Why You Should Start with Access When Developing a Smart Building

Smart technology has become a defining feature of modern multifamily developments. From keyless entry and self-guided tours to remote property management, smart solutions are reshaping how buildings operate and how residents experience their homes. Developers increasingly recognize the need to incorporate technology into new projects. But with so many options available, deciding where to start can be overwhelming.

One of the biggest challenges in smart building access control development is determining which technologies deliver the greatest impact. Should you prioritize smart locks, high-speed internet, or energy management systems? While each plays a role in a connected property, the best place to start is with access control. A well-designed, property-wide access control system creates a secure, convenient, and scalable foundation that supports both current needs and future innovations.

By investing in access control first, developers can maximize operational efficiency, enhance security, and improve the resident experience from day one. Without it, other smart building technologies risk becoming disjointed, creating inefficiencies that lead to higher costs and a frustrating user experience. In this article, we’ll explore why access control should be the first step in any smart building strategy and how it sets the stage for long-term success.

Property-wide access control is a comprehensive system that manages and secures every entry point in a multifamily building. Unlike standalone smart locks, which only secure individual units, a property-wide solution extends across the entire building, covering perimeter doors, common areas, amenities, parking garages, and individual units. This unified approach ensures that all residents, staff, and authorized visitors can move throughout the property seamlessly while maintaining security.

At the core of property-wide access control is a smart apartment platform that connects all access points into a centralized system. This allows property managers to control and monitor access remotely, eliminating the need for physical keys, fobs, or disconnected systems that create inefficiencies. Instead, residents can conveniently unlock doors using their smartphone or a credential of their choice, while staff can grant, revoke, and monitor access from a single interface.

Building smart access control into a development from the beginning ensures a frictionless experience for both residents and staff.

Smart locks offer convenience at the unit level, but they may fall short when it comes to managing access across an entire property. Without a unified, property-wide access control system, the resident and staff experience becomes fragmented and inefficient.

For residents, a lack of integration means juggling multiple access methods, including smartphone apps for unit doors, key fobs for amenities, and physical keys for perimeter entry. This disjointed experience creates frustration, undermining the convenience that smart technology is meant to provide.

For staff, managing access without a centralized system is an operational headache. They must manually track and oversee multiple disconnected systems, making it difficult to efficiently grant and revoke access for new residents, maintenance teams, and vendors. This inefficiency leads to wasted time, increased security risks, and potential gaps in access control.

Without a property-wide, centralized access control system, managing access becomes significantly more complex:

By starting with property-wide access control, developers ensure a smooth, unified experience for residents and staff that saves time, enhances security, and lays the groundwork for future smart building innovations.

Security is a top priority for residents and property owners, and a comprehensive access control system is one of the most effective ways to enhance safety while reducing risk. By implementing property-wide access control, developers can create a secure, transparent, and well-managed living environment that benefits residents and operations.

Modern renters expect a high level of security, and smart access control delivers by providing real-time awareness and control over their unit and the building:

Beyond resident safety, access control also helps protect the property itself, reducing risks that can lead to financial and legal burdens:

A well-integrated access control system helps property owners avoid unnecessary expenses, particularly in larger communities. In an average 250-unit building, preventing unauthorized access and security breaches can lead to substantial cost savings, including:

By investing in access control upfront, developers can enhance security, protect property value, and reduce long-term operational costs, making it one of the most cost-effective smart building upgrades.

Today’s renters expect a seamless, tech-enabled living experience, and property-wide access control delivers exactly that. By eliminating the need for physical keys and integrating mobile credentials, access control simplifies everyday life for residents while also streamlining operations for property staff.

Smart access control offers a level of convenience and flexibility that traditional keys and fobs simply can’t match:

By making everyday access effortless, smart access control enhances resident satisfaction and retention, helping properties stand out in competitive markets.

Beyond resident convenience, access control also reduces workload and costs for property managers, making day-to-day operations more efficient:

By integrating access control, developers not only enhance the resident experience but also improve operational efficiency, reducing costs while increasing property appeal.

Self-guided tours (SGT) have become a game-changer in multifamily leasing, allowing prospects to explore a property on their own schedule without the need for an on-site leasing agent. This flexibility expands leasing hours without increasing costs, helping properties fill vacancies faster while enhancing the prospect experience.

Traditional leasing office hours don’t always align with a prospect’s availability. Self-guided tours remove this barrier, making it easier for potential residents to visit at their convenience, which leads to:

By enabling frictionless, anytime access, self-guided tours help properties lease up faster while catering to modern renters’ expectations.

For self-guided tours to be effective, properties need a secure, time-limited access solution that allows prospects to enter the building and units while restricting access to unauthorized areas.

By implementing smart access control from the start, developers ensure that self-guided tours are secure, seamless, and successful, creating a better experience for prospects while protecting residents and property assets.

Smart technology is constantly evolving, and developers who plan for the future can maximize long-term value. Property-wide access control is the foundation for a scalable, tech-forward building that adapts to changing resident expectations and operational needs.

A unified access control system eliminates outdated, manual processes that slow down property management.

By digitizing access control, properties streamline operations, reduce inefficiencies, and future-proof their workflows as new technology emerges.

As multifamily buildings increasingly shift toward centralized operations, access control is key in remote property management and maintenance.

By enabling remote, keyless access, smart access control makes centralized property management more efficient and cost-effective.

Technology is always evolving, and smart buildings must be flexible to integrate with future innovations.

Developers create a future-ready foundation that adapts to evolving technologies, resident needs, and operational efficiencies by implementing access control.

Access control is the foundation of a well-functioning, future-ready property. A comprehensive, property-wide access control system enhances security, improves resident convenience, streamlines operations, and enables self-guided tours, all while positioning a building for long-term success.

By investing in access control first, developers create a seamless, centralized framework that makes every other smart technology more straightforward to implement. Whether integrating self-guided tours, automating access for maintenance teams, or supporting future smart building innovations, a robust access control system ensures flexibility and efficiency from day one.

For developers planning their next project, the takeaway is clear: Prioritizing access control early is the most guaranteed way to future-proof your investment, enhance operational efficiency, and deliver an experience that today’s renters expect.