Security Sales & Integration October 2021 - 53

are a vital tool to strengthen security and optimize
building communication both onsite
and offsite. In this article, we'll illustrate how
intercoms can be used as a strong piece of the
security puzzle - a comprehensive and robust
solution meeting today's needs.
Mobile & Touchless Solutions
Access demands continue to reflect the current
state of the world, with a shift to mobile applications
that offer a touchless way to gain access.
A mobile application can remove the need for a
physical key card, as it eliminates the potential
of loss or theft of an access credential. This optimized
and touchless method of identity management
is why more than 50% of customers
are expected to move to mobile-based access
control solutions the next few years.
In multitenant commercial buildings and
residential spaces, there are major concerns of
potential hotspots developing and spreading
illness throughout the facility. This has prompted
a migration to more touchless devices and
sensors to help control resident and visitor traffic.
By installing an intercom equipped with
a sensor, an individual can request access by
simply gesturing in front of the device to initiate
communication with the person inside. For
a truly touchless experience, an electric hinge
integrated into the door system eliminates the
need to touch a door handle.
A general theme in security and technology
this past year has been the reinvention of existing
solutions for new uses. For example, QR
codes have become more heavily utilized to
grant and then limit access credentials. If you
are at the office and have a dog walker stopping
by, or expect a grocery delivery, you can easily
send the delivery person a QR code directly
from your mobile phone to allow access into
the building.
Remote Monitoring & Contact Tracing
One way access control solutions and intercoms
are being used is for contact tracing.
Especially as more commercial buildings and
office spaces reopen, controlling access to previously
open-lobby buildings is imperative, as
is having an audit trail in case of an outbreak.
For example, if several employees at an office
all use a mobile app to gain access through an
intercom system, and if someone tests positive
for COVID-19, the business would be able to
contact all employees or visitors who were onsecuritysales.com
OCTOBER
2021 Security Sales & Integration 53
site during that time. Access control and visitor
management systems are all part of the same
bubble, in this respect, and can work together
to mitigate risk.
Remote access and monitoring have been
in high demand for a few reasons, but one
of the most obvious is that it allows eyes on
a facility, while personnel are not physically
present. These abilities are crucial to federal
or government buildings where entire divisions
might be offsite.
For example, due to COVID-19 restrictions
many government buildings only allow select
people onsite. If a visitor accesses the building
and uses an intercom to call the office, it is immediately
rerouted to the individual working
remotely with no lapse in communication. This
seamless connectivity directly improves the visitor,
or customer experience. This also gives the
appearance the building is more occupied than it
seems, therefore also acting as a crime deterrent.
Managing Occupancy With Video
Just as important as managing who is entering a
facility is managing the number of people gathering
in one place. Minimizing opportunities
for large groups to gather in open spaces has
been a priority for many during the pandemic,
and that is unlikely to change any time soon.
In an educational setting, for example, it is
critical for campus staff to see how many people
are requesting access at the door - as well
as who is at the door. If a person is requesting
access into a science laboratory where only
Intercoms fit into
any system as a
logical solution
to a variety of
pain points, by
allowing for
crucial two-way
communication
and visual
confirmation.
Changing the perception that
intercoms are a basic solution
for simple uses has not only
been aided by technological
advancements, but by their
expanding role in a variety of
markets.
BOBEX73/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
http://www.securitysales.com
Security Sales & Integration October 2021

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