Why does it matter what lock type it is?
Residential deadbolts, commercial cylinders and card-reader access control are different repairs, different parts and different prices, and quoting the wrong one over the phone loses the job on arrival. The property record carries the lock type, the manufacturer and the last service date, so the technician loads the right key blank or reader before the van leaves the shop, not after a second trip for the part actually needed.
Does it handle emergency lockouts?
Yes. An emergency call becomes a booking with priority routing the moment it comes in, and the technician sees the property's lock history on the way — whether it was rekeyed last month, whether the customer keeps a spare on file, whether the door has been forced before — before pulling into the driveway at 2 am with the right tools and the right key blank already loaded.
Is the locksmith software really free?
Core is $0 forever for the CRM, customer and job records, a basic pipeline, and booking and calendar, with no card required to start. Business phone and an AI Receptionist that answers the lockout line after hours arrive with paid Business Core; Smart Dispatch and technician workflows sit on top of that same free foundation once the shop has more than one van on the road.
What does it replace?
The separate scheduling spreadsheet, the paper job board on the wall, and the sticky note with today's key codes taped to the dispatcher's monitor. It is not a key-cutting machine integration or a manufacturer's code database — it is the office side of the emergency, keeping the property, the lock and the technician's route on one screen instead of three different ones that never agree.
How does dispatch decide who goes to a job?
The dispatch board shows every technician's location and current job, so a lockout on the east side of town goes to whoever is closest and free rather than whoever answered the phone first. Recurring visits — a rekey, a lock inspection, a scheduled key replacement — get an arrival window instead of a guess, and the customer is notified the moment it changes.
What does the property record hold for key codes and access control?
The lock type, the key code on file, who holds a copy, and the full rekeying history, all kept against one property rather than one invoice. A commercial door with a card reader carries its access-control configuration the same way, so the fifth call from the same storefront shows a pattern instead of starting over from a blank intake form every single time.
Can technicians see job and equipment history before they arrive?
Yes. Before pulling up, a technician sees the lock type, the key code, the date of the last visit and which parts and hardware were used, so a cylinder swap or a strike-plate repair does not turn into a second trip for the right part. The property record travels with the job, not just the street address printed on the dispatch ticket.
How does it handle commercial locks and proof of access?
Commercial and high-security locks carry their own record — access-control type, who is authorized on the property, and the date of the last audit — and the dispatcher's screen prompts for proof that the caller has the right to be let in before a technician is sent out to open a storefront, office suite or apartment door for someone the record does not already recognize.
