Smart Locks for Inventory Cages
Inventory cages protect high-value stock in stockrooms and backrooms, but the padlock on the door is often opened with keys that have been copied, shared or lost over the years. When a count does not match, it is hard to say who had access, and every staff change raises the question of whether the lock needs to be replaced. MTI smart locks give inventory cages keyless access control: each employee uses an individual RFID card or fob, managers decide which cages that person can open, and Managed Access software records the activity. The Click™ Padlock is the MTI smart lock made for cages, lockers and backroom storage.
Why Inventory Cage Access Is Hard to Control
A cage is opened for picks, replenishment, cycle counts and deliveries, often by different people on different shifts. A padlock with shared keys is hard to manage in that environment:
- Copied and shared keys: keys get passed between shifts, so the number of people who can open the cage is unclear.
- Padlock changes after turnover: replacing padlocks or collecting keys becomes a routine task whenever staff leave.
- No answer after a discrepancy: if a count is off, there is nothing to show who opened the cage or when.
- Inconsistent practice across sites: each location ends up with its own system for keys and padlocks.
How the Click Padlock Provides Keyless Access to Inventory Cages
The Click Padlock is a battery-powered smart padlock. It attaches to a cage’s existing hasp the way any padlock would, with no wiring or power drops, and it opens when an authorized RFID card or fob is held to it.
- Fits existing cage hardware: the shackle is 9 mm hardened steel, available in 2-inch and 6-inch lengths. Measure the opening the shackle has to pass through before ordering.
- Individual access: managers set which cages each employee can open, so people are limited to the cages they work in.
- An activity record: Managed Access logs which credential opened which lock and when, so a manager can review activity after a count or a delivery.
- Low maintenance: two replaceable AAA batteries rated for up to 18 months, and a design for indoor and outdoor use.
When someone leaves, a manager removes their access in the software. Nothing needs to be rekeyed, and no one else is affected.
Which MTI Smart Lock Fits an Inventory Cage?
The Click Padlock is the match for most inventory cages, because wire mesh cage doors, racks and gates close with a hasp or a similar loop that a shackle can pass through. The other MTI locks are made for different closures. The Twist™ Blade Lock mounts on cabinet doors and drawers, and the Slide™ Ratchet Lock and Slide™ Push Lock are made for sliding glass doors, so none of them fit a wire mesh cage door. If your stockroom also has cabinet-style storage, such as a parts cabinet or drawer unit, the Twist Blade Lock can secure it within the same Managed Access system.
Managed Access Options for One Stockroom or Multiple Locations
Cage access usually comes down to how many people and sites are involved:
- One stockroom: RFID Keys + Locks replaces keys with programmable RFID cards and supports up to 250 credentials per lock. Add Centralized Management to administer up to 100 locks and 100 users from one station.
- On-site activity review: Managed Access Pro is a tablet-based, on-site option with 30 days of analytics and activity logs that tracks access by user and by lock.
- Cages across several locations: Managed Access Enterprise is cloud based, with remote activity tracking, one year of analytics history and a mobile interface, so a regional or head office team can oversee every site.
The Managed Access software page has more detail on each option.
Is This Right for Your Inventory Cages?
If several shifts need into the cage, turnover keeps forcing padlock changes, or you cannot show who opened a cage after a discrepancy, it is worth a closer look. Hardware stores, auto parts stores, grocery stores, and other retailers use MTI smart locks to control access to valuable stock. RTF Global can help match the padlock and a Managed Access option to your cages and sites.
Related Retail Technology Solutions
Retail Display Security
Anti-theft display solutions that let customers handle high-value merchandise while keeping it secured.
Electronic Shelf Labels
Electronic shelf labels that update shelf prices across your stores from one screen.
Inventory Cage Smart Lock FAQs
The Click Padlock closes on a standard hasp opening like any padlock, so it can usually be used with existing cage hardware. Check the size of the opening against the 9 mm shackle, which is available in 2-inch and 6-inch lengths.
With the RFID Keys + Locks option, one lock supports up to 250 RFID credentials. With Managed Access software, a manager assigns access by employee and by lock, so people can be limited to the cages they actually work in.
Yes. MTI designs the Click Padlock for indoor and outdoor use, which suits outdoor storage cages as well as indoor stockrooms.
A manager removes that person’s credential in Managed Access, and their card or fob stops opening the cage. The padlock stays in place and everyone else’s access continues, so there is no rekeying and no need to collect keys.
Request an MTI Smart Locks Demo or Quote for Your Inventory Cages
A cage is only as secure as the process for deciding who can open it. Individual RFID credentials and an activity record replace shared padlock keys with access that managers can assign, review and remove.
RTF Global is the Canadian distributor of MTI smart locks. Tell the team how many cages you have, what type of hasp they use and who needs access, and we can recommend a setup.
