What it is
A smart door lock replaces the lock on your main door with one that opens several ways — a fingerprint, a passcode, an RFID card, the app, or from anywhere over the internet. Nobody has to hide a key under a mat again, and you can let someone in without being at home.
The two types
Which one you have changes how remote access works, so it is worth knowing.
•Bluetooth Smart Lock — connects straight to your phone when you are within Bluetooth range. To use it from anywhere, connect it to a compatible Gateway. The gateway is what puts it on the internet.
•Wi-Fi Smart Lock — has Wi-Fi built in. Connect it to your home network and you can lock, unlock and check it from anywhere, with no gateway needed.
What it can do
•Lock and unlock from the app.
•Register and manage fingerprints, passcodes and RFID key cards.
•See the full operation history, with date and time — who opened the door and when.
•Set an auto-lock time so the door locks itself after a set delay.
•Turn passage mode on or off, to keep the door unlocked during busy hours.
•Adjust the lock sound.
•Calibrate the lock after installation.
Real-life example: A working couple in Gurgaon give the cook a fingerprint and the cleaner a passcode. The operation history shows who came at what time, and when the cleaner leaves the job the passcode is deleted in ten seconds — no locks changed, no keys chased.