The biggest change in locksmithing over recent years is that many locks are no longer purely mechanical. Homes now use keypad and app-controlled smart locks, businesses issue key cards and phone credentials instead of metal keys, and almost every modern car key contains electronics that must be programmed to the vehicle. Traditional skills such as rekeying, picking and key cutting still matter, but locksmiths now also work with electronics, software and wireless standards. Here is a plain-language look at the technologies that have become common and what they mean for you.

Curious whether your locks are due for an upgrade? Call (613) 707-4884.

Smart Locks for Homes

Electronic deadbolts have moved from niche products to everyday hardware. Common types include:

  • Keypad locks that open with a PIN code, letting you give different codes to family members, cleaners or guests.
  • Bluetooth locks controlled by a phone app when you are nearby.
  • Wi-Fi or hub-connected locks that can be locked, unlocked and monitored remotely, with an activity log showing who came and went.

Most residential smart locks still include a mechanical key cylinder as a backup, which means the quality of that cylinder and the strength of the deadbolt and strike plate still matter. Batteries also need regular replacement; many locks warn you when they run low. For installation tips, see our smart lock installation guide.

Matter: A Common Language for Smart Home Devices

One practical problem with early smart locks was compatibility: a lock might work with one voice assistant or hub but not another. The Connectivity Standards Alliance released the Matter 1.0 standard in October 2022 to address this. Matter runs over Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Thread, and door locks were among the device types supported from the start. If you are buying a smart lock today, checking for Matter certification is a simple way to improve the odds that it will work with the smart home platform you already use.

Electronic Access Control for Businesses

For businesses, the shift has been from metal keys to credentials that can be issued and cancelled in software:

  • Key cards and fobs that are read by a reader at the door. A lost card can be deactivated instead of rekeying the building.
  • Mobile credentials that let staff unlock doors with a smartphone.
  • Cloud-managed systems where an administrator can add or remove users, set schedules and review entry logs from a web browser.

These systems still connect to physical hardware such as electric strikes, maglocks or electrified lever sets, and exit doors must continue to allow people to leave safely. Our article on access control for small businesses goes into more detail on choosing a system.

High-Security Mechanical Cylinders

Mechanical locks have improved too. High-security cylinders use features such as additional locking elements, hardened inserts and drill-resistant components to resist picking, bumping and drilling. Many also use restricted or patented key profiles, so blank keys are not sold on the open market and duplicates can only be cut through an authorized channel. This gives property owners much better control over who has copies of their keys.

Modern Car Keys

Vehicle keys have changed more than almost any other type:

  • Transponder keys contain a chip that the car's immobilizer must recognize before the engine will run, so a newly cut key also needs to be programmed.
  • Remote key fobs lock and unlock the doors by radio signal.
  • Proximity or smart keys allow keyless entry and push-button start while the key stays in your pocket.

Replacing or adding these keys usually means cutting the blade (if there is one) and programming the electronics to the vehicle with diagnostic equipment, which is why automotive locksmithing has become a specialty of its own.

Computerized Key Cutting

Many keys are now cut on computer-controlled machines that work from a key code or by tracing the original. This improves accuracy, especially for laser-cut (sidewinder) car keys and high-security residential keys that are difficult to duplicate by hand.

Your Next Step

New technology does not make traditional security obsolete; a smart lock on a weak door frame or an access control system with poorly managed credentials can still be defeated. If you are considering an electronic upgrade for a business, our access control services page explains the options, or call (613) 707-4884 to discuss what suits your property.