Launched in March 2021, 'Knocktown' by Trustay, a residential platform company, is currently setting the standard for residential management by providing over 50 functions in a single app across 600,000 households in 640 complexes.
Lee Seung-oh, CEO of Trustay, said, “I am pleased that resident satisfaction has increased significantly when apartment complexes that previously used multiple apps have been integrated into Knocktown,” and “In a satisfaction survey of about 1,000 people conducted in July, 98% expressed satisfaction or very satisfaction.”
Connecting the entire residential ecosystem with 'hyperconnectivity'
Trustay's distinguishing feature lies in its connectivity and scalability, extending beyond standard management apps. The rebranding process last July, which declared it a "HYPER-CONNECTED platform," reflects this philosophy. CEO Seung-oh Lee explained, "Trustay services, including Knocktown, encompass everything from home IoT support to in-complex facility reservations and even connectivity to commercial areas within a 5km radius."
Indeed, Trustay has built a portfolio of services encompassing all aspects of residential life, including Knocktown (residential management), Homeknock (asset rental management), Knockplace (local commercial networking), and Hey (smart co-living). Knockplace, in particular, is gaining attention as a model for mutual growth between residents and local small businesses. Through an MOU with Incheon City, it established the first public-private collaborative regional promotional channel in the residential platform industry.
Six AI patents: Technological evolution toward safety
Trustay's technological competitiveness is evidenced by its six AI patents. The key point is that it goes beyond simply holding patents and commercializes them into actual services.
Among these, the "AI-based Real-Time License Plate Monitoring Control System (RCVA)" was unveiled as a parking enforcement service through the Knocktown Manager app in June. The AI learns license plates and categorizes registered, visiting, and unregistered vehicles, increasing manager efficiency by over 90% in the complex where it was actually implemented.
The "AI-based automatic fire detection system within a complex" has also evolved beyond the traditional detection-alarm phase to a five-stage alarm system encompassing detection, analysis, alarm, reporting, and post-reporting. The recently announced AI "nocki" goes beyond operational efficiency and convenience to offer the value of "residential safety."
He emphasized, “What makes Trustay’s patent different is that AI is not just a theoretical concept, but has entered the commercialization stage as an actual residential service.”
From town markets to O2O, the expanding service spectrum
"Town Market," launched earlier this year, is a prime example of Trustay's scalability. This resident-only market offers over 2,500 products at reasonable prices. Since then, the company has expanded its offerings to include a family travel service in collaboration with Noluniverse and an in-complex secondhand trading service.
My secondhand trading service offers tag-based upload and keyword notification features, boasting a high success rate, with an average of one transaction for every three uploaded items. CEO Seung-oh Lee explained, "Starting in October, we plan to sequentially launch O2O services, including home care, closing sales, and tickets."
1,000 complexes, 1 million households: the reality of an aggressive goal
This year's order target of "1,000 complexes, 1 million households" seems challenging, but he is confident that "internal, it is a goal that is entirely achievable."
As a basis, he presented three differentiating factors: an overwhelming number of services, hyper-connected technology, and AI technology.
"With over 50 services, the most in the industry, we offer overwhelming scale and convenience. Furthermore, complexes that previously used competing apps are increasingly switching to our service due to our ease of use, superior functionality, and quick response."
In particular, he evaluated that “the complex management regulations for each complex and the ability to develop technologies that enable the operation of community centers in accordance with the complex regulations are producing synergy with sales and showing results.”
Strengthening experiential marketing by building a showroom
The showroom, established in the Pangyo Noluniverse building last August, is a strategic approach to overcoming the closed nature of the service. Residents can experience firsthand the "One Pass" feature, which utilizes facial recognition, and over 50 other features of Knock Town and Knock Zone.
Residents can experience the process of reserving community facilities, such as the reading room, F&B zone, and guest room, through a resident-only kiosk and wall pad, reproducing the process in a realistic manner, intuitively conveying the practicality of the service to potential customers.
They also showed a positive will to advance overseas.
"It's rare worldwide to find a country as densely packed with apartments and community facilities as ours, rapidly transforming into a community. We will build overseas partnerships by integrating the K-housing model with Trustay's nocki."
Trustay aims to grow from an integrated housing management solution to a local commercial district and ultimately a smart city infrastructure provider. Its ambitious plan is to evolve beyond a typical apartment app into a platform that connects the entire city.
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