Smart key cabinets for controlled pickup & return.
Nova is a commercial physical key cabinet for hotels, serviced apartments, property teams and staff key handovers. Store keys in individual compartments and keep a record of pickup and return. Phone and tablet compartments are custom-built on request.
Best for a shared collection point in a building, reception area or staff office. Nova stores physical keys; it does not replace a door lock or manage encryption keys.
Small assets, big headaches.
Keys, scanners, radios, tablets and tools move between people all day. A logbook and a drawer can't tell you where they are.
No accountability
Paper logs get skipped. When something goes missing, nobody knows who had it or when.
Staff tied to the handover
Every key or device handover needs a person at a desk — after hours, weekends, early arrivals.
Losses and replacements
Lost keys mean re-keying. Missing devices and tools get re-purchased instead of returned.
Not just a key cabinet.
The same touchscreen, access methods and cloud platform power every Nova cabinet. Only the compartments change — sized to whatever you need to control.
Wherever assets change hands.
Hotels & short-term rentals
24/7 guest key and keycard pick-up with booking code or PIN. No front-desk wait.
Property management
Unit keys for contractors, cleaners and viewings — time-limited access, full log.
Car rental & dealerships
One slot per vehicle key. After-hours pick-up and return, no disputes.
Corporate & IT
Laptops, phones, tablets and test devices issued by NFC badge.
Factories & warehouses
Scanners, PDAs, radios and tools checked out per shift — know what's out.
Hospitals & clinics
Small equipment and controlled-area keys with role-based access.
Schools & campuses
Shared tablets and laptops for students, lab keys for staff.
Facilities & security
Master keys and access cards with permission levels and overdue alerts.
Fits the front desk. Fits the back office.
Slim, wall-mounted and installed in minutes — the cabinet looks at home in a hotel lobby as much as in a rental office or IT room.
Apartment & short-term rental lobby
Guests and residents collect keys 24/7 with a booking code or PIN — no one has to be at the desk.
Office & IT
Keys, phones and tablets in one cabinet. Staff tap their badge, the right compartment opens.
Property management
Hand over keys, remotes and access-card sets to contractors and new tenants — no office visit needed.
Building entrance, outdoors
Matte black finish with an optional rain visor for covered outdoor walls.
Compartments that fit the item
Flat key compartments and tall compartments for phones and scanners, each with its own electronic lock.
10.1" touchscreen + NFC
Enter a PIN or booking code, or tap a badge on the NFC reader below the screen.
Seconds at the cabinet. A full record in the cloud.
Identify
PIN, NFC badge, QR code or booking number on the touchscreen.
Slot opens
Only the compartment this user is allowed to open pops open.
Take or return
Door sensors confirm the slot was opened and closed again.
Logged & alerted
Who, what, when — recorded. Overdue items trigger an alert.
From booking to key pickup, without a front desk.
Live demo: Nova × Smoobu (2 min)
A booking arrives, the guest gets a PIN by email and opens the compartment. Reschedule or cancel in Smoobu and the PIN follows.
Built in our own factory
Inside the production and export line where every Nova cabinet is assembled and tested.
Need something bigger? We build it.
A custom locker wall built for a client: 90+ compartments around a central touchscreen, with glass-front doors for larger items. In daily use in a public building.
- Any size and layout, from one cabinet to a full wall
- Mix key, phone, parcel and glass-front compartments
- Your branding, or none at all
- Made in our own factory, same cloud platform and API
Two sides of every handover.
👷 Admin / staff — loading assets
- Tap NFC badgeStaff log in at the cabinet with their employee card.
- Choose the asset or assignmente.g. Room 301, Van 12, Scanner #14.
- Slot opensThe assigned compartment pops open automatically.
- Load & closeSystem records slot, asset, staff ID and time.
🙋 User / guest — pick-up & return
- IdentifyPIN, booking number, QR code or NFC badge.
- VerifiedChecked against the cloud in real time — or an offline PIN.
- Take the assetOnly the right compartment opens.
- ReturnDrop it back; the admin sees it instantly. Late? An alert is sent.
Pick a size and what you store.
Standard sizes from 6 to 174 compartments. Mix key, phone and tablet compartments in the same cabinet — we send the drawing and quote.
1 · What will you store?
2 · Choose a size
Phone and tablet compartments are built on request. Send us this configuration and we'll confirm the layout, lead time and price.
