Access control systems comprise a vast range of components, all designed to manage access to various areas throughout the property. As for the main entryway, many solutions are available, but the most effective is a video intercom system. Video intercoms are a modern property access management solution for apartments, gated communities, student housing, office buildings, and industrial facilities. While video intercoms are most commonly used for the front door, they’re also perfect for gates and garages.
With this in mind, discover why video intercom systems are the best access control solution for your front door.
Implement a Modern Door Entry Solution
Video intercom systems are the next generation of door entry solutions because they integrate with modern technologies. More specifically, video intercoms from ButterflyMX enable tenants to use their mobile phones as credentials. As a result, apartment buildings maintain a higher level of security while reducing costs.
Costs are reduced in multiple ways. Firstly, property managers won’t have to distribute as many physical credentials — key cards, fobs, metal keys — as before. Secondly, traditional intercoms require extensive wiring throughout the building for in-unit hardware. Video intercoms replace that hardware with smartphones. Thus, installation efforts and costs are significantly reduced.
Furthermore, modern video intercom systems support multiple types of credentials, giving staff and tenants many ways of accessing the property. Of course, smartphones are the primary focus for many intercoms, but they shouldn’t be the only option. So, consider a video intercom that supports a mobile app, PIN codes, and key cards or fobs.
Enhance Property Security & Safety
Unlike other door entry solutions, video intercoms offer a wide range of security and safety features. The most notable and prominent feature is the built-in camera. Video intercoms with wide-angle cameras ensure staff and tenants can clearly see who is requesting access at the entryway.
More importantly, the interaction between the tenant and guest is captured via the intercom’s entry log. Then, when a guest is granted access by a resident, the intercom takes a time- and date-stamped photo. This feature is essential for property managers when they discover a security breach.
Lastly, video intercoms integrate with your fire alarm system. So, in the event of a fire, the intercom will automatically unlock the entryway for building occupants to exit safely.
Manage Visitors & Delivery Drivers
There are several ways to manage visitors and delivery drivers, but this is the only technology that manages both in a single device. Video intercoms from ButterflyMX make managing visitors and delivery drivers easy by automating the process.
You no longer need a visitor sign-in sheet or security guard to screen guests before giving them access to the property. Rather, your video intercom automatically performs these duties and stores them in a detailed record.
When guests arrive at the building, they’ll search for the person they’re visiting in the intercom’s directory to call. Then, the intercom calls the tenant via the mobile app. From there, the tenant can see and speak to the visitor before granting them access remotely. This interaction appears in the intercoms audit log, which is viewable by property staff.
Pro tip: To further improve security and safety at your building, integrate your video intercom with elevator controls. This feature limits a guest to the floor of the tenant who granted them access.
Alternatively, tenants can send their guests virtual keys, which can be customized to certain times of the day or week and the number of uses. Virtual keys are especially useful for residents who hire service workers such as dog walkers or housekeepers. The key grants the individual access regardless of whether the resident is home.
As for delivery drivers, property managers can set up delivery PINs for major couriers — UPS, FedEx, and USPS. In turn, couriers can autonomously access the property, preventing residents from experiencing missed deliveries.
Integrate With Third-Party Products
Video intercoms are designed to streamline workflows and centralize security operations through integrations.
Available integrations will vary based on the system you choose, but they most commonly integrate with:
- Property management software
- Access control systems
- Surveillance cameras
- Smart locks
- Voice assistants
- Resident experience apps
Integrating your video intercom with other software and hardware at your property allows you to unify security efforts and consolidate management duties into one tool.
Future-Proof Your Property’s Access Control
Cloud-based video intercoms are future-proof, meaning they last significantly longer than systems with on-site servers. By using the cloud, your video intercom system will receive updates for many years, introducing new features and improving quality of life.
In addition, cloud-based access control systems and video intercoms have fewer maintenance needs. With less wiring, you won’t have to worry about how they degrade over time or perform manual updates yourself. Instead, the system is updated remotely from the manufacturer.
Overall, video intercom systems play a vital role in access control because of their inviting appeal. Plus, video intercoms are highly effective at managing tenants, guests, delivery drivers, and more.
So, when looking for the right solution, find a video intercom system with next-generation features, such as built-in WiFi, a wide-angle camera, and RFID technology, such as ButterflyMX. Above all, your video intercom should play a role in a property-wide access control solution, unifying your security efforts in one place.
