by Baldev S. Gill, Chief Executive Officer
Sentrilock will be retiring the SentriCard as a means of access, and the card will no longer function to open lockbox key compartments, effective January 1, 2022. The vast majority of Sentrilock’s customers, including FVREB members, have migrated from the SentriCard to the SentriKey® Real Estate app to access lockboxes for showings. SentriCards have not been issued to new FVREB members since April 1, 2021. Instead, new users have been using ONLY the SentriKey app, which works with both the Bluetooth and non-Bluetooth type lockboxes.
Why are the SentriCards being Retired?
Smart card technology, while innovative at the time of introduction, is reaching the end of its life cycle, resulting in Sentrilock experiencing numerous challenges such as:
- Industry-wide difficulty in acquiring key components used in smart cards.
- Inability to develop new, highly desirable features that will work with smart cards.
- Natural migration of customers to the superior Bluetooth® connectivity and app-only environment.
Sentrilock is keeping a keen eye toward the future while staying firmly committed to providing the best overall customer experience, which means some technologies must be retired as newer more efficient solutions become available.
What you need to know
Effective January 1, 2022, agents will no longer be able to use the SentriCard for lockbox access. However, those who own a lockbox will be able to use the card, if necessary, only for certain basic ownership functions until January 1, 2024. These functions include:
- Taking or transferring ownership of a lockbox
- Releasing the shackle
- Assigning the lockbox to a listing
- Borrowing the lockbox from a broker
Looking ahead to 2024
In the next stage of the retirement process, the SentriCard will be fully disabled on January 1, 2024, at which time the card will not be usable for any lockbox functions.
Keep in mind that early generation, non-Bluetooth® enabled lockboxes (navy-colored boxes) will remain functional beyond January 1, 2024, however any settings will be locked in and remain static for its remaining life cycle.
Questions:
If you have any questions about these changes or need assistance with downloading or setting up your SentriKey app, please contact our Lockbox Services Lead Raj Virk or 604-930-7640.
UPDATE: Important clarification regarding SentriKey
As announced in eMemo #4138, SentriLock will retire the SentriCard on January 1, 2022, after which members will need to use the SentriKey Real Estate app to open SentriLock boxes. To maintain uninterrupted operation, the SentriKey app should be accessed at least once every 24 hours to keep your credentials updated. To do so, simply open the app while in Wi-Fi/data range. This will ensure that the app is authenticated and ready to use when you need it.
For Bluetooth lockboxes, accessing the app every day while in Wi-Fi/data range allows SentriKey to open Bluetooth lockboxes even while out of cell coverage. For non-Bluetooth lockboxes, accessing the app every day will generate the code. But if you are going to a showing in remote area, then listing agents need to schedule an appointment while in Wi-Fi/data range using the My Schedule function in the SentriKey app. This way, even if the app detects low or no cellular coverage in remote areas, a mobile code will still be generated.
More details can be found at the following links:
- Lockbox Tips: How to access a lockbox without data/Wi-Fi
- How to open a lockbox (English)
- How to open a lockbox (Punjabi)
Post updated on October 14, 2021.