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Key Cores Comparison

InstaKey vs. BEST

There are several manufacturers of small format interchangeable cores in the keyed access industry, which makes it challenging to determine which brand is right for your organization. Here’s how InstaKey stacks up against BEST small format interchangeable core lines. 

(And here’s where you can find out how InstaKey compares to other big names in the industry.)

InstaKey

instakey-logo

BEST Standard

bestaccess

BEST Cormax

bestaccess

Rekey Without Hardware Removal

Additional Hardware Needed

Key Restriction

Key Serialization

Patent Protected

Industry Standard Format

Rollout Costs

Rollout costs include all initial costs to implement standard format interchangeable cores in all organization locations.

$$

$

$$

Recurring Management Costs

Cost for hardware or support required for key management (key duplication, rekeying hardware, etc.).

$

$$

$$$

ROI Opportunity with User-Rekeyability

ROI Opportunity with Key Restriction

Order Turnaround Time

+/- 48 hours

+/- Days

+/- Weeks

Rekey Without Hardware Removal

Rekey Without Hardware Removal

Additional Hardware Needed

Additional Hardware Needed

Key Restriction

Key Restriction

Key Serialization

Key Serialization

Patent Protected

Patent Protected

Industry Standard Format

Industry Standard Format

Rollout Costs

Rollout Costs

Rollout costs include all initial costs to implement standard format interchangeable cores in all organization locations.

Recurring Management Costs

Recurring Management Costs

Cost for hardware or support required for key management (key duplication, rekeying hardware, etc.).

ROI Opportunity with User-Rekeyability

ROI Opportunity with User-Rekeyability

ROI Opportunity with Key Restriction

ROI Opportunity with Key Restriction

Order Turnaround Time

Order Turnaround Time

InstaKey

instakey-logo
Rekey Without Hardware Removal
Additional Hardware Needed
Key Restriction
Key Serialization
Patent Protected
Industry Standard Format
Rollout Costs

$$

Recurring Management Costs

$

ROI Opportunity with User-Rekeyability
ROI Opportunity with Key Restriction
Order Turnaround Time

+/- 48 hours

BEST Standard

bestaccess
Rekey Without Hardware Removal
Additional Hardware Needed
Key Restriction
Key Serialization
Patent Protected
Industry Standard Format
Rollout Costs

$

Recurring Management Costs

$$

ROI Opportunity with User-Rekeyability
ROI Opportunity with Key Restriction
Order Turnaround Time

+/- Days

BEST Cormax

bestaccess
Rekey Without Hardware Removal
Additional Hardware Needed
Key Restriction
Key Serialization
Patent Protected
Industry Standard Format
Rollout Costs

$$

Recurring Management Costs

$$$

ROI Opportunity with User-Rekeyability
ROI Opportunity with Key Restriction
Order Turnaround Time

+/- Weeks

Rekey Without Hardware Removal
Additional Hardware Needed
Key Restriction
Key Serialization
Patent Protected
Industry Standard Format
Rollout Costs
Recurring Management Costs
ROI Opportunity with User-Rekeyability
ROI Opportunity with Key Restriction
Order Turnaround Time

Which Key Cores Are Right For Your Business?

Breaking down the differences between small format interchangeable key cores on the market can help you decide exactly which vendor can support your organization's lock and key needs. There are many trusted vendors who can reliably secure your organization, so here are a few questions to guide your considerations:

  • What key core or lock hardware are you using now?
  • What is your key control budget? 
  • Do you have enough resources to store and manage extra interchangeable cores? Are you using a locksmith to change your cores?
  • Are you using key tracking software? What brand(s) of interchangeable cores and keys are compatible? 
  • How many access points are you securing? How many employees have keyed access?
  • How often do you rekey locations? Do you rekey each time a key is lost? Each time an employee transitions?
  • Can your keys be duplicated? Are they stamped "Do Not Duplicate"?

InstaKey Key Cores

InstaKey has been providing innovative, customer-focused keying solutions for over 30 years. We offer a comprehensive key control program that is designed to save clients time, money and enhance security, through a variety of product offerings. Our small format interchangeable key cores are user-rekeyable. Rekeys can be conducted with the turn of a Step Change Key and this can be done up to nine times before a key core needs to be swapped out. Our key cores do not need to be removed from the lock housing to be rekeyed. 

Top Features:

  • User-rekeyable key cores
  • Restricted, serialized keys that cannot be duplicated
  • No additional hardware needed for rekeying
  • Lower recurring management costs
  • Fast order turnaround time

Pain Points:

  • Rollout investment with InstaKey is initially higher, but provides a rapid ROI after installation.

InstaKey Overview:

InstaKey provides all the lock, key, and tracking software you'll need for complete key control within your organization. While the initial rollout investment with InstaKey is higher than the rollout costs associated with BEST standard key cores, InstaKey's key cores are user-rekeyable — an innovative feature missing from all BEST core options. We prioritize customer service and quick order turnaround time, so that your first line of defense is always secure. Our keys are serialized and restricted, our interchangeable key cores are user-rekeyable, and our comprehensive key tracking makes day-to-day key system management easy. InstaKey is a good solution for organizations looking for complete key control from a single provider with quick, streamlined key management. InstaKey provides a rapid ROI by getting keys back upon employee separation or on the first or second rekey.

BEST Key Cores: Standard & Cormax

BEST is one of the bigger names in the industry. They've been around since the early 1900's and have been influential contributors to lock and key innovation. BEST Access Systems was purchased by the dormakaba Group in 2017 and has a wide variety of product offerings. 

Top Features:

  • Standard BEST key cores have lower rollout costs
  • Cormax keys are patent-protected and restricted (cannot be duplicated), but rollout costs are higher
  • Popular industry brand
  • Many product offerings
  • Industry standard formatted keys and locks

Pain Points:

  • BEST key cores require hardware removal for rekeying
  • Additional hardware is needed to rekey
  • BEST keys are not serialized for easy tracking
  • Standard BEST keys can be duplicated
  • Recurring management costs are higher
  • Order turnaround times take days or weeks

BEST overview:

BEST is one of the biggest names in the lock and key industry. They've been providing key control solutions for 100 years and have more extensive product offerings, including electromechanical locks. While BEST key cores are undoubtedly secure and have cheaper rollout costs for non-restricted cores, neither the Standard or Cormax key cores offer user-rekeyable functionality, making recurring management costs more expensive. BEST is a good option for organizations looking for a wide variety of product offerings and who have the resources to store and manage interchangeable key core backups.

Choosing the Right Fit For Your Business

InstaKey and BEST are just two key providers in the lock and key industry. You can see how other providers compare to InstaKey, as well. Determining which provider is the best fit for your business is up to you. While we have presented questions and features to consider when looking at small format interchangeable key core options, the best fit is the provider who can best help you meet your key security needs. If InstaKey is the right fit for you, get in touch with our sales team by clicking the button below.

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