Smart Lock Integration

Connect smart locks to HelloShift for mobile key access — supported locks, setup guides, and troubleshooting.

Overview

The Seam Device Hub allows you to connect and manage smart locks from multiple providers (August, Yale, Schlage, and more) through a single unified interface. This integration enables automatic key code generation, device-to-room mapping, and master code management for your property.

What is Seam?

Seam is a unified API platform that connects to various smart lock manufacturers, allowing you to manage all your smart locks in one place regardless of the brand. Instead of managing multiple separate integrations, Seam provides a single connection point.

Supported Lock Providers

  • August

  • Yale

  • Schlage

  • Kwikset

  • SmartThings

  • And many more

Getting Started

Step 1: Connect Your Devices

  1. Navigate to Integrations in your site settings

  2. Find the Seam Integration section

  3. Click the "Connect Devices" button

You'll be redirected to Seam's secure login page where you can:

  • Log in with your smart lock provider (August, Yale, Schlage, etc.)

  • Your devices will be automatically synced to HelloShift

  • You can then map devices to rooms and issue access codes to guests

Step 2: View and Manage Your Devices

After connecting, you'll see the DEVICES tab showing all your synced smart locks:

Each device displays:

  • Device Name: The name of your smart lock

  • Provider: Lock manufacturer (e.g., August)

  • Location: Physical location of the device

  • Mapped Locations: Which room(s) this device controls

  • Status: Online/Offline indicator

  • Battery: Current battery level

  • Actions: Map button to assign device to rooms

Available Actions:

  • Sync Devices: Refresh the device list from Seam

  • Disconnect: Remove the Seam connection

  • Map: Assign a device to one or more room locations

Step 3: Map Devices to Rooms

Click the "Map" button next to any device to assign it to room locations:

Mapping Features:

  • Select All Locations: Quickly assign a device to all rooms (useful for master entry doors)

  • Multi-Room Selection: Assign one device to multiple rooms

  • Flexible Mapping: Use this for devices that control access to multiple units

Common Use Cases:

  • Front Door: Map to all rooms so guests entering the building can access it

  • Individual Units: Map each unit's lock to its specific room

  • Shared Spaces: Map common area locks to relevant rooms

Click "Save Mapping" to store your configuration.

Master Codes

Master codes are permanent or time-limited access codes that work on multiple devices. These are useful for staff, maintenance, or emergency access.

Viewing Master Codes

Navigate to the MASTER CODES tab to see all existing master codes:

The master codes table shows:

  • Name: Descriptive name (e.g., "Front Desk", "Housekeeping")

  • Code: The PIN code

  • Time Bound: Ongoing or One-Time (time-limited)

  • Devices: Which devices this code works on

  • Actions: Delete button

Creating a Master Code

Click the "+ Add Master Code" button to create a new master code:

Required Fields:

  1. Name: Give your master code a descriptive name (e.g., "Inspector", "Maintenance Team")

  2. PIN Code: Enter a code or leave blank to auto-generate

  3. Assign to Devices: Select which devices this code should work on

    • Use "Select All Devices" for property-wide access

    • Or select individual devices for limited access

Optional Settings:

  • Time Limited Access: Check this box to set start/end times for temporary access

    • Useful for contractors, temporary staff, or scheduled inspections

    • Code automatically becomes inactive after the end time

Click "Create Master Code" to activate the code on all selected devices.

Master Code Best Practices

Ongoing Master Codes:

  • Front desk staff access

  • Housekeeping teams

  • Property management

  • Emergency services

Time-Limited Master Codes:

  • Contractors and vendors

  • Inspectors

  • Temporary maintenance staff

  • Event access

Deleting Master Codes

Click the "Delete" button next to any master code to revoke it from all devices. This immediately removes the code's access.

Guest Access Codes

Automatic Code Generation

Once devices are mapped to rooms, HelloShift can automatically generate access codes for guests:

Automation Options:

  1. Navigate to Guest Automations

  2. Activate the "Issue-Key" automation for arrival day

  3. Activate the "Revoke-Key" automation for departure day

Codes will be:

  • Generated automatically on arrival day (default: 3:00 PM)

  • Valid from check-in to check-out times

  • Sent to guests via SMS/email

  • Automatically revoked on departure day (default: 11:00 AM)

Manual Code Generation

For immediate access or special situations:

  1. Open the guest's reservation details

  2. Find the "KeyCode" section

  3. Select "Issue Code" to generate a new code or “Extend Code” to extend existing keycode.

  4. Check the box “Send code to guest via message” to notify the guest

  5. The code will be displayed in format: KeyCode: 1234

Manual Controls:

  • Issue Code: Generate access code immediately

  • Extend Code: Extend an existing access code

  • Revoke Code: Remove access immediately

  • View Code: See the current PIN for the guest

Code Security

All access codes are:

  • Unique per reservation

  • Time-bounded to the guest's stay dates

  • Automatically revoked after checkout

The one exception is the backup code below: a shared code, sent only when issuing a guest their own key fails.

