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Smart Locks & Access Control: Engineered for security and user experience

The future of access is seamless and secure. We provide the core technology and engineering expertise to help you build next-generation smart locks, secure vehicle entry, and seamless access control systems.
needCode IoT

We work with Industry Leaders

The challenges of Smart Locks & Access Control

Building a new-generation access solution is a multi-faceted challenge. Without a deep understanding of core technologies and security standards, projects can compromise on the very things that matter most.

Security vulnerabilities

Traditional access systems, including older smart locks based on BLE alone, are vulnerable to relay attacks and spoofing. Without secure ranging protocols, these systems can be easily bypassed, exposing critical assets to risk.

Complex integration

Building a secure, interoperable system that works with diverse technologies like BLE, UWB, and RFID, and adheres to evolving standards like Aliro, Matter, and CCC, is a major technical hurdle.

Inconvenient user experience

Users expect seamless, hands-free access. Solutions that require manual interaction, such as tapping a phone or key fob, fall short of modern expectations and can create friction in everyday use.

Certification and compliance

The process of ensuring a smart lock or access system is compliant with security standards and industry regulations, like those from the FiRa Consortium, is complex and costly without a proven foundation

Our solutions

We provide the fundamental technology and expertise needed to build a competitive and secure access solution. Our approach is based on a modular architecture that ensures both security and user experience are prioritized from day one.

01

Data acquisition and secure communication

UWB for secure ranging

We leverage Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to achieve centimeter-level accuracy and secure ranging. This is critical for preventing relay attacks by cryptographically verifying the physical proximity of an authorized device, a feature older technologies cannot provide.

Multi-protocol support

Our solutions are engineered to support a mix of protocols. We combine UWB for precision and security with BLE for cost-effective, wide-coverage tracking, and can integrate with RFID, creating a versatile and resilient network.

Hardware security modules (HSM)

We design our solutions with security in mind, implementing Hardware Security Modules (HSM) and Secure Elements (SE) to protect cryptographic keys and ensure tamper-proof operation.

02

Intelligence and user experience

Intent-based access

Our systems use a Multi-Sensor Fusion Engine that combines UWB's precise location with other sensor data to intelligently interpret a user's intent. This allows for a truly seamless, hands-free "walk-up-and-unlock" experience.

Local automation rules

We can implement Local Automation Rules Engines that trigger events—such as unlocking a door when a user is within a specific range—without relying on the cloud, ensuring instant, low-latency responses and reliable operation during network outages.

Unified API layer

Our API Gateway & Integration Layer acts as a centralized access point for all access data. This simplifies integration with your existing user applications, management systems, and other enterprise platforms, ensuring a seamless flow of information.

What we bring to your project

We don't sell a finished product; we provide the technology and expertise to build one. Our partnership is flexible, allowing us to engage at any stage of your product's lifecycle.

01

Defining the blueprint

  • Feasibility analysis
    We begin with a deep dive into your product idea, from automotive access to smart home entry. We define the optimal technology stack (UWB vs. BLE vs. a hybrid model) and help you navigate industry standards like Aliro and the FiRa Consortium.
  • Prototyping & validation
    We design and build a working proof of concept (PoC) to validate the core functionality of your smart lock or access system. This allows you to test the technology, user experience, and security in a controlled environment, minimizing upfront risk and accelerating the path to an MVP.

02

Custom product development

  • Hardware modules
    We engineer custom, miniaturized hardware modules using chips like Qorvo QM33 and QM35. Our expertise covers everything from antenna design to power optimization, ensuring your hardware is both compact and robust.
  • Firmware and software
    We develop the core firmware that powers your smart lock, implementing advanced power management, secure ranging protocols, and custom application layers. We also build the software backend and API layers that ensure seamless integration with your mobile application and cloud services.
  • Testing and certification support
    Our services include rigorous end-to-end testing and support for certification processes. We ensure your product aligns with wireless regulations (CE/RED) and industry-specific security standards, helping you to avoid costly rework and accelerate your time-to-market.

Where our solutions fit

Our expertise applies across a diverse range of sectors, enabling you to create transformative, secure access solutions.

Automotive

  • Secure keyless entry
    We engineer systems that use UWB's secure ranging to provide a seamless, hands-free "walk-up-and-unlock" experience, while preventing relay attacks.
  • Vehicle anti-theft
    Our solutions can confirm the physical presence of an authorized key inside the vehicle before the engine starts, mitigating common theft vectors.

Smart buildings & cities

  • Enterprise access control
    We design and deploy UWB-based access control systems for office buildings, data centers, and restricted areas, providing superior security, precision, and reliability over older technologies.
  • Visitor management
    Our systems can streamline visitor check-in, temporary credentialing, and real-time location monitoring within an access-controlled environment.

