ForwardPass vs. LapSafe: Smart Locker Comparison

A device management smart locker is a connected storage system that controls device access and records device handoffs. ForwardPass vs. LapSafe compares two smart locker platforms across workflow depth, charging, authentication, ITSM integration, reporting, audit trails, certification, hardware sizing, installation, support, and contract structure.

ForwardPass focuses on structured device workflows, while LapSafe covers a broader mix of device services and storage. The better fit depends on operational requirements, regional support, and the configuration purchased.

Key takeaways

• ForwardPass organizes device handoffs around Loaners, Repairs, Deployments, Replacements, and Charging. LapSafe’s ONARKEN workflow categories include Asset Loaning, IT Service Desk, Drop Off & Collection, and Personal Storage.
• Both platforms support APIs and webhooks for integrations with ITSM/MDM platforms. Available connectors, supported ticketing actions, implementation responsibilities, and licensing costs may vary.
• ForwardPass has SOC 2 assurance and hardware compliance across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, whereas LapSafe emphasizes ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certification and UK/EU product conformity.
• ForwardPass is particularly relevant to U.S. and Australian deployments. LapSafe has a stronger UK and European focus, with international availability that includes the United States.
• ForwardPass bundles hardware, software, support, and lifecycle services into a subscription, with terms varying by agreement. LapSafe sells hardware directly or through resellers, with separate licensing potentially required for ONARKEN and some integrations.

ForwardPass vs. LapSafe at a glance

Read more: Compare the best smart locker systems for device charging and asset management by hardware, integrations, security, lifecycle visibility, and deployment options.

What is LapSafe?

LapSafe is a UK-based smart locker and device-charging company with over 25 years of experience headquartered in Colchester, England. LapSafe serves education, workplaces, healthcare, emergency services, retail and logistics, defence, and other public-sector environments.

LapSafe manages its connected smart lockers through ONARKEN, a cloud-based platform for access control, workflows, reporting, and integrations with existing IT systems. The LapSafe smart locker portfolio includes products for device management, asset management, and personal storage:

• Diplomat Pro is an all-in-one system for device loaning, IT support, drop-off and collection, personal storage, and remote asset management through ONARKEN. LapSafe Diplomat Pro supports ITSM integrations, multiple authentication methods, and several charging options.

• Sovran is positioned more toward workplaces and hybrid office environments. Its primary use cases are personal storage, drop-off and collection, shared equipment access, and IT service workflows, with modular configurations and optional charging.

• Envoy is a simpler 16- or 32-bay device-loaning system with a 7-inch display. It supports ID-based borrowing, asset-tag returns, AC or USB-C charging, ONARKEN management, and ITSM integration.

• Consul is a more configurable device-loaning system with pre-booking, reservations, a 19-inch touchscreen terminal, and optional per-bay data connections. Its SmartLine charging controls can validate returns, prioritize sufficiently charged devices, and verify supported USB-C devices.

What is ForwardPass?

ForwardPass is a U.S.-based smart locker platform for self-service device handoffs in schools, universities, and workplaces. It builds on LocknCharge’s more than two decades of experience helping organizations charge, secure, and manage devices. The platform combines locker hardware with software that helps IT teams manage recurring device exchanges while maintaining visibility into each handoff.

The ForwardPass smart locker platform is built around several locker configurations for different capacity and deployment needs:

• ForwardPass 23-Bay Smart Locker is the highest-capacity configuration, with 23 bays in a narrower footprint. It uses pre-wired 36W USB-C Power Delivery and supports higher-volume device workflows in locations with limited floor space.

• ForwardPass 15-Bay Smart Locker provides a larger-bay configuration for organizations that require more storage space per device. Current 15-bay hardware can include AC power and 36W USB-C Power Delivery, depending on the generation and configuration.

• ForwardPass 8-Bay Smart Locker uses the same newer hardware approach in an 8-bay format. It supports the same USB-C charging architecture and is better suited to smaller device pools or locations with lower transaction volume.

• ForwardPass 5-Bay Smart Locker provides the same larger-bay format in a smaller five-bay footprint. It is intended for lower-volume locations or deployments where fewer devices need to be available at one time.

ForwardPass smart lockers can be configured with different software packages, which determine how users access the system and how much workflow automation is available:

• Enhanced is the workflow-focused configuration for self-service device management. It uses the ForwardPass Kiosk and Portal to support workflows such as Loaners, Repairs, Deployments, Replacements, and Charging, with configurable user permissions, notifications, audit data, and integrations where supported.

• Classic is a simpler configuration focused on secure device storage, charging, and controlled access. Users typically access bays through PIN or RFID, while administrators manage assignments, schedules, notifications, and activity records through the cloud interface.

The platform is designed around device access rather than general-purpose personal storage. That focus gives IT teams one system for recurring handoffs such as lending, repair intake, deployments, permanent swaps, and secure charging.

