Intercom System

"Stay connected and in control with our advanced intercom systems."

Everything you need to know about intercom systems

If you’re upgrading the building access system in your office or purchasing one for a new commercial development, you have a big decision to make. You’ll have to decide which commercial intercom system to install.

There are lots of options out there. Some commercial intercoms are wireless while others even offer video. To help you find the right intercom for your property, we’ve created this complete commercial intercom buyer’s guide. It will help you understand the important differences between commercial intercom systems and ensure you purchase the best one for your building. Read on to learn about the features you should look for and the factors to consider when choosing a commercial intercom system.

What is a commercial intercom system?

A commercial intercom system is a device designed for commercial, office, and industrial buildings that enables communication and property access. Its purpose is to allow tenants in a commercial building to speak with visitors and grant them access remotely.

There are two components to a commercial intercom system:

  1. Base station: The hardware installed at the property’s entrance.

  2. Substations: The devices installed throughout the building (generally in each unit or office suite).

Both base stations and substations contain a microphone and speaker, which transmit audio so tenants and visitors can talk to each other. Some commercial intercoms also have a camera, which transmits video so tenants can see visitors before granting them access.

Intercom systems have been present in commercial buildings for decades. Early commercial intercoms were used solely to let office tenants communicate with each other from different rooms or suites. But today, they’re far more advanced. With added features like door release mechanisms, cameras, mobile apps, and cloud-based management systems, commercial intercoms are more powerful than ever.

Modern commercial intercom systems:

  • Empower tenants to open doors and manage property access from anywhere.

  • Enable property managers to quickly add, revoke, and review property access permissions.

  • Reduce installation and maintenance costs for commercial owners and developers.

How does a commercial intercom system work?

When someone visits your commercial building, they need a way to inform the right person of their arrival. A commercial intercom system enables guests to easily contact any tenant or businessin your building.

To contact a tenant, a visitor must:

  1. Search for the tenant they’re visiting in the intercom’s directory. A commercial directory organizes tenants by company or last name.

  2. Call that tenant. With the push of a button, they can place a call directly to an individual tenant. Alternatively, they can call the front desk of any company in the building.

When someone places a call from the base station, the corresponding tenant receives a notification on a substation, which is either a device installed in their office or their smartphone. The tenant can choose to dismiss the call, speak with the visitor, or open the door.

If the tenant wants to open the door, they press a ‘door open’ button on their substation device. Pressing that button triggers an electronic relay within the intercom base station. Then, that relay sends a signal to the door releasing mechanism, which is an electronic or magnetic lock. The door release mechanism unlocks the door, granting the visitor access.

Simplify guest access

From clients and business associates to friends and family, your tenants welcome guests to your building every day. When guests arrive to visit someone, they don’t want to scroll through their emails searching for the tenant’s phone number. And when tenants have a visitor, they want to let them in right away — without leaving their desks.

That’s why you need a simple way to manage guest access.

Installing a commercial intercom system ensures that visitors can access your property seamlessly. This creates a great first impression for guests visiting your building and adds convenience for tenants.

Ensure package deliveries

Online shopping is on the rise, and package delivery rates are only expected to grow. Residential buildings aren’t the only ones that need to accommodate countless deliveries — commercial properties need a package management solution.

Between tenants ordering office supplies and employees having personal orders shipped to the workplace, your commercial building receives dozens of deliveries per day. And if couriers can’t get through the front door, they can’t deliver your tenants’ packages.

A commercial intercom system is an ideal way to ensure successful deliveries. Choose a system that lets you assign recurring and one-time delivery PINs to couriers. That way, delivery people won’t even need to request access from property staff — all they’ll have to do is enter their PIN at the intercom.

Keep your building secure

Building security is paramount for commercial properties. Tenants want a safe workplace — and they certainly won’t