Quote this configuration →Drawn to scale. Compact sizes have the screen on top: C6 and C12 are 0.47 m and 0.68 m tall, C18 and up 0.90 m; tall sizes are 1.32 m with the screen at eye level. Need a different number of compartments? Tell us — we pick the closest layout.
One design, the size you need.
Slim wall-mounted cabinets, 160 mm deep, with a 10.1" touchscreen. Compact sizes for reception desks and entrances, tall sizes for larger buildings and fleets.
Compartment types
All standard sizes
| Model | Key compartments* | Height | W × H × D (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C6 | 6 | Compact | 345 × 468 × 160 |
| C12 | 12 | Compact | 345 × 682 × 160 |
| C18 | 18 | Compact | 345 × 896 × 160 |
| T30 | 30 | Tall | 345 × 1,324 × 160 |
| C42 | 42 | Compact | 690 × 896 × 160 |
| C66 | 66 | Compact | 1,035 × 896 × 160 |
| T66 | 66 | Tall | 690 × 1,324 × 160 |
| C90 | 90 | Compact | 1,380 × 896 × 160 |
| T102 | 102 | Tall | 1,035 × 1,324 × 160 |
| C114 | 114 | Compact | 1,725 × 896 × 160 |
| T138 | 138 | Tall | 1,380 × 1,324 × 160 |
| T174 | 174 | Tall | 1,725 × 1,324 × 160 |
* All key compartments. Swap any 6 key compartments for 2 phone compartments or 1 tablet compartment. Highlighted: most popular.
| Standard specification | |
|---|---|
| Display | 10.1" touchscreen, 1280 × 800, multi-language |
| Controller | Quad-core RK3568, Android 11 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi + Ethernet; 4G module optional |
| Access | PIN, NFC card, remote opening |
| Locks | Pop-open lock and door sensor in every compartment |
| Emergency | Mechanical release; locks stay closed during a power cut |
| Depth | 160 mm cabinet, 120 mm compartments |
| Mounting | Wall-mounted, or floor stand (option) |
| Colours | White or black; custom colours and logo (OEM) |
| Certification | CE · FCC |
| Cloud platform | Included, first year free |
Options
Manage every cabinet from one dashboard.
Every cabinet includes 1 year of free access to the Nova Cloud platform — dashboard, remote control, audit log, alerts and API.
One web dashboard for every cabinet, site and asset type. Works on desktop and mobile.
Live slot map
See what's in, what's out and what's overdue across all cabinets and sites.
Users & permissions
Decide who can open which compartment, and when. Time-limited codes for visitors.
Full audit log
Every open, take and return with user, slot and timestamp. Export to CSV.
Remote open
Someone locked out? Open any slot from your phone or laptop.
Alerts
Overdue returns, door left open, cabinet offline — notified in seconds.
Offline mode
Pre-issued PINs keep working if the network drops; events sync later.
Open API. Connect your systems.
Ready-made connections: Smoobu, Beds24 and Apaleo. Every confirmed booking gets its own guest PIN for the right compartment, valid from check-in to check-out; changes and cancellations update it automatically.
Any other PMS, booking engine, ERP or HR system can do the same through the API: assign compartments, issue and revoke codes, and receive pick-up and return events.
- REST API with documentation and a free sandbox
- Webhooks for real-time events
- Open compartments and manage codes programmatically
- Device-level lock protocol for in-house software
// Give a guest a PIN for room 101's key PUT /api/v1/grants/RES-10045 { "cabinet_id": "CAB-0001", "compartment_label": "101", "credential": { "type": "pin" }, "valid_from": "2026-11-20T14:00:00+01:00", "valid_to": "2026-11-22T11:00:00+01:00" } // Webhook when the key is picked up { "type": "item.collected", "compartment_label": "101" }
vs. a logbook and a drawer
A paper log and a key drawer depend on someone being there and on everyone writing things down. Nova does both for you, around the clock.
| Manual | Nova | |
|---|---|---|
| Available 24/7 without staff | ✗ | ✓ |
| Know who has which item, right now | ✗ | ✓ |
| Per-user, per-slot permissions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Overdue alerts | ✗ | ✓ |
| Remote open from any device | ✗ | ✓ |
| Integrates with your systems | ✗ | ✓ |
| Your brand on the cabinet (OEM) | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Who is a Nova smart key cabinet suitable for?
Nova is designed for commercial physical key pickup and return: hotels, serviced apartments, property teams and staff key handovers. A convenient shared collection point in a building, reception area or staff office is important. For scattered properties with no practical pickup point, first check whether a cabinet fits the workflow.