ForwardPass vs. LapSafe: Full smart locker comparison

ForwardPass and LapSafe both support self-service device workflows, but their maximum capabilities are distributed differently across their product lines. Some features apply only to specific products, hardware models, software packages, or configurations. This comparison covers the strongest documented capability available from each vendor.

Read more: Use the Smart Locker Buyer Guide to define your requirements and choose a system that fits your operations.

Depth of smart locker certifications

ForwardPass publishes a broader certification footprint across security assurance and regional hardware compliance, including SOC 2 Type 1 assurance, GDPR, FCC, cETLus, CE, UKCA, and RCM. For buyers assessing smart locker security features, that broader published coverage can reduce the amount of additional validation required during procurement.

LapSafe’s published certification profile is weighted more toward organizational quality, environmental management, and UK/EU product conformity. Organizations that require independent assurance over cloud and data-control practices may need additional validation during procurement.

Identity management

Identity integration is another area where the two platforms differ. ForwardPass supports a wider documented range of identity providers and federation platforms, including Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Google, Auth0, Cisco Duo, and Active Directory.

LapSafe publicly documents a smaller set of identity integrations, including Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, and Active Directory. As a result, ForwardPass may fit more readily into organizations that already use a less common identity platform and want to avoid introducing a separate authentication system.

Workflow depth

LapSafe applies its workflow model across a broader range of assets, while ForwardPass structures its workflows around the operational requirements of managed device pools.

For example, LapSafe’s Asset Loaning workflow is structured as a configurable lending service around the locker transaction. ONARKEN can apply rules before, during, and after the handoff across LapSafe lockers, including:

• Reservations and block or single bookings

• Custom borrowing hours and loan-duration rules

• Fines, quarantine periods, and fault reporting

• Return validation through SmartLine or AI-based asset verification

For organizations evaluating a LapSafe alternative for dedicated device fleets, ForwardPass structures its Loaners workflow more tightly around the lifecycle of a specific managed device. The workflow follows the device from checkout through return and readiness for reuse, with controls for:

• Device identification and assignment

• Due dates and overdue handling

• User-reported condition checks

• USB-C connection detection on compatible hardware

ForwardPass treats device condition and device readiness as separate parts of the return process. A condition check captures whether the user reports the device as working and can record the issue if it is not, adding the reported condition to the smart locker audit trail for that handoff.

USB-C connection detection serves a different purpose: on compatible hardware, it verifies whether the returned device is physically connected to power. This feature keeps an unplugged or missing device out of circulation until the issue is resolved.

Loaners are one part of the ForwardPass workflow model. ForwardPass also supports other managed-device workflows:

• Repairs: Users can drop off a faulty device, while IT tracks the repair handoff and return process.

• Deployments: IT can stage devices for authorized users to collect through a self-serve handoff.

• Replacements: A failed device can be exchanged for a permanent replacement, with the handoff recorded.

• Charging: Users can securely leave a device to charge and collect it later without requiring an IT handoff.

Deployment flexibility

The hardware designs also take different approaches to deployment flexibility. ForwardPass 8- and 23-bay lockers include a mobile base. Teams can reposition units as service locations or device demand changes more easily. This ensures greater flexibility for moving existing units.

LapSafe’s Diplomat Pro and Sovran instead emphasize modular configurations and customizable locker layouts. As a result, LapSafe provides more flexibility in how a locker installation is configured.

Where LapSafe fits well

LapSafe fits particularly well in UK and European environments that value local manufacturing, established regional support, and a broad mix of smart locker use cases. The company is headquartered in the UK, designs and manufactures its products there, and provides UK-based installation and support, although it also ships internationally.

Typical use cases include:

• UK and European deployments that benefit from UK-based manufacturing, installation, and support, plus charging options designed for regional power standards.

• Universities and public-sector organizations that need one locker estate for device loaning, IT service workflows, personal storage, and unattended collection.

• Organizations with existing ONARKEN-compatible systems such as PaperCut, Paxton Net2, SIP2-connected library systems, or SmartHub.

• Mixed-asset environments where the same platform needs to support laptops, peripherals, personal belongings, documents, parcels, or other shared items.

Where ForwardPass fits well

ForwardPass fits particularly well in US and Australian environments where IT teams need smart lockers built around recurring device handoffs. It fits best in organizations that prioritize device readiness, workflow consistency, and clear accountability across distributed device fleets.

Typical use cases include:

• US and Australian education and workplace deployments that benefit from local market support, regional compliance, and hardware designed for those operating environments.

• K-12 schools that need self-service device workflows and colleges or universities evaluating higher education smart lockers for loaners, repairs, deployments, replacements, and charging without adding help-desk queues.

• Workplaces and multi-site operations that want standardized device handoffs across offices, campuses, warehouses, or other distributed locations.

