Since 2016, the French company Neop has been equipping padel clubs and sports facilities with connected access control, lighting management, and locking solutions. The goal: to automatically synchronize court openings and lighting with bookings, without manual intervention. More than 600 clubs and 3,000 courts are already equipped in France and internationally. With the strong growth of padel in the country, Padel Magazine asked Jean-Baptiste Sagot, head of communications neop, on the automation challenges faced by club operators.

 "Padel is growing fast, the facilities need to keep up." 

 Padel Magazine — Padel is experiencing very strong growth in France. How do you observe this dynamic from your position? 

 Jean-Baptiste Sagot —  This is very clear: new pitches are springing up all over France, bookings are increasing, and players are showing up. But what we are seeing above all is that once the infrastructure is built, a new challenge arises for clubs: how to make these pitches easily accessible, at the right time, without it becoming an operational burden for the teams?

 Jean-Baptiste Sagot —  This is exactly the subject we have been working on since 2016: connecting reservations to actual field usage, to streamline the player experience and simplify the daily lives of operators.

 Padel Magazine — In concrete terms, what daily tasks weigh most heavily on padel clubs? 

 Jean-Baptiste Sagot —  Behind every booking, there are still many manual actions: opening access points, managing keys, turning lights on and off, assigning temporary access, and monitoring usage. These tasks consume time and energy, while the teams' primary focus should be welcoming players and developing their activities. We believe that technology should take a back seat to these priorities: when a player books a court, access and lighting should adapt automatically, according to the club's established procedures—whether the site is operated entirely independently or with a team on-site.

Neop: when access and lighting in padel clubs become invisible
Ad banner for Neop: gradient purple-to-blue background with a smartphone on the left, four numbered features in French, slogan 'A RESERVATION BECOMES A PITCH READY TO PLAY', and the Neop logo on the right.
Neop: when access and lighting in padel clubs become invisible

Automation for everything related to a club

 Padel Magazine — Neop doesn't just focus on access control. Why this more comprehensive approach, including lighting and locking? 

 Jean-Baptiste Sagot —  Because an access control system that works in isolation isn't enough. To be reliable over time, it must be integrated into the entire infrastructure: gates, padel courts, clubhouse, changing rooms, technical access points… Each use has its own specific requirements for security, durability, and ease of use. That's why we also develop our own locking solutions: a system is never more effective than the equipment it relies on. The objective remains the same: to adapt the court's operation to its actual use, rather than imposing an additional technical burden on the club.

 Padel Magazine — After several years in the field, what conclusions do you draw from the deployment of your solutions in padel and sport in general? 

 Jean-Baptiste Sagot —  Today, we support a wide range of organizations, from community-based clubs and private padel centers to local authorities and multi-sport projects, both in France and internationally. Over 600 clubs are equipped, representing more than 3,000 connected courts, thanks to the support of over 150 partners and installers trained in our solutions, which are designed and manufactured in France. What drives us is seeing that when technology works well, it becomes invisible: the player books, the court is accessible, the lights come on at the right time, and the club maintains control without even thinking about it.

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