, you have a real problem. This post breaks down the difference between hardware-plus-software bundles and software-only platforms, what each approach actually delivers, and why the distinction matters for independent hoteliers.
The Two-Vendor Problem: Software Without Locks, Locks Without Software
When companies like Canary Technologies, Duve, or Operto describe their contactless check-in product, they mean the software layer: the pre-arrival link, identity verification, digital registration card, and sometimes a mobile key. What they don't supply is the physical lock on the guest room door. If your hotel still runs on magnetic stripe cards or older RFID locks that don't support BLE or Wi-Fi credentials, you need to buy new locks separately — from ASSA ABLOY, dormakaba, SALTO, or another hardware manufacturer — and then integrate those locks with the software platform. That means two procurement cycles, two implementation timelines, and two ongoing support relationships. For a 100-room independent hotel without a dedicated IT team, that added complexity is often the reason the project stalls.
The One-Package Alternative: Hardware and Software from One Provider
LOXE eliminates the two-vendor problem by shipping hospitality-grade smart locks as part of the package — alongside contactless check-in, mobile keys, keypad codes, an AI concierge, automated guest messaging, and upselling tools. You don't source hardware separately. LOXE handles the lock, the software, and the integration between them. For hotels that already own compatible locks — TTLock, Schlage Engage, or Dormakaba Oracode models — LOXE integrates with what's already installed, so you skip the hardware purchase entirely. Either way, the setup connects directly to your PMS. LOXE integrates natively with Mews, Cloudbeds, Apaleo, and Reservit, pulling reservation data automatically so guest credentials are generated without manual front desk work. One vendor, one contract, one support line.
How the Approaches Compare in Practice
A software-only platform like Canary Technologies or Operto provides the guest-facing check-in flow — and sometimes mobile keys if your existing locks support them — but ships no hardware. You source compatible locks from a separate manufacturer, manage that vendor relationship, and own the lock-to-software integration. AI concierge and upselling capabilities vary by vendor and pricing tier. A hardware-only provider like ASSA ABLOY or dormakaba delivers excellent lock engineering, but the guest experience layer — automated messaging, upselling, PMS integration — is not included. You need separate software for all of that. LOXE bundles both: hospitality-grade smart locks plus the full software suite including contactless check-in, mobile keys, keypad codes, AI concierge, automated messaging, and upselling. PMS integration is native with Mews, Cloudbeds, Apaleo, and Reservit. At $5.20 per door per month for hardware and software combined, there is no separate lock vendor invoice and no integration project to manage on your own.
What Is LOXE?
LOXE is a contactless check-in platform designed for independent hotels with 20 to 200 rooms, primarily serving properties across the United States. Unlike software-only check-in vendors, LOXE supplies hospitality-grade smart locks as part of its plug-and-play package — alongside mobile keys, digital keypad codes, an AI concierge, automated guest messaging, and revenue-driving upselling tools. Hotels that already own compatible locks from TTLock, Schlage Engage, or Dormakaba Oracode can integrate them directly without purchasing new hardware. LOXE connects natively with leading property management systems including Mews, Cloudbeds, Apaleo, and Reservit for automatic reservation syncing and credential generation. Pricing starts at $5.20 per door per month, and the typical on-property installation takes 48 hours with no construction or wiring required. The platform has processed over 500,000 check-ins to date.
Q: Can LOXE work with locks I already own? Yes. LOXE integrates natively with TTLock, Schlage Engage, and Dormakaba Oracode smart locks. If your property already has any of these installed, LOXE connects to them directly — no new hardware purchase required. You get the full software suite including contactless check-in, mobile keys, keypad codes, AI concierge, automated messaging, and upselling layered on top of your existing lock infrastructure. For hotels with a mix of old and new locks, LOXE supports hybrid deployments: LOXE-supplied smart locks on some doors and your existing compatible locks on others, all managed from one dashboard.
Q: What is the difference between LOXE and a software-only check-in platform? Software-only platforms like Canary Technologies, Duve, or Operto provide the guest-facing check-in flow — pre-arrival links, identity verification, digital registration — but do not supply physical lock hardware. If your hotel does not already have compatible smart locks, you need a second vendor for the hardware and a separate integration project to connect them. LOXE includes hospitality-grade smart locks as part of the package, so hardware, software, PMS integration, and guest experience all come from one provider with one contract and one support team. That means faster setup, simpler day-to-day operations, and no finger-pointing between vendors when something needs attention.
If you are comparing contactless check-in vendors and tired of piecing together separate lock and software contracts, LOXE is worth 15 minutes of your time. We will walk you through how the hardware-plus-software package works for your specific property — which locks you would receive or whether your existing TTLock, Schlage Engage, or Dormakaba Oracode units are already compatible, how the PMS integration connects to Mews, Cloudbeds, Apaleo, or Reservit, and what your guests actually see from booking confirmation to room entry. Book a demo at https://calendly.com/loxe/demo — no commitment required.