Automated Guest Check-in for Vacation Rentals: The Auszeit Story

For the Hartmann family, hosting is more than a business; it’s a passion. Operating out of Friedrichshafen, they established Auszeit Apartments to provide guests with a 'home away from home'—one that mirrors high-end design with the professional standards of a premier retreat.

“To be a host is to live your passion. We want our guests to experience the freedom of a vacation home alongside the quality of a stylish, modern stay. That freedom begins the moment they arrive.”

The Challenge: Navigating the 24/7 Coordination Bottleneck

As their property portfolio expanded, the manual logistics of coordinating guest arrivals across multiple locations became the primary barrier to scalable growth.

• The 24/7 Expectation: Modern guests expect a seamless self-check-in experience regardless of arrival time, which previously placed a heavy operational burden on the team.
• Logistical Complexity: Synchronizing guest travel schedules with manual key delivery was becoming an unsustainable challenge.
• The Physical Key Barrier: Many properties are situated within residential complexes where building regulations or shared ownership prevent the installation of electronic door locks. This makes physical keys the only option—and standard smart locks an impossible solution.

“We have beautiful apartments, but the logistics were killing us. We were stuck in a dilemma: we wanted modern 24/7 check-ins, but we were tied to traditional keys that we couldn't change. We needed a bridge between the digital booking and the physical door.”

The Discovery: Professional Automation Meets Regional Expertise

Markus Hartmann searched for a professional-grade solution that could manage physical keys while meeting the high standards of their guest properties. His search led him to the LivionKey30 Outdoor, a robust unit designed specifically to automate mechanical key management in demanding environments.

To ensure a flawless rollout, Livion connected Markus with a certified regional partner. This collaboration ensured that Livion’s Nordic-engineered technology was backed by local expertise and professional on-site installation, providing the Hartmanns with a comprehensive "all-in-one" solution.

The Automated Journey: A Seamless Full-Loop Flow

By integrating Finnish hardware with their digital booking channels, the Hartmanns replaced manual coordination with a 100% automated lifecycle:

1. Automated Booking Sync: When a guest reserves via Airbnb or Booking.com, the data flows instantly into the Hartmanns' Property Management System (PMS).
2. The Digital Bridge: Livion’s API triggers the PMS to generate a unique access code, creating a 'zero-touch' data flow from the initial booking to the physical key automat.
3. 24/7 Self-Service Arrival: Guests arrive at their convenience—day or night. By entering their PIN at the LivionKey30 Outdoor unit, they receive their physical keys instantly.
4. Efficient Turnover Management: Returning the key triggers an instant notification to the staff. This allows housekeeping to begin immediately, maximizing turnover efficiency and room readiness.

Why Property Managers Trust the Livion Ecosystem

For professional operators, Livion provides the essential link between digital bookings and physical access. Here is why our ecosystem is the preferred choice:

• Physical Key Mastery: Enable a 100% digital self-check-in experience for properties with traditional locks, bypassing the need for expensive hardware modifications on every door.
• Agile Software Integration: Your PMS is the heart of your operations. Our development team builds rapid, secure connections to your specific software to ensure data flows without manual intervention.
• Finnish Engineering Standards: Built to rigorous Nordic security and durability standards, our hardware ensures 24/7 operation in any environment, supported by a growing network of local experts.
• Operational Intelligence: Real-time return notifications reduce 'dead time' between bookings, allowing you to optimize cleaning schedules and improve overall profitability.

“Livion didn't just provide a key box; they provided a way to automate our entire arrival and departure process. We can now manage 24/7 guest cycles seamlessly, without losing the personal heart of our hospitality.”