How Gate Intercom Systems Improve Resident Safety at Gated Communities

One of the biggest appeals residents find in gated communities is their heightened security and safety.

Unfortunately, those qualities could be hindered by choosing the wrong type of gate entry system.

Gate intercom systems are the best way to manage access to your gated community. These systems help address common security challenges gated communities face and improve the overall resident experience.

But before choosing a gated community intercom system, you need to know what qualities to consider.

Common Security Challenges at Gated Communities

Before considering what features to look for in your security gate intercom system, it’s best to know what challenges gated communities face, especially regarding security. That way, you can better choose a system that addresses your community’s security needs.

Traffic Volume

Gated communities experience high traffic volume during peak hours of the day, which can cause severe congestion. In turn, residents, guests, and delivery drivers experience long wait times that become frustrating. 

However, high traffic volume also increases the chances of unauthorized access via tailgating. Without an efficient system to manage access to the property, you can expect anyone to get inside during these stressful times.

Unauthorized Access

As mentioned above, tailgating is a form of unauthorized access in which a person without proper access closely follows behind an authorized vehicle to gain entry. Traditional types of gate access often fail to address this issue, leading to individuals slipping through. Above all, this loophole can put the property at risk of vandalism, theft, or worse, jeopardizing the safety of your residents.

Visitors and Delivery Drivers

While the front security gate is designed to keep unauthorized people from entering the property, that purpose also creates a pain point for residents when inviting guests over or receiving online orders.

With traditional systems, residents often have to grant access to delivery drivers or guests by either physically going to the gate or sharing a PIN code. Walking to the gate takes time, creates long lines, and is inconvenient for everyone involved. Additionally, sharing PIN codes can compromise security, as unauthorized individuals may gain access to the community.

Lack of a Detailed Log

Finally, many gated communities lack an effective method of logging who is entering the community. Some may use a gatehouse with a security guard to physically log entries, but this method isn’t detailed enough and doesn’t offer any visual evidence of authentication. Without an efficient access log, it’s difficult to maintain accountability and effectively respond to security breaches, creating a false sense of security for residents.

Key Benefits of Gate Intercom Systems

Despite the many security challenges gated communities face, gate intercom systems provide many benefits to resolve them.

Improved Security

Gate intercom systems improve the security of your community by reducing unauthorized access. Features like two-way video calling and audit logs ensure that only authorized residents can enter the property. A video gate intercom system also reduces tailgating by providing real-time verification, making it more difficult for unauthorized individuals to enter the community behind a resident.

Enhanced Resident Experience

Gate intercom systems offer a smoother and more efficient method of granting access to visitors and delivery drivers. For example, many systems support a mobile app, enabling residents to remotely grant access to their visitors or delivery drivers.

Guests and couriers use these systems to request access from the residents they are visiting via the built-in directory. The system then notifies the resident via the mobile app, which allows them to see and speak with the person before letting them inside.

This experience is not only faster, but also safer. Residents can see the person requesting access with a built-in camera in the gate intercom. Rather than relying solely on audio, residents have peace of mind when granting access to visitors or delivery drivers.

Easier Management

Gated community intercom systems also facilitate a more centralized property management experience. Cloud-based intercoms are especially important for this movement because they enable property managers and owners to manage their systems remotely.

Cloud-based gate intercoms integrate seamlessly with other products, such as security cameras, access control, property management software, and more. So, as a property manager or owner, you’ll have an easier time managing your community through a centralized dashboard that combines access control and property management.

More Community Appeal

Aside from security advantages, gate intercoms simply enhance the appeal of your community. Prospective residents are likely to be drawn to the benefits of a gate intercom system. In other words, it’s an attractive amenity that helps you stand out from competitors.

What to Look For in a Security Gate Intercom System

You’ll find numerous gate intercom systems to choose from, but the best options include the following features.

Mobile App

A mobile app is essential for any modern security feature in your gated community. When it comes to a gate intercom system, a mobile app can improve the resident experience while simplifying your management duties.

For instance, residents can quickly access the property using the mobile app or let their guests in remotely. Meanwhile, you can review audit logs, grant access, and manage permissions without being on-site, giving you more flexibility and control over access to your gated community.

High Durability

Because your gate intercom will be exposed to the elements, it should be designed to withstand all climates. So, look for a system with a high Ingress Protection (IP) and impact resistance (IK) rating that can withstand harsh environmental conditions, such as snow, rain, extreme temperatures, and potential tampering.

With these high ratings, you won’t need to worry about maintenance or repairs as often, making these gate intercom systems a cost-effective choice.

Ease of use

Any technology’s ease of use is important for you and your residents. A complicated system discourages residents from using the intercom and creates inefficiencies with operations. The ideal gate intercom system should be intuitive so that residents can easily grant access for themselves, guests, or delivery drivers. At the same time, you want a system that is easy to manage so that you run into fewer technical issues and can onboard new employees faster.

Integration Capabilities

Select a gate intercom system that can integrate with other systems you already use or want to use in the future. Integrations with security cameras, access control, and property management software create a comprehensive property management solution that gives you greater oversight of your community’s operations.

You can also expect integrations with various systems to streamline management tasks. For instance, integrating with property management software enables the system to automatically enable and revoke access based on a resident’s move-in and move-out day. Therefore, you’ll reduce the time and effort required to maintain multiple systems.

Security Features

Prioritize security features such as audit logs and two-way video calling. Audit logs help track who is entering your property by taking time- and date-stamped photos of the entry. A feature like this is invaluable when looking to conduct swift security investigations.

Additionally, two-way video calling lets residents and property staff visually verify who they’re letting into the community. Older systems rely solely on audio to verify identification, which is not always reliable. Visual confirmation of the guest will reduce the likelihood of unauthorized access, which gated communities are frequently challenged by.

Conclusion

As you can see, intercom systems for gated communities are highly effective at addressing common security challenges. In addition, this technology improves the marketability of your community while providing a better living experience for current residents. For those reasons, gate intercom systems are the best solution for managing access at your property.