The Digital Key is a contact-free and self-service way for your guests to access their rooms. With the Wallet-based Digital Key, guests can add their room key directly to their Apple or Google Wallet. This is currently only available for properties with Vingcard | Assa Abloy Vostio door locks.

 

Guests set up their Digital Key after completing their online check-in, and then use their devices to access their rooms.

 

Guests can also access the Digital Key,

• from the Guest Portal following an After check-in email or text message

• via the Mews Kiosk on their arrival at your property.

 

The Digital Key provides your guests with a unique experience and helps you save on staff costs, reduce queues in reception, and increase guest satisfaction.

 

In this article you’ll learn about:

• Pre-requisites for setting up the Wallet-based Digital Key

• How to set up the Wallet-based Digital Key in Mews Operations

  • Step 1: Get started

  • Step 2: Complete pre-onboarding

  • Step 3: Complete the Digital Key onboarding checklist

    • Step 3.1: Door lock provider configuration

    • Step 3.2: Mews configuration

    • Step 3.3: Final steps

• How to get the most from the Digital key

Pre-requisites for setting up the Wallet-based Digital Key

• For Wallet-based Digital Keys:

  • Wallet key compatible door lock hardware from Assa Abloy.

  • Configured Assa Abloy Vostio software key encoding integration from Mews Marketplace.

Note: If you use a door lock system not listed above, Mews does not yet support Wallet keys for that provider. You can still submit your provider name in Mews so we can track demand for future support and use our Bluetooth Digital Key [link to new guide] if supported for your system.

How to set up the Wallet-based Digital Key in Mews Operations

Step 1: Get started

1. In Mews Operations, go to the main menu > Settings > Property > Guest experience > Digital key.

2. Mews displays the Digital Key landing page with a short description of Digital Keys and their benefits.

   • To set up Digital Key, click Get started.

Note: If you’ve already started onboarding, Mews displays your activation checklist instead.

 

Step 2: Complete pre-onboarding

When you click Get started, Mews guides you through a short request flow to configure your Digital Key checklist.

1. In the Digital keys setup window, under Key type, select Wallet keys.

2. Click Next.

3. Under Door lock provider, select the door lock provider you want to use:

   1. Assa Abloy Vingcard

   2. Other (Not supported)

4. Click Next.

Note: If you choose Other (Not supported), you can enter the door lock provider you’d like to use. Mews records your interest and may contact you if support is added in the future.

5. Under Contact information in the Email field, enter the email of your main contact at Vingcard | Assa Abloy, such as your account manager or representative, to assist with Mews Digital Key.

6. Click Next.

7. Under Do you consent to passing information?, check the I agree to my information being sent to Assa Abloy box.

Note:

• To initiate the setup process with Assa Abloy, Mews must pass your name, email address, and property details to the Assa Abloy team.

• By ticking the box, you agree to allow Mews to pass your information to them. Mews requires you to confirm to move forward in the process.

8. Click Next.

After you submit the information, Mews:

• Creates a tailored Digital Key onboarding checklist for your property in the Digital key settings page.

• Mews automatically sends your details to Assa Abloy for them to support processing your digital key activation.

You can now continue to Step 3: Complete the onboarding checklist.

 

Step 3: Complete the Digital Key onboarding checklist

Back on the Digital key page, Mews displays an onboarding checklist with tasks grouped into three sections:

• Door lock provider configuration

• Mews configuration

• Final steps

Each task shows:

• A name and, in some cases, a short description.

• A status. For example, Not started, In review, Completed.

• A way to mark the task as pass, or a Go to task link that opens a configuration screen in a new tab.

The system completes some tasks automatically when Mews or Vingcard | Assa Abloy finishes an action; others you complete manually in the checklist.

Note: The system locks certain tasks until you complete the prerequisites. This is to help ensure that all dependencies are completed and to prevent issues in future steps caused by a missing setting.

 

Step 3.1: Door lock provider configuration

These tasks make sure your door lock system is ready for Digital Keys. Complete the following tasks and contact Vingcard | Assa Abloy for support as needed.

1. Mews sends your details to Vingcard | ASSA ABLOY

   1. For Vingcard | Assa Abloy, Mews does this automatically based on the details provided in the Step 2: Complete pre-onboarding section of this help article. You can continue to step 2 below.

2. Vingcard | Assa Abloy confirms system readiness (required)

   1. You need to confirm with Vingcard | Assa Abloy that you have a signed agreement in place, and you have updated all the required hardware and software installed at your property to support digital keys.

   2. Vingcard | Assa Abloy confirms to you that your system is ready for Digital Key with Mews.

   3. Select Mark task as pass once Vingcard | Assa Abloy has confirmed.

3. Verify that Vingcard | Assa Abloy is connected to Mews (Required)

   1. This task is set to Review once you complete the previous task and automatically triggers Mews to verify this connection.

   2. Once the system verifies the connection, the system automatically marks this task as completed.

Note: It can take several days to verify the system connection.

 

Step 3.2: Mews configuration

These tasks ensure Mews is configured correctly for Digital Keys:

1. Connect and configure Vostio Access Management in the Mews Marketplace (Required)

   1. Click Go to task.

   2. Click Connect integration.

   3. To configure Vostio Access Management, follow the steps in our help article Vostio key cutter integration for Mews Operations

2. Configure auto check-in (Recommended)

   1. Click Go to task

      1. Select Do not activate auto check-in if you only want Digital Keys to be activated based on a Kiosk or member of staff checking in the reservation in Mews

      2. Select Activate auto check-in to enable Mews to automatically check in and activate digital keys of reservations that meet your configured pre-conditions

   2. Space categories to exclude for auto check-in: If you prefer to greet guests in person before granting access to certain space categories. Click to select a space category from the dropdown menu. Note: You can leave this field empty if not required.

