Product name
Nuki Keypad 2.0 NFC &/or Nuki Smart Lock
Summary
The new Nuki Keypad 2 NFC supports the Aliro protocol for opening a door through NFC.
Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings are already supported, and Google Wallet support is under development.
This request is to add alternative devices such as smartcards that can also implement the Aliro standard through NFC. As far as I know, there is no technical limitations for this smartcard support (at least on the smartcard side). The main work is to implement how a user enroll its card (i.e. its public key) to uniquely bind its credential (the private key) to the keypad/smart lock.
Features
Detailed description of desired features.
Each smartcard generates its own credentials (Aliro public/private keypair).
User enroll the smartcard via a mobile app using Matter protocol with the Nuki Smart Lock.
When tapping the card on the Nuki Keypad NFC reader, the Aliro authentication protocol is performed and the door is unlocked.
Audit logs for NFC token usage can be recorded (like keypad codes).
Aliro is a standard protocol that can be easily supported by NFC cards (i.e. no work required by Nuki on this part).
The main implementation work is to add support for smartcard credential enrollment, either via the Nuki app, or a third-party app.
Following Aliro standard, the credentials generated by the smartcard may need to be certified (signed) by a Certificate Authority recognized by the Nuki Smart Lock (to be confirmed).
Reason
Why is this feature needed?
This allows to use a smartcard instead of mobile phone to open the door:
- Backup solution when mobile phone is unavailable (battery empty, phone lost, …).
- Use without smartphone for kids, neighbors, guests, third-party services …
- Convenience: there exist NFC rings that can be used by just tapping you hand on the reader (e.g. https://seedkeeper.io/product/ring/)
- Easily issue and manage multiple cards for many users in shared environment.
- Combine multiple features on a single user card: home access, work access, FIDO2 passkey authentication, password manager…
- NFC cards are easy to use and affordable
Examples
How would you like to use this feature?
SME Office Access Control
- Easy onboarding/offboarding without reissuing physical keys
Contractors & Temporary Access
- Issue temporary NFC cards to contractors, cleaners, or maintenance staff
- Revoke instantly without needing to collect keys
- Avoid sharing PIN codes between multiple users
Multi-Tenant Buildings / Co-working Spaces
- Each tenant gets NFC cards
- Easier than managing multiple PIN codes
- Scales better as occupancy grows
HMO / Rental Properties
- Landlords issue NFC cards to tenants
- Replace lost cards cheaply
- No need to change locks or reset codes frequently
Integration with Existing Access Ecosystems
- Businesses already using UniFi Access or similar systems could reuse the same NFC tokens
- Reduces friction and duplication of credentials
Schools / Training Centres
- Students use ID cards or NFC wristbands
- Controlled access to rooms without needing smartphones
Accessibility / Non-Smartphone Users
Ideal for:
- Elderly users
- Children
- Users without smartphones
Security Improvements Over PIN Codes
- Reduces risk of PIN sharing or observation (shoulder surfing)
- Enables unique credential assignment per user with audit trails
- cards cannot be cloned!
High-Traffic Entrances
- Faster “tap-to-unlock” interaction vs entering PINs
- Improved user flow in busy environments
This feature would significantly expand Nuki’s viability as a scalable, low-cost, retrofit access control solution for multi-user environments.
Related proposals
- This is an old request to add NFC (hardware) support, but without any specific protocol support.
- This request proposes to support other NFC access standards such as MIFARE Ultralight, DESFire, NTAG, which may require more developments than using the existing Aliro support, and provide different features.