Case Study
Propkey
Unified Smart Apartment Platform
How Whitelake Digital built a comprehensive mobile app and backend platform that revolutionized property management for Rittenhouse IOT
Client: Rittenhouse Communications, Philadelphia, PA
The Transformation
Rittenhouse IOT, a provider of smart devices for multifamily apartment buildings, partnered with Whitelake Digital to create Propkey, a unified mobile app and backend platform that brings together smart locks, thermostats, intercoms, and resident services into a single seamless experience.
The Result
The result is a powerful resident engagement and property operations platform that consolidates multiple smart device ecosystems, replaces fragmented native apps, and enhances the day-to-day living experience for residents while improving operational efficiency for property management teams.
Client Background
Rittenhouse IOT supplies and installs modern smart home devices—including Salto smart locks, smart thermostats, and building intercom systems—across multifamily buildings. Their clients are property management companies seeking to improve resident convenience, reduce operational friction, and adopt next-generation IoT-driven capabilities.
As the number of installed devices and supported hardware types grew, Rittenhouse IOT needed a system that simplified device management across different manufacturers and unified the resident experience.
Business Problem
Fragmented Smart Device Ecosystem
Before Propkey, each smart device required its own native app, creating a frustrating experience for residents and property managers.
- Confusion and poor adoption rates
- Inconsistent user experience
- Increased support requests
- Limited visibility for management
- No centralized control system
Operational Challenges
Property managers had no single source of truth for:
- Maintenance requests
- Amenity bookings
- Package tracking
- Building communications
- Resident documents
- Payments
Why Rittenhouse IOT Built Propkey
Rittenhouse IOT wanted to deliver a single, unified platform where residents could manage all smart devices, and property managers could oversee building operations—all from one app.
Proven Success
Why Rittenhouse IOT Chose Whitelake Digital
Whitelake Digital had previously built an app for Pearl Properties, integrating Rittenhouse IOT–installed Salto Locks into a mobile experience that allowed residents to unlock doors without needing the Salto-native app.
This success demonstrated that Whitelake could:
Integrate deeply with hardware SDKs
Build scalable resident-focused mobile applications
Navigate complex access control protocols
Design operational platforms for property management
Rittenhouse saw an opportunity to partner with Whitelake Digital to build a multi-device, multi-service smart apartment platform beyond just locks—enter Propkey.
Technical & Development Challenges
Multiple Smart Device SDKs
Each hardware manufacturer had its own:
- SDK
- Authentication and access control flow
- Command protocol
- BLE or WiFi communication method
Standardizing these into one app required significant engineering expertise.
Sandbox Testing Difficulties
Simulating hardware behavior in a sandbox environment was challenging.
Whitelake Digital implemented:
- Virtual device testing
- Local simulators
- Dedicated hardware testing environments
To ensure real-world reliability.
The Propkey Solution
Unified Resident & Property Operations Platform
Whitelake Digital built a comprehensive mobile app for residents and a full-featured backend portal for property managers, delivering a seamless experience for smart buildings.
Resident-Facing Features
(Propkey Mobile App)
A. Smart Device Control
1. Smart Lock Access
- Unlock apartment doors via mobile phone
- Supports Salto and other lock providers
- Reliable BLE, NFC, or cloud unlocking
2. Smart Thermostat Control
Residents can adjust in-unit temperature directly from the app.
3. Intercom System Integration
Seamless guest access + communication.
B. Property Management Services
4. Maintenance Request System
Residents submit issues, photos, preferred times. Automatically routed to maintenance team.
5. Amenity Booking
Reserve gyms, rooftops, lounges, coworking spaces, storage units, parking. Built-in calendar & usage limits.
6. Package Delivery Tracking
Front desk logs packages → resident receives instant push notifications.
7. Front Desk Instructions
Residents can submit requests such as allowing guest access, cleaning services, delivery instructions.
8. Document Storage
Residents can view lease documents, renewals, notices, building policies.
9. Rent & Amenity Payments
Secure payment integration for monthly rent, amenity fees, one-time charges.
10. Community Board
Residents post community messages such as furniture giveaways, local events, notices. Posts require admin approval.
Maintenance Team Tools
Maintenance teams use Propkey to:
View assigned work orders
Update status (in progress, completed)
Complete incident reports
Look up resident contact info
This eliminates manual communication and speeds up service resolution.
Property Manager & Admin Backend Features
1. Centralized Maintenance Dashboard
View all maintenance requests in one place.
2. Amenity Configuration
Add/remove amenities, set booking rules, manage availability.
3. Shift Logs
Front desk can record day-to-day activities: incidents, visitor logs, access events, package summaries.
4. Notification System
Send mass announcements, individual messages, emergency alerts.
5. Community Board Moderation
Approve or reject resident posts before publication.
6. Survey Review
View satisfaction surveys submitted after maintenance completion.
Platform Integrations
PMS Integrations
Propkey integrates with major PMS (Property Management Systems):
These integrations synchronize:
Resident directory
Unit assignments
Lease documents
Charges & payments
Maintenance records
This makes Propkey a powerful operational layer on top of existing PMS systems.
Business Impact
Unified Resident Experience
Residents no longer juggle multiple apps for locks, thermostat, payments, and building services.
Reduced Operational Burden
Property managers have a central platform for all major workflows.
Higher Adoption of Smart Devices
Simplified access leads to increased usage of installed hardware.
Improved Maintenance Efficiency
Real-time tracking of service requests and work order status.
Better Building Engagement
The community board and notifications improve communication.
Faster Support Resolution
Front desk and maintenance teams have instant access to resident information.
Turnkey Offering for Rittenhouse IOT
Propkey becomes a full-service companion to their smart hardware installations, improving client retention and opening new revenue streams.
Final Summary
The Propkey platform—designed and built by Whitelake Digital for Rittenhouse IOT—solves a major gap in the multifamily smart device ecosystem by providing one unified app for locks, thermostats, intercoms, payments, maintenance requests, and community features.
The platform strengthens Rittenhouse IOT’s competitive position, enhances the resident living experience, and dramatically streamlines operations for property management companies.
Propkey stands as a flagship example of Whitelake Digital’s expertise in building scalable, device-integrated property-tech solutions.
