Digital Content Editor, Eve Goode speaks exclusively with Ash Saman, UK Managing Director of PAAM Systems about the company and how they’re modernising key management.
You have to know the past to understand the present, so I appreciate you asking this question right at the start.
It’s fair to say, since the company was founded in 1989, we have gone through many ups and downs, made mistakes and most importantly learned from them.
From being part of the ASSA ABLOY Group between 2004-2009, to being the first on the market to offer server hosting in 2009, to trying out a franchise model between 2018-2024, which didn’t work, we have had countless lessons that shaped our values and the way we conduct ourselves.
Here we are now, with our first subsidiary outside of Scandinavia, in the UK.
One of the important lessons we learned is that we need to be close to our clients and to the market.
We were just waiting for the right timing which arose toward the end of last year.
If you speak to anybody who deals with physical keys at their job, they will tell you how much of a nuisance they are.
Often, you’d find a wooden board with numbered hooks where the keys are kept, somewhere in a backroom with colourful labels and codes, if you are lucky.
Sometimes you have a booklet next to it with addresses and instruction, all of which rely on you to follow processes and sign a little box to confirm what you’ve done.
As you can imagine, with a manual system like this, there is no real traceability or security.
It’s very slow compared to our system if you have to search for the right keys, turn up to the key cabinet and the key you need is missing and you have to chase people to return them.
This is where we can really help.
Our key-storage units are super secure and smart as they know exactly who has access to what and when.
They are an extremely user-friendly systems, creating efficiency and control, and allowing team members to focus on their actual roles.
Additionally, if the keys aren’t where they are supposed to be the system will alert you so you can be proactive.
To put it simply, our system takes care of your keys, so you can take care of your customers.
I can think of several clients who managed to significantly expand their operations after having implemented our system. It truly future-proofs your organisation particularly in the real estate and infrastructure sector.
Keys will forever be a part of their day-to-day.
Working with many different sectors over the past 36 years and having built long-lasting relationships, we have clients often coming to us with their key and asset related challenges.
We take those challenges on, solve them and launch the solution out to all our clients.
The system does so much that our biggest client that has 48 assembly installations and only really utilises 20/30% of all functionalities.
Here’s the fun bit, we can help with both!
Imagine having the ability of real-time visibility of key usage and with that reducing all sorts of risk factors.
Imagine knowing immediately, if there is an emergency to attend to, rather than finding out when its too late.
Imagine running an audit of all your organisation’s keys, remotely within minutes.
Security is at the essence of what we have created; efficiency and auditability are just a beautiful byproduct.
Once you have a taste, you don’t want to give it up.
That’s obviously the reason why 84% of our clients who signed up with us since 2014 are with us today.
We still have clients that have been with us since the 90s and I really think that stat speaks for itself.
With the current state of the world, security is a top priority for a lot of businesses.
We are set and ready to deliver with options that work for any size operation, whether to lease or purchase the system.
I know for a fact, we are unique within the market by offering a fully kitted lease option for a monthly fee on a rolling contract, making key management more accessible than ever.
To go back to your question, the launch of the lease option is proof that we are continuously pivoting and adjusting to the needs of our clients to set them up the best way possible.
What we can promise is to stay in direct contact with them and help them implement and maximise on this system that will truly change their operations for the better.
No middlemen, direct from PAAM to the end-user.