• IT teams with established identity and service-management systems that want broad SSO support and flexible integrations with their existing IT environment.

• Organizations that seek SOC 2 assurance over software and cloud controls, including colleges and universities evaluating technology vendors through EDUCAUSE Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit (HECVAT).

• Deployments that require flexible placement and benefit from smart lockers that can be repositioned as service locations or as device demands change.

Which is the better fit for schools?

The right smart locker for schools depends on the region, the complexity of K-12 device programs, and existing reseller relationships. ForwardPass is more specialized for structured device management and is particularly relevant to U.S. and Australian education environments.

LapSafe has a stronger UK and European fit and may be preferable where schools also need personal storage, shared-asset access, or continuity with an existing procurement channel.

ForwardPass is better aligned with schools that need:

• Structured device handoffs for device loaning, repair collection, deployments, replacements, and secure charging

• Consistent device readiness across large fleets of Chromebooks, laptops, and tablets

• Clear accountability for who received, returned, or reported a device issue

• Integration with existing IT systems for identity, service management, and reporting

LapSafe is better aligned with schools that need:

• Device lending alongside personal storage in the same locker environment

• Shared access to equipment and other assets beyond managed device fleets

• Flexible booking and reservation workflows for students or staff

Which is the better fit for workplaces?

The right smart locker for workplaces depends on ITSM requirements, regional support, and contract structure. ForwardPass is a better fit for organizations that seek structured device handoffs that remain part of their established ITSM processes. It is particularly relevant to U.S. organizations that want ongoing support and integrated lifecycle services.

Connecting device-handoff data to existing service workflows can reduce fragmentation and improve record consistency. It’s particularly relevant for ITAM teams — Deloitte’s 2025 Global IT Asset Management Survey found that 54% of respondents named fragmented systems and poor data quality barriers to intelligent automation.

ForwardPass may be the best smart locker system for offices and workplaces where IT teams need to:

• Move devices between employees and support teams without relying on face-to-face handoffs

• Support distributed or hybrid staff with consistent processes across offices and facilities

• Maintain accountability for corporate devices as they are issued, returned, repaired, or replaced

• Connect locker activity with existing identity and IT service systems so handoffs remain part of established support processes

LapSafe may be preferable for workplaces that need a broader mix of IT and personal-storage use cases or prefer to purchase hardware while licensing software and integrations separately. It’s more suitable where the workplace needs lockers to serve multiple functions, including:

• Personal storage for employees alongside IT equipment access

• Shared equipment distribution for teams that borrow devices, tools, or other workplace assets

• Configurable locker layouts for offices with a mix of storage and operational requirements

Bottom line

• ForwardPass provides greater device-workflow depth. It is better optimized for chain of custody and device readiness, while LapSafe applies flexible loan controls across a broader asset mix.

• Their hardware supports different priorities. ForwardPass favors compact device capacity, while LapSafe favors modular layouts for varied assets and personal storage.

• ForwardPass supports a broader documented range of identity providers. This can make it easier to retain an organization’s existing authentication environment.

• ForwardPass offers stronger cloud-control assurance. For organizations seeking a SOC 2 smart locker, it provides SOC 2 assurance, while LapSafe’s certifications focus on other areas.

Book a Discovery to discuss a device-focused smart locker deployment with ForwardPass.

FAQ

What is the difference between ForwardPass and LapSafe smart lockers?

ForwardPass focuses on managed device handoffs, including loaners, repairs, deployments, replacements, and charging. LapSafe supports device workflows alongside broader uses such as general storage, drop-off, and item collection, depending on the product and configuration.

Is LapSafe available for schools and workplaces in the United States?

Yes, LapSafe serves schools and workplaces internationally and confirms installations in the United States. However, U.S. organizations considering ForwardPass as an alternative to LapSafe may find ForwardPass better aligned with their needs because of its U.S. market support, regional hardware compliance, and subscription-based lifecycle services.

Does LapSafe integrate with ServiceNow?

Yes, LapSafe integrates with ServiceNow through its ONARKEN smart locker management platform via API. The integration supports device swaps and collections within IT ticketing workflows, depending on the configuration.

Is ForwardPass SOC 2 certified?

ForwardPass has SOC 2 assurance, as stated in its product documentation and in a dedicated trust center. Technically, SOC 2 is an independent attestation report that assesses a company’s controls over a defined period, rather than a product certification.

Which is better for K-12 schools: ForwardPass or LapSafe?

Based on their workflow focus, ForwardPass is the stronger fit for K-12 schools prioritizing recurring device handoffs, including loaners, repair intake, and replacements. LapSafe may be the better fit when schools also need personal storage, shared-equipment reservations, or broader campus locker services.

What is ONARKEN?

ONARKEN is LapSafe’s cloud-based software platform for managing connected smart lockers, users, and assets. It provides access controls, configurable workflows, reporting, audit trails, and integrations with existing IT systems.