Keeping your residents and assets safe presents complex challenges, often with priorities that seem to be at odds. Buildings need robust security, yet access must be as smooth and convenient as possible for residents. Residents desire easy entry for deliveries, dog walkers, and scheduled services, while also having peace of mind that their units are secure.
Balancing the need to secure various spaces—from individual units to common areas like gyms and pools—with providing convenient access for deliveries, guests, and vendors is a delicate act. Adding to this challenge, most properties currently rely on a mix of outdated manual processes and disconnected software platforms, which create significant inefficiencies and potential security gaps.
The fundamental solution begins with centralization. By consolidating security technologies into a single, unified system, property operations become significantly more manageable, and overall security is substantially strengthened.
Breaking Free From Fragmented Security Solutions
In our highly connected world, we’ve somehow missed a piece of the puzzle in multifamily security. Camera systems, access control, door entry systems, and smart locks are often implemented individually, communicating in isolation rather than as a unified system.
This fragmentation or disconnection forces property managers to toggle between disparate systems to piece together a complete picture of every access event. This leads to significant inefficiencies, increased security risks, and a higher potential for human error.
As Lee Miller, VP of Multifamily Sales at Brivo, explained during the Solving for Multifamily Podcast: “For many years, multifamily technology has been on islands. That was a nightmare for property managers to be able to manage. I see the access event, but then I have to go to a different system to see the cameras. The first part of centralization in multifamily is bringing all that tech into one unified platform.”
Centralizing Technology: Building a Unified Security Platform for Multifamily
Centralizing security technology brings everything—access control, video intelligence, credentials, smart locks, and more—into a single, unified platform. All essential security tools are now available in one place, eliminating the need to jump between screens to get a holistic view of everything happening across the property.
Key Benefits of a Unified Security Platform
Comprehensive Security
Provides a complete “sidewalk to unit” security solution, managing common area access, unit access, and video surveillance all from a single interface.
Enhanced Visibility
Connecting video with access events offers a complete picture of residents, staff, and guests as they move throughout your properties.
Improved Decision Making
Eliminates information silos, enabling faster, more informed decisions and resolutions.
Foundation for Growth
With access events tied directly to video footage, properties gain a strong foundation to integrate the latest proptech solutions and enhance amenities, such as self-guided tours, streamlined deliveries, and robust visitor management.
With this centralized approach and cloud technology, that single team can efficiently handle leasing and maintenance requests for several properties. Maintenance staff can answer calls and service tickets for multiple buildings. Because access is granted remotely via the cloud for each service request, the maintenance team no longer needs to worry about picking up physical keys; everything is handled electronically. And with video connected to access events, managers gain visibility into what’s happening at every entry point without needing to be physically onsite.
Similarly, this approach is a game-changer for leasing operations. You don’t need a full leasing team stationed at each individual site. With the emergence of self-guided tours, prospective residents can simply schedule a time online and gain temporary access to tour the apartment and property amenities without needing direct interaction with staff.
Miller summarizes:
“The main thing is centralizing the technology and getting that technology to the cloud in one system instead of multiple systems.”
Open APIs & Interoperability: The Key to Future-Proofing Your Property
In the rapidly evolving world of proptech, no single vendor offers every solution a modern multifamily property needs—nor should they. According to Miller, vendors who understand the need for integrated technology focus on their core strength, instead of trying to build everything themselves. They provide an open architecture that allows customers to connect their chosen systems and build a truly complete, customized solution.
You’ll likely adopt a variety of best-in-class tools over time, from smart home features and resident apps to package management solutions. For your core security system to truly be the foundation of this technology stack, it cannot operate in isolation; it must integrate with these other essential systems you opt for.
For example, Brivo’s integration with a self-guided tour platform like Tour24 works effectively because the underlying access control system is already cloud-based and designed for integration.
This is why Open APIs and interoperability are non-negotiable for multifamily properties.
An open API is essentially a secure digital doorway that allows your security platform to easily connect, share information, and work together with other specialized property technologies. Interoperability is the resulting ability for these different systems and electronic hardware to function harmoniously as a connected ecosystem, rather than disconnected pieces.
Choosing an open, interoperable security platform allows you to easily integrate the other essential tools your property needs, both today and in the future. As Lee Miller puts it:
“That open platform means you’re really future-proofed.”
The alternative is selecting technology that isn’t interoperable, which leads right back to the “island” problem we discussed earlier. Disconnected systems create management headaches and hinder innovation. An open, interoperable platform eliminates that burden, allowing your property teams to focus on their core mission: leasing buildings and providing excellent resident experiences.
Listen to the full discussion at us.allegion.com.