How to Place a First Smart Lock Order Without Wasting a Quarter
The sequence that turns a first order into a repeat programme.
Read the article →Standardising Smart Lock Specs Across Projects
Buyers who order the same lock twice and receive two different products are almost never the victim of a substitution. They are the victim of a specification that was never written down the first time.
Why the first purchase should record everything
The first order is the only moment when every choice is visible at once: the model, the finish, the body, the app version, the packaging and the marking. After that, each of those is remembered by a different person, or by nobody.
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| Recorded | The second order is a repeat |
|---|---|
| Not recorded | The second order is a negotiation, and a chance for the product to drift |
The six values worth recording
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| Model and code | The exact code, not the family name |
|---|---|
| Colour and finish | The named finish, plus a Pantone or RAL reference |
| Body and dimensions | Mortise body size, backset and door thickness |
| App version and firmware | Ecosystem, active or request-based, and the version numbers |
| Packaging | Colour box, manual language, carton marking and barcode value |
| Keying and access | Keyed alike or master key, and any gateway or card configuration |
Six lines. Written once, they remove almost every reason a repeat order can go wrong.
Where to keep it
- On the purchase order, as a specification line rather than a description
- On the quotation, frozen in writing by the supplier
- With the approved sample, labelled with the version numbers
- In your own item master, so the next buyer does not have to reconstruct it
How a repeat order stays consistent
The specification is frozen on the quotation and the first article of a new specification is measured against the drawing. Batch numbers are recorded, so a repeat runs against the same file rather than a fresh conversation.
- Quote against the recorded specification
- Confirm in writing, including anything that has changed
- Approve the sample against the recorded version numbers
- Check the production photographs against the specification sheet
- Record the new batch number alongside the first
Changing supplier without losing the specification
Swipe the table sideways to see the full specification →
| Send | The recorded specification and the approved sample |
|---|---|
| Ask for | A written confirmation against each of the six values |
| Sample first | Test the sample against your existing stock, not against the catalogue |
| Start narrow | One model, at the normal minimum, before extending the range |
| Keep both | Run the old and new supply in parallel until the new one proves itself |
The situations that catch people out
- A model code reused by the supplier for a different specification
- A finish described by name, where two suppliers read the name differently
- A firmware update that changes how the app behaves
- Packaging changed without notice, because the print run was reordered
- A second door type on a project treated as the same as the first
Keep the approved sample. It is the only artefact that settles a disagreement about what was agreed, and it costs nothing to keep.
Buyer Questions
Three questions this guide usually raises.
On this topic
What should be in a specification record?
Six values: model code, finish with a colour reference, body and dimensions, app and firmware version, packaging, and keying or access configuration.
How do we keep a repeat order identical?
Freeze the specification on the quotation, measure the first article against the drawing, record the batch number, and compare the production photos to the specification sheet.
What if we change supplier?
Send the specification and the approved sample, ask for written confirmation against all six values, and start with one model at the normal minimum.
Related Reading
How to Measure a Door for a Smart Lock: A Photo Guide
Five photos and three numbers are usually enough to confirm the fit.
Read the article →OEM Packaging for Smart Locks: From Artwork to Sealed Carton
The packaging is the part buyers underestimate, and the part that cannot be changed once it is printed.
Read the article →