   3. Check in grace period: Enter the amount of time in Hours and Minutes before the reservation check-in time when guests can check in early to get their digital keys.

   4. Guests can only receive their key once their balance has been paid: Check the box to allow guests to receive the Digital Key only once they pay their balance.

   5. Click Save.

Important: This Digital Key automatic check‑in is separate from the generic “Enable automatic check‑in” setting in Bookable services. Do not use the generic auto check‑in with Digital Keys; always configure Digital Key automatic check‑in from the Digital key settings screen instead.

 

Note: In addition to the above conditions, all reservations must also meet the below mandatory conditions to be eligible for automatic check-in:

• Reservation is in Confirmed state

• One or more guests have completed their online check in

• One or more guests on the reservation have prepared a Digital Key

• The assigned spaces is Inspected

 

3. Connect the Digital Key from the Mews Marketplace (Required)

   1. Click Go to task.

   2. Click Start free trial now.

   3. Select With purchase you accept all Terms and conditions.

   4. Click Purchase. Note: If Digital Key is included in your subscription Mews does not charge you anything extra.

4. Complete the Mews University Digital Key course for all staff (Required)

   1. Click Go to task to open the Mews University course.

   2. Make sure you and your relevant teams who support guests with access issues complete the course.

   3. Once all relevant staff have completed the course, click Mark task as pass on the checklist.
       

Step 3.3: Final steps

The last group of tasks gets your Digital Key experience ready for guests:

1. Test digital keys (Required)

   1. Click Go to task.

   2. Select the Guest profile dropdown and choose the staff profiles to support testing Wallet keys.

   3. Click to download the test document.

   4. Click Save.

   5. Complete the test cases outlined in the test document and store the completed document in an externally shareable location.

   6. Reopen the Test digital keys task and add the shareable URL to the Test file URL field.

   7. Click Save.

      1. This task is set to Review and automatically triggers an Assa Abloy review to verify the test results.

      2. Once approved, the system automatically sets this task to Completed.

 

2. Publish Digital Key FAQs on your website (Required)
   For wallet keys, it is mandatory to have FAQs published on your website for both general / Google and Apple wallet. Instructions are included within Mews by following the below steps:

   1. Click Go to task.

   2. Click the Copy icon for the general and Google Wallet FAQs.

      1. Paste this in a usable location to be added to your website.

   3. Click the Copy icon for the Apple Wallet FAQs.

      1. Paste this in a usable location to be added to your website.

   4. Once uploaded to your website, add the URLs to both FAQ pages in the Page link fields.

   5. Click Save.

      1. The system sets this task to Review and automatically triggers an Assa Abloy review to verify the FAQ content.

      2. Once approved, the system automatically sets this task to Completed.

Note:

• Apple FAQs must appear on a separate page to the general and Google FAQs.

• The content provided is pre-approved and should not be edited. Any changes to the content can result in delays to wallet key activation.

 

3. Configure Digital Key issuing from Kiosk (Recommended)

   1. Click Go to task.

   2. Mews displayed the Kiosk configurations for you Stay service. Select a Kiosk configuration to update.

   3. In the Key issuing field, choose Digital keys to offer this during Kiosk check in.

   4. Click Save.

   5. Repeat for other Kiosk configurations as needed.

4. Update email templates (Recommended)
   To get the most out of Digital Keys it is best to inform guests in your pre-arrival emails (Confirmation, Online check in, Online check in reminder & After check in) that they can get a Digital Key. Mews provides prepared content to support with this.

   1. Click Go to task.

   2. Click Edit on your chosen the pre-arrival email.

   3. On the right hand side panel, click Rows.

   4. In the dropdown, select Mews.

   5. Scroll to the bottom to see the Wallet Digital Keys pre-made content block.

   6. Drag and drop the content for your Digital Key type into your email template.

   7. Click Save and exit once you’re happy with the edits.

   8. Repeat for additional emails as needed.

Note: Using the content as written enables a quicker activation of wallet keys for your guests. The email content for Wallet keys can be customised as needed to fit your brand and tone, but wallet key content needs to be reviewed and approved with Assa Abloy directly.

 

5. Launch Digital Keys for guests (Required)

   1. Click Go to task.

   2. Scroll to the Check in type field.

   3. Click the dropdown and select Digital key.

   4. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save.

You’ve now enabled Digital Keys for your guests and completed the setup process.

How to get the most from the Digital Key

To maximise adoption and value:

• Encourage online check‑in in your pre-arrival communications so guests can prepare their key before arrival.

• Update pre-arrival emails to clearly inform guests that they can get a Digital Key by completing some steps pre-arrival. If you're using automatic check in you can inform them that they can skip the reception on arrival by doing this preparation.

• Use automatic check‑in where possible so the system checks in eligible reservations and activates Digital Keys without staff intervention. This frees your staff to focus on providing excellent hospitality and less on arrival administration.

• Configure Space directions in Mews so guests can see directions to their room.

• Use Kiosk where applicable to complement Online check‑in and reduce queues while still supporting guests who arrive without a prepared Digital Key.

• Update your check in instructions to explain what guests experience on the day of arrival after they prepare their Digital Key. For example, automatic key activation at check-in time or a greeting from a member of staff on arrival.