Consumer & smart homes

  • Seamless home entry
    We provide the technology for smart locks that can intelligently interpret a user's intent to open a door based on their approach, speed, and orientation, creating a truly invisible access experience.
  • Elderly care
    We can use UWB radar for non-contact, privacy-preserving monitoring to detect falls and monitor activity levels, providing peace of mind for caregivers.

Case studies

Read more on our Blog

Testimonials

“I think the key takeaway from needCode is their ability to adapt and understand the customer's requirements. That took away probably a large portion of what could have been a lot of development time and expense for both companies.”
Bob Folkestad
Bob Folkestad
President at Creative Werks
“One aspect that truly sets needCode apart is its profound expertise in firmware development. Their proficiency in various programming languages, embedded systems and hardware architecture is truly impressive. When faced with difficult problems, their strong problem-solving skills and analytical mindset shine through, allowing them to overcome obstacles with remarkable ease.”
avatar Semeh Sarhan
Semeh Sarhan
CEO at Xtrava
“I worked with needCode while leading the NWTN-Berlin team in 2018. A big chunk for our FW development has been outsourced to them and they had proven to iterate very quickly, following specs and deliver on time. It was great working with them. I recommend working with needCode’s team on any Embedded SW development.”
avatar Marco Salvioli Mariani
Marco Salvioli Mariani
CTO at NWTN Berlin GmbH
“needCode Team proved to be one of the best engineers I have ever met. The part I like the most about the team is the more difficult an obstacle seems to be, the more motivated they were to find a solution and a way forward.”
A Testimonial picture
Szymon Słupnik
CTO at Silvair
“needCode is an outstanding partner. Their quick follow-up, scalability, and extensive professional network set them apart. Their expertise in wireless technologies has been valuable, supporting us from low-level drivers to architecture discussions.”
avatar Tim Allemeersch
Tim Allemeersch
Director at Qorvo, Inc.
“needCode did a great job improving the firmware of the Vai Kai connected toys and developing new features, surpassing our expectations multiple times. I would definitely recommend hiring Bartek and needCode for the embedded software projects!”
avatar Matas Petrikas
Matas Petrikas
CEO & Co-founder
at Vai Kai UG

Partnerships:

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Bartek Kling
Bartek Kling / CEO
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Manufacturing

Modern manufacturing machines are typically equipped with IoT sensors that capture performance data. AIoT technology analyzes this sensor data, and based on vibration patterns, the AI predicts the machine's behavior and recommends actions to maintain optimal performance. This approach is highly effective for predictive maintenance, promoting safer working environments, continuous operation, longer equipment lifespan, and less downtime. Additionally, AIoT enhances quality control on production lines.

For example, Sentinel, a monitoring system used in pharmaceutical production by IMA Pharma, employs AI to evaluate sensor data along the production line. The AI detects and improves underperforming components, ensuring efficient machine operation and maintaining high standards in drug manufacturing.

Logistics & supply chain

IoT devices - from fleet vehicles and autonomous warehouse robots to scanners and beacons - generate large amounts of data in this industry. When combined with AI, this data can be leveraged for tracking, analytics, predictive maintenance, autonomous driving, and more, offering greater visibility into logistics operations and enhancing vendor partnerships.

Example: Amazon employs over 750,000 autonomous mobile robots to assist warehouse staff with heavy lifting, delivery, and package handling tasks. Other examples include AI-powered IoT devices such as cameras, RFID sensors, and beacons that help monitor goods' movement and track products within warehouses and during transportation. AI algorithms can also estimate arrival times and forecast delays by analyzing traffic conditions.

Retail

IoT sensors monitor movement and customer flow within a building, while AI algorithms analyze this data to offer insights into traffic patterns and product preferences. This information enhances understanding of customer behavior, helps prevent stockouts, and improves customer analytics to drive sales. Furthermore, AIoT enables retailers to deliver personalized shopping experiences by leveraging geographical data and individual shopping preferences.

For instance, IoT sensors track movement and customer flow, and AI algorithms process this information to reveal insights into traffic patterns and product preferences. This ultimately leads to better customer understanding, stockout prevention, and enhanced sales analytics.

Agriculture

Recent research by Continental reveals that over 27% of surveyed farmers utilize drones for aerial land analysis. These devices capture images of crops as they are and transmit them to a dashboard for further assessment. However, AI can enhance this process even further.

