SECURITY SYSTEMS
MULTI-RESIDENTIAL ACCESS TRENDS AND MARKET DRIVERS UNCOVERED
» ABLOY UK HAS DELVED INTO MULTIresidential access trends and key market drivers in a new whitepaper , “ The future of multi-residential access management ”, encompassing environments such as apartments , university accommodation , care homes , and more .
Chris Pike , Business Development Manager – Multi Occupancy at Abloy UK , explains : “ Multi-residential housing - or multi-family as it ’ s also known - is Europe ’ s second-largest real estate sector , and we are seeing digitalisation gathering pace in this arena with the market witnessing a complete transformation .
“ Digitalisation has penetrated almost every area of daily life , so it makes sense that such technology keeps people and property safe too . Access and security management can often lead a move towards digital solutions , streamlining operations and making life more convenient for residents , property managers and landlords .
“ When tenants or homeowners choose a multi-residential property , they place their faith in property managers to deliver security and safety without hassle or worry . Building managers return this trust with responsibility , even in the face of time and cost pressures which inevitably come in a competitive market .”
Key whitepaper findings
• Increased efficiency : The whitepaper found that greater efficiency helps multi-residence housing providers to improve their service and boost resident satisfaction . When deployed effectively , a digital access solution around the building becomes a seamless experience for the resident and a reputation enhancer for the housing provider , delivering a concrete ROI .
• Mobile keys : The growing appeal of mobile or smartphone keys was also highlighted , with many renters now expecting the convenience of the mobile world , in everything from food delivery to banking and travel .
• Connected experience : With mobile access , they get a connected experience , moving around the building hasslefree , between their apartment and common areas such as a gym , laundry room or private gardens .
• Key control & access rights : Instead of a bunch of keys , they carry one flexible , shareable virtual key to let visitors in remotely ; they can share temporary keys , with visitors or family , which expire automatically .
• Smart energy & security : Home automation systems , when properly integrated with digital access , also offer benefits such as smarter energy usage and real-time security notifications , with enhanced convenience , connectivity , and control . As more smart devices are installed into multi-residential units , the value for integrating access control into the smart home ecosystem only grows .
Improved security and facilities management
Digitalisation also benefits property owners , investors , and managers . It creates an efficient way to provide building security for tenants and their visitors , as well as temporary service providers or contractors .
With a digital system , service providers carry access credentials which fit their precise time-period and location requirements , with flexible access issued for multiple premises if required .
For example , cleaners may be admitted five days each week , between 6am and 9am . Their programmable credentials only unlock site doors during this window , and their permissions can automatically expire after an agreed period .
With digital access , facilities staff no longer spend hours on traditional key management and they do not need to change locks when keys go missing . Any lost credential is quickly deleted from the
system , and it won ’ t unlock doors , cabinets , or any other access-controlled openings .
This added flexibility in workflow saves time , even more so if access can be managed from anywhere via a remote or cloud-based system .
A digital solution offers the flexibility to meet almost any user or building management need , and a connected solution can put property managers in remote control of their premises . Choosing digital also saves time and money , with solutions available from Abloy UK that are easy to retrofit , with no need for cables .
Chris adds : “ Access shouldn ’ t be a hassle - it should be seamless and convenient for both tenants and property managers . From an investment point of view , digitalisation provides more than just this immediate ROI .
“ We have extensive expertise in security and access control ; however , no one can predict with 100 % certainty where this market is heading . Certainly , installing digital systems in new-builds – and retrofitting them wirelessly to existing locations – is the best way to future-proof a multi-residential property for whatever comes next .”
www . abloy . co . uk
1 https :// www . savills . co . uk / insight-and-opinion / savills-news / 319434-0 / savills--multifamily-now-firmly-established-as-europe-s-second-biggest-real-estate-sector
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FEBRUARY 2024
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