Multifamily and commercial buildings have at least one thing in common: They both need to manage property access. Not only do they need to manage the people who live or work there, but they also need to manage the building’s visitors, from friends and family to prospective tenants to delivery couriers and beyond.
Access control systems are important proptech solutions that have helped owners and operators manage access for decades. Many modern access control systems have been radically improved by cloud computing services. You probably already rely on the cloud to manage finances, store photos, and share files — so why not use it for your access control system, too?
Compared to traditional access control systems, the best cloud-based access control systems offer greater convenience and improved capabilities.
Here are eight benefits of cloud-based access control systems:
- Off-site hosting centers
- Data protection and backup
- Improved flexibility
- Cost- and time-effective
- Easily customizable
- Improved safety
- Remote support
- Better integrations
1. Off-site hosting centers
In a cloud-based system, the location where your data is hosted and stored never shuts down. Having a physical server in your building can be expensive, time-consuming, and requires ongoing maintenance. Maintenance can be as simple as restarting the system or as complicated as installing more memory to make it faster.
But with a cloud-based system, you get the convenience of knowing that maintenance and upgrades are automatic. In other words: you’ll always be able to manage your system from any internet-connected device without worrying about it being down.
2. Data protection and backup
When you have a cloud-based access control system, the hosting center storing your software automatically updates and backs up. As a result, you’ll always have access to current data and you’ll never have to worry about your in-house server dying. If that happened, you might lose valuable data such as the access permissions you’ve configured for your tenants.
Data centers are also equipped with redundancies. Redundancies ensure your data is backed up in multiple locations in case a file becomes corrupted and needs restoration.
3. Improved flexibility
Maybe your property sees relatively high turnover, or perhaps your business is on a hiring spree with multiple new employees joining every week. Regardless, a cloud-based access control system gives you greater flexibility. You can manage permissions and update the system remotely, all from one convenient platform. Cloud-based systems are also great for businesses with multiple sites.
4. Cost- and time-effective
Installing and replacing servers and card readers, writing new software, and hiring someone to do it all is expensive. With a cloud-based access control system, you pay one fee, which saves you a lot of time and money.
5. Easily customizable
Cloud-based access control systems are easily customizable for your business’s needs. When adding or revoking access permissions in a traditional system, you must physically scan a fob or rewire various pieces of hardware. In contrast, with cloud-based systems, it’s as simple as logging into an online portal. In just a few clicks, you’ve changed the permissions for a new, current, or terminated employee.
6. Improved safety
Having a cloud-based access control system in place gives you peace of mind. You can rest easy knowing you have the ability to grant access for certain people and revoke it for others anywhere, any time. Plus, your system is being monitored and maintained around the clock.
7. Remote support
On-premises access control systems lack the robust and remote support offered by cloud-based systems. If your traditional access control system experiences an issue, chances are you’ll have to call a technician to come onsite and fix it.
With cloud-based access control systems, your software provider is just a call or click away to offer remote support. Whether you simply need help adjusting a user’s permissions or your entire system is failing, your provider will likely be able to help without even visiting the building.
8. Better integrations
Integrating your access control system with other technologies enables automated workflows and additional efficiency-focused benefits. Cloud-based applications integrate more seamlessly.
For example, you could integrate your cloud-based access control system with:
- A video intercom system like ButterflyMX
- Your CRM or G-Suite directory
- Slack, to enable automatic notifications when certain security events occur
Now that you know the benefits of cloud-based access control systems, consider investing in other solutions to save time, cut costs, and improve your property. If you own or manage a commercial property, a cloud-based access control system is just one of the many ways to enhance your tenants’ experience. Read our free ebook to discover other ways you can delight tenants and sign more top-dollar, multi-year leases.