Backup Code

Occasionally HelloShift cannot get a guest a working key — Seam rejects the request, the connection has expired, or the lock is offline and the code never finishes loading onto it. Without a backup, the guest arrives with no code at all.

Set a backup code and HelloShift will send one of your master codes instead, so the guest still gets into the room. The failure is still reported in the guest conversation, so your team can fix the underlying cause.

Create a master code first

The backup is one of your master codes. Before setting this up, create one on the MASTER CODES tab:

  • Name it something like HelloShift Backup rather than reusing a staff code. This PIN goes out to guests, so you will want to change it without disturbing anyone’s own access — and it keeps your access log clear about which entries came from the backup.

  • Use Select All Devices so the code covers every lock. The backup is only sent when it opens every device on that guest’s stay, shared front doors included — a code missing one of their locks is never used.

  • Leave Time Limited Access unchecked. An expired code is never used as a backup.

Set the backup code

Still on the MASTER CODES tab, find the Backup Code panel below the master codes table. Pick your code from the Master code list and click Save Backup Code.

Once saved, the panel names the code in use and how many devices it covers. If any mapped room has a lock the code cannot open, the panel lists those rooms — add their devices to the master code, then choose it again.

If you delete a master code, any backup pointing at it goes away with it. Set the backup again after replacing the code, or the property is left without one.

When the backup is sent

HelloShift falls back to the backup in two situations:

  • Issuing the key fails. The guest receives the backup PIN in their key message instead of a code of their own.

  • The key was issued but never worked. No PIN came back from the lock provider, or the code never finished loading onto the locks. HelloShift switches the stay to the backup and, if the guest already received the dead code, re-sends the key message — so nobody is left at the door with a PIN that does not open it.

Either way, a note in the guest conversation records what failed and which code went out. Re-issuing the key successfully replaces the backup with a normal, guest-specific code.

Before you turn this on

A backup code is a shared code. It is a deliberate trade-off — a guest who can get into their room versus a code that is not unique to them:

  • Every guest who hits a failure receives the same PIN.

  • It opens every device on that master code.

  • Revoking a guest’s key does not change it, so a past guest keeps a working code until you rotate it.

Rotate the code once it has been handed out — delete the master code, create a replacement with a new PIN, and select that one in the Backup Code panel. Treat repeated backup fallbacks as a signal to fix the real cause rather than a steady state.

To turn the backup off, choose None — do not send a backup code and save. Guests will then receive no code when key issuing fails.

Troubleshooting

Device Shows Offline

Causes:

  • Lock batteries are dead

  • Lock is out of WiFi/network range

  • Smart lock bridge/hub is offline

Solutions:

  1. Check battery levels in the Devices tab

  2. Verify lock is connected to WiFi

  3. Ensure bridge device is powered on

  4. Click "Sync Devices" to refresh status

Code Not Working

Possible Issues:

  • Code hasn't synced to lock yet (locks may be offline during sync)

  • Guest is trying code before valid start time

  • Code has expired (past departure date)

  • Device is not mapped to the room

Solutions:

  1. Issue codes 24 hours in advance when possible

  2. Check device is online and synced

  3. Verify room-to-device mapping is correct

  4. Re-issue the code if needed

Failed to Connect to Seam

Solutions:

  1. Verify you're using the correct smart lock provider credentials

  2. Check that your smart lock account is active

  3. Ensure your locks are set up in the manufacturer's app first

  4. Try disconnecting and reconnecting

Device Not Syncing

Solutions:

  1. Click "Sync Devices" manually

  2. Check your Seam connection status

  3. Verify the device appears in your lock provider's app

  4. Disconnect and reconnect to Seam if issues persist

Best Practices

Initial Setup

  1. Connect to Seam and sync all devices first

  2. Map each device to its corresponding room(s) before guests arrive

  3. Create master codes for staff access

  4. Test a code generation with a test reservation

  5. Enable automations for automatic code issuance

Ongoing Management

  • Review battery levels weekly

  • Update device mappings when rooms change

  • Audit master codes monthly and remove unused codes

  • Keep time-limited master codes for temporary access needs

  • Monitor device online status daily

Guest Experience

  • Issue codes 24 hours before arrival when possible

  • Include code in pre-arrival messages

  • Provide code format clearly (e.g., "Your door code is: 1234")

  • Set up arrival day automation for seamless check-in

  • Ensure codes are revoked promptly after checkout

Security Notes

  • Access codes are unique per reservation

  • Master codes should be rotated regularly (change every 3-6 months)

  • Time-limited master codes are preferred over ongoing codes for non-staff

  • Devices must be online to receive new codes

Getting Help

If you encounter issues not covered in this guide:

  • Contact HelloShift support

  • Check the Seam status page for API issues

  • Review your smart lock provider's support documentation

  • Verify your locks are functioning in the manufacturer's app first

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