For example, AIoT-powered drones can photograph crops at various growth stages, assess plant health, detect diseases, and recommend optimal harvesting strategies to maximize yield. Additionally, these drones can be employed for targeted crop treatments, irrigation monitoring and management, soil health analysis, and more.

Smart Cities

Smart cities represent another domain where AIoT applications can enhance citizens' well-being, facilitate urban infrastructure planning, and guide future city development. In addition to traffic management, IoT devices equipped with AI can monitor energy consumption patterns, forecast demand fluctuations, and dynamically optimize energy distribution. AI-powered surveillance cameras and sensors can identify suspicious activities, monitor crowd density, and alert authorities to potential security threats in real-time, improving public safety and security.

For example, an AIoT solution has been implemented in Barcelona to manage water and energy sustainably. The city has installed IoT sensors across its water supply system to gather water pressure, flow rate, and quality data. AI algorithms analyze this information to identify leaks and optimize water usage. Similarly, smart grids have been introduced to leverage AI to predict demand and distribute energy efficiently, minimizing waste and emissions. As a result, these initiatives have enabled the city to reduce water waste by 25%, increase renewable energy usage by 17%, and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 19%.

Healthcare

Integrating AI and IoT in healthcare enables hospitals to deliver remote patient care more efficiently while reducing the burden on facilities. Additionally, AI can be used in clinical trials to preprocess data collected from sensors across extensive target and control groups.

For example, intelligent wearable technologies enable doctors to monitor patients remotely. In real-time, sensors collect vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. AI algorithms then analyze this data, assisting doctors in detecting issues early, developing personalized treatment plans, and enhancing patient outcomes.

Smart Homes

The smart home ecosystem encompasses smart thermostats, locks, security cameras, energy management systems, heating, lighting, and entertainment systems. AI algorithms analyze data from these devices to deliver context-specific recommendations tailored to each user. This enables homeowners to use utilities more efficiently, create a personalized living space, and achieve sustainability goals.

For example, LifeSmart offers a comprehensive suite of AI-powered IoT tools for smart homes, connecting new and existing intelligent appliances and allowing customers to manage them via their smartphones. Additionally, they provide an AI builder framework for deploying AI on smart devices, edge gateways, and the cloud, enabling AI algorithms to process data and user behavior autonomously.

Maintenance (Post-Release Support)

When your product is successfully launched and available on the market we provide ongoing support and maintenance services to ensure your product remains competitive and reliable. This includes prompt resolution of any reported issues through bug fixes and updates.

We continuously enhance product features based on user feedback and market insights, optimizing performance and user experience.

Our team monitors product performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and proactively addresses potential issues. This phase aims to sustain product competitiveness, ensure customer satisfaction, and support long-term success in the market.

Commercialization (From MVP to Product

Our software team focuses on completing the full product feature range, enhancing the user interface and experience, and handling all corner cases. We prepare product software across the whole lifecycle by providing all necessary procedures, such as manufacturing support and firmware upgrade.

We also finalize the product's hardware design to ensure robustness, scalability and cost-effectiveness.

This includes rigorous testing procedures to validate product performance, reliability, and security. We manage all necessary certifications and regulatory compliance requirements to ensure the product meets industry standards and legal obligations.

By the end of this phase, your product is fully prepared for mass production and commercial deployment, with all documentation and certifications in place.

Prototyping (From POC to MVP)

Our development team focuses on implementing core product features and use cases to create a functional Minimum Viable Product (MVP). We advance to refining the hardware design, moving from initial concepts to detailed PCB design allowing us to assemble first prototypes. Updated documentation from the Design phase ensures alignment with current project status. A basic test framework is established to conduct preliminary validation tests.

This prepares the product for real-world demonstrations to stakeholders, customers, and potential investors.

This phase is critical for validating market readiness and functionality before proceeding to full-scale production.

Design (From Idea to POC)

We meticulously select the optimal technology stack and hardware components based on your smart product idea with detailed use cases and feature requirements (Market Requirements Document / Business Requirements Document). Our team conducts thorough assessments of costs, performance metrics, power consumption, and resource requirements.

Deliverables include a comprehensive Product Requirements Document (PRD), detailed Software Architecture plans, an Initial Test Plan outlining validation strategies, Regulatory Compliance Analysis to ensure adherence to relevant standards, and a Proof of Concept (POC) prototype implemented on breakout boards.

This phase aims to validate the technical feasibility of your concept and establish a solid foundation for further development.

If you lack a validated idea and MRD/BRD, consider utilizing our IoT Strategic Roadmap service to gain insights into target markets, user needs, and desired functionality. Having a structured plan in the form of an IoT Strategic Roadmap before development begins is crucial to mitigate complications in subsequent product development phases.