How do staff load assets?
Staff tap their NFC badge, choose the room, vehicle or asset on the screen, and the assigned compartment opens. The system records slot, asset, staff ID and time.
Which languages does the screen support?
English, French, Arabic, Spanish and German out of the box. More languages on request.
Can I put my own brand on it?
Yes. OEM / white-label covers the cabinet front, screen UI and dashboard.
Is Nova a door lock, a small key safe or encryption software?
No. Nova is a multi-compartment cabinet for storing and handing over physical keys or keycards. It is not a replacement door lock or a software system for managing encryption keys. Custom phone and tablet compartments are available on request.
What information helps you assess a pilot?
Tell us the country, installation location, number of keys, who will collect them and how handovers work today. If booking-system integration is needed, include the system name so we can confirm the connection requirements. You do not need to send guest names, access codes or other private guest data.
Can it only store keys?
Key compartments are standard. Phone compartments (for phones, scanners and radios) and tablet compartments are built on request and can be mixed with key compartments in the same cabinet, on the same screen and software. Tell us what you need to store and we'll confirm the layout and price.
Which sizes are available?
Standard sizes hold 6, 12, 18, 30, 42, 66, 90, 102, 114, 138 or 174 key compartments. C6 and C12 are small single-column units for B&Bs and small apartment buildings (0.47 m and 0.68 m tall). Other compact sizes are 0.90 m tall with the screen on top; tall sizes are 1.32 m with the screen at eye level. For other numbers we pick the closest layout.
Can I mix compartment sizes in one cabinet?
Yes. Any 6 key compartments (145 × 65 mm) can be swapped for 2 phone compartments (145 × 205 mm) or 1 tablet compartment (295 × 205 mm). All are 120 mm deep. We send a drawing with your quote.
What if the internet goes down?
The cabinet connects over WiFi or Ethernet, with an optional 4G module for sites without a network. If the connection drops, pre-issued offline PINs still work and events sync when it is back.
What if the power fails?
Every cabinet has a mechanical emergency lock so authorized staff can always open it.
Can it connect to our PMS / ERP / booking system?
Yes, via REST API and webhooks. We share API documentation during the quotation stage and can support the integration.
What's the minimum order?
You can start with a single pilot unit. Volume pricing applies from 10 units. OEM / white-label projects usually start from 20–50 units.
What is included with the hardware?
Every cabinet ships with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, NFC reader, Wi-Fi + Ethernet (4G optional), a mechanical emergency release and 1 year of free access to the Nova Cloud platform. Options are added at order time.
Is it certified?
Yes. Nova cabinets are CE and FCC certified. Certificates and compliance documents are provided with your quote.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, worldwide by air or sea. EXW and DDP quotes available.
How much does a smart key cabinet cost?
Single-unit factory prices (EXW) start from USD 610 for the Nova C6 (6 keys), USD 750 for the C12 and USD 910 for the C18. A 42-key C42 starts from USD 1,530. Prices drop from 3 and from 10 units. Shipping, import duty and VAT are extra, or we quote door-to-door (DDP). The first year of the Nova Cloud platform is included.
Which booking and property management systems does Nova work with?
Ready-made connections for Smoobu, Beds24 and Apaleo: every confirmed booking automatically gets its own guest PIN for the right compartment, and the PIN follows reschedules and cancellations. Any other system can connect through the REST API and webhooks.
Is Nova suitable for Airbnb hosts and holiday rentals?
Yes. The Nova C6 and C12 are small wall-mounted cabinets made for B&Bs, holiday apartments and small buildings. Guests receive a PIN by email before arrival and collect the key 24/7, so nobody has to wait at the property.
How does self check-in with a key cabinet work?
1. A booking arrives in your PMS or channel manager. 2. Nova Cloud creates a PIN that is valid only for that stay. 3. The guest receives the PIN by email. 4. At the cabinet the guest enters the PIN and only their compartment opens. 5. Every opening is logged, and the PIN expires at check-out.
Who makes the Nova key cabinet?
SwiftForce Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. in Suzhou, China. We design and build the cabinets in our own factory, develop the Nova Cloud software in-house, and ship to customers worldwide.
Tell us what you need to control.
We reply within 48 hours with a proposed configuration, drawing, price and lead time.
- 1-year cloud platform included free
- CE & FCC certified
- Pilot from 1 unit
- Key compartments as standard; other sizes on request
- OEM / white-label available
- API documentation on request
- EXW and DDP pricing
