Your Cloud-Based Video Intercom System Buyer’s Guide

 

 

If you’re in real estate, you may have recently come across cloud-based video intercom technology, which is a video intercom system connected to “the cloud.” But how exactly does a video intercom operate in the cloud, and what benefits does that offer your staff, residents, and visitors? We’re here to help clarify things.

Below, we explain the best cloud-based video intercom and how it works. We’ll also walk you through the many benefits of cloud-based access control systems for your multi-tenant building.

In this post, discover:

• What is the best cloud-based video intercom?
• What is a cloud-based video intercom?
• What are the benefits of a cloud-based video intercom system?

 

What is the best cloud-based video intercom?

With ButterflyMX’s cloud-based video intercom system, property managers and tenants can enjoy seamless and convenient access.

Here are some of the top features of the ButterflyMX video intercom system:

• Perfect for multiple properties. The system is designed for different buildings, including condo communities, salon suites, and commercial office spaces.
• Remote management. The ButterflyMX OS allows you to control access and manage the system remotely from anywhere easily.
• Wireless connectivity. ButterflyMX’s wireless video intercom system offers seamless connectivity and eliminates the need for complex installations.
• Mobile app. Users can also manage the intercom system through the top-rated, user-friendly mobile app, which empowers them to access the system remotely using smart devices like smartphones.
• Virtual keys. With virtual keys, everyone from package delivery professionals to guests can access the building at approved times. Residents and staff only need to create time-restricted virtual keys for visitors at the intercom.
• Touchless Entry. The video intercom door release function allows residents to grant guests access without physical contact easily.

 

How ButterflyMX works:

 

What is a cloud-based video intercom?

A cloud-based video intercom operates and stores data in the cloud. Rather than uploading data directly into the intercom, you conveniently store it in the cloud.

Furthermore, your multi-tenant intercom provider gives you access to a cloud-based portal to update your tenant directory, manage property access permissions, review entry logs, and more.

Tenants, property managers, and building owners often feel frustrated when they need to provide property access to visitors or deliver a product remotely. Fortunately, now that most people have a smartphone in their pocket, remote access doesn’t have to be difficult.

 

How much does a video intercom system cost?

A cloud-based video intercom system can range from $1,000 to $7,000, depending on the type of system you install.

However, other pricing considerations include:

• Installation. Installation costs can vary depending on the company you hire to complete the work.
• Software. A SaaS model generally powers cloud-based video intercom systems. You’ll need to pay a certain fee to continue using the product.
• Maintenance. Whether the screen gets cracked or there’s a technical problem, maintenance costs will eventually arise. These can vary depending on the size of the problem.

 

What are the benefits of a cloud-based video intercom system?

Cloud-based video intercoms offer time-saving and cost-cutting features to improve your building access experience for visitors, residents, and property staff.

The top four benefits of cloud-based intercoms include:

1. Convenient building access
2. Strengthen building security
3. Eliminate wiring
4. Remote management

 

1. Convenient building access

The cloud brings unmatched convenience to your building for residents and property staff by empowering tenants to video call guests and grant them remote entry into the building. That means they can open the door for themselves or their visitors anywhere in the world using a smartphone.

Moreover, you can say goodbye to missing a package because the delivery driver couldn’t access the building.

 

2. Strengthen building security

Cloud-based access control systems also allow residents to set up PIN codes. Tenants can use their PIN to open the door, creating a unique lock where each entrant’s information is documented and stored.

Perhaps the greatest safety feature of a cloud-based intercom is the digital audit trail. Cloud-based video intercoms with a camera take a photo every time someone accesses the building. Moreover, residents and staff can review these time- and date-stamped photos in their cloud-based dashboard anytime.

With a cloud-based door entry system, you never have to worry about making duplicate building keys and tracking them down. With virtual keys, you can grant access to a visitor for a specified time, strengthening security and giving you more control over your multi-unit building. This is a great way to offer self-guided tours to prospective tenants.

 

3. Eliminate wiring

With an app-based intercom system, you don’t need hardware in every unit, so you don’t need to run expensive wiring throughout the apartment building. Cloud-based wireless intercom systems save you money on the initial installation and ongoing maintenance. Some systems even run on Power over Ethernet or PoE, so you don’t need to provide a separate power source to your PoE video intercom.

 

4. Remote management

Cloud-based intercoms offer remote management capabilities so that you can manage and update the system from anywhere. There’s no need to purchase hard copies or download software. Instead, you can sign in to your cloud-based property admin dashboard from your home, office, or any other location.

Traditional intercom systems require building staff to go on-site to change the tenant directory or make other updates. Even if the system offers software for remote management, it comes with the caveat of downloading that software to a single device — which makes it difficult for multiple admins to use it from anywhere.