A Working Lab automates access using Parakey and Nexudus

Introduction 

A Working Lab wanted to streamline access management and create a more seamless experience for members and external users across its locations. By integrating Parakey with Nexudus and incorporating mobile access into the A Working Lab app, booking and access now work together—automatically.

Key Benefits

• Automated booking and access – digital keys are automatically linked to bookings and memberships.
• Simplified access management —external users can reserve spaces and gain access without manual intervention from the A Working Lab team.
• One app for members —booking and mobile access are combined in the A Working Lab app.
• A consistent solution across locations —the same approach to managing access can be used at all A Working Lab sites.
• Greater control and security —access can be granted based on who should have access to which areas.
• More time for members —spending less time on access-related tasks means more time to focus on the facilities and the member experience.

About A Working Lab

A Working Lab is Akademiska Hus' national concept for coworking and flexible meeting spaces, with five locations across Sweden. The concept brings together companies, researchers, and startups, offering environments ranging from coworking spaces and offices to labs and shared lab resources for the life sciences community.

We spoke with Satya Silcock, Lab Manager at A Working Lab, about how Parakey and Nexudus have helped simplify access for the team and its members.

Challenge

Multiple systems led to administrative burdens and friction

Over the years, A Working Lab has worked with several different accessibility solutions—both digital and analog, sometimes simultaneously—which, as Satya describes it, created “quite a bit of chaos and a lot of administrative work.”

For members, the different systems also created a fragmented experience. They could book spaces and resources in the A Working Lab app, but needed another app to unlock the door.

External bookings presented a different challenge. When an external company booked a meeting room, conference room, or lab resource, the A Working Lab team had to manually provide temporary digital access or an entry code. This meant that every booking required direct contact with the customer.

A Working Lab wanted fewer systems, less manual administration, and a smoother experience for everyone using its spaces.

As Satya puts it, the idea was simple:

“What if access just… worked?”

Solution

Connecting Nexudus, Parakey, and the A Working Lab app

A key reason A Working Lab chose Parakey was the ability to integrate access control with Nexudus, the platform they already use for bookings and member management.

Members use the A Working Lab app—a white-label app powered by Nexudus—to book meeting rooms, lab resources, and other services. Using Parakey's SDK, mobile access is embedded directly into the same app, bringing booking and access together in one place.

When a new member is invited to Nexudus and creates an account, the digital keys for the doors they are authorized to access are available directly in the app.

“Having access tied to this app creates a much more seamless experience for our members, who don’t have to use several different apps.”

The integration also links bookings with access. For example, an external user can book a meeting room or lab resource and automatically receive a digital key 15 minutes before the booking—without the A Working Lab team having to manually arrange access.

A smooth integration process

For Satya, who describes herself as “not an IT expert,” setting up the integration between Nexudus and Parakey was relatively straightforward.

“The communication and the effort Parakey put in, working with us to get through this step, were really good, which made the process go very smoothly.” 

Results

From manual access to an automated process

The integration has reduced the manual access management required for both members and external bookings. For members, booking and access now take place in the same app, rather than booking in one app and using another to unlock the door.

For external bookings, A Working Lab no longer needs to manually arrange access for each customer. This reduces recurring administrative tasks and allows the team to make meeting rooms and lab resources available to external companies without the same level of access administration—freeing up more time to focus on their facilities and members.

Greater security and control

With offices, meeting rooms, and shared lab resources, different users need access to different spaces. Parakey gives A Working Lab greater control over who can access what, while reducing the need for temporary codes and manually distributed access.

“It has also made the building safer. All access is safer, and we can prioritize who has access to what.”

A consistent approach across locations

With five locations across Sweden, flexibility is important not only within each A Working Lab, but also across locations. A consistent approach to access supports A Working Lab as it expands to include more members, spaces, and locations—without creating separate ways of working for each site.

“The fact that this type of system is being implemented at all locations means that our customers can easily stay at different places when they are traveling, but also that we, as a team, have a single system that we can all use.”

Satya sums up the value:

“The greatest benefit of integrating Parakey into Nexudus is that it helps create a seamless experience for our members while also reducing our administrative workload, allowing us to assist our members with other matters.”