We asked property managers which smart entrance control features they would like. The pop-up survey was conducted with the American Apartment Owners Association (AAOA) on their website with members’ and visitors’ participation.
1. Keyless Entry
Almost 30% of the respondents said that keyless entry for residents was their top smart access control feature. That’s because the midnight calls from residents who have locked themselves out aren’t fun. And it’s hard to be a 
people-pleasing community manager when you don’t get enough sleep.
Plus, there’s an interesting crossover here. That’s because keyless entry is the number 2 smart tech amenity that hits all the sweet spots for today’s Gen Z renters. It’s frictionless, free of barriers, and convenient. Remember that cloud-based entrance controls enable the resident-facing apps that allow tenants to unlock their doors from their smartphone—or ask Siri to unlock the door for them.
2. See Video Footage of Access Entry Events
Over 20% of survey respondents cited the ability to see video clips of access entry events as the smart access control feature, they would most like to have. With the companion myQ Community cloud subscription, managers and
owners can securely manage how and when residents and visitors access each entrance from the convenience of a tablet or laptop.
Managers also wanted the ability to receive real-time notifications and remote diagnostics for detecting and addressing issues before their residents were even aware. The ability to remotely manage and control entry for the many people who need to enter the property, from guests, delivery drivers, maintenance staff, and service providers, was a favorite feature. As was the ability to streamline package deliveries. Here’s a short video for you.
3. Easy Installation with Limited Wiring
Just under 20% of survey respondents cited the easy installation of smart video intercom technology with limited wiring and wi-fi capabilities. Modern video intercom systems don’t require hard wiring as telephone landlines once did. But they require a high bandwidth fiber optic cable or a fast 4/5G cellular connection to the internet. Remember that today’s renters grew up with smartphones and consider community-wide wi-fi an essential amenity.
4. Ability to Manage Access Offsite
15% of our survey respondents said the ability to manage access control remotely was important to them. Here’s what they want to be able to do.
- Provide access remotely with a mouse click.
- Monitor a property, or multiple properties with your laptop or tablet remotely from anywhere.
- Assign groups, schedules, and zones to provide role-based access.
- Integrate with your existing property management system.
- Long-distance monitoring of entrance access-point activity.
- Receive real-time customized notifications: door ajar, permission denied, expired code used, and many more.
5. Automate Issuing and Revoking Resident Credentials
12% of survey respondents said that the ability to automate resident credentials was their must-have feature. Instead of schlepping to the residents’ building to add or delete tenants from the directory, managers can issue or revoke credentials from the myQ Community dashboard – even when offsite. Without the need to re-program or re-key hardware systems or issue physical keys or cards with every move, managers save time and, you’ve got it, money.
6. Connect Property Management Software with Access Control Management Software
6% of survey respondents choose the ability to share data between these two important property management systems. From increased security to improved renewal rates, a connected infrastructure environment also cuts costs
and delivers efficiencies to everyone on the management team. When a problem arises on-site, property managers need a solution that is easily accessible, effective, and inexpensive without sacrificing security. Cloud-based software like myQ Community enables managers to work more efficiently by eliminating the errors that come with redundant data entry, manual processes, and outdated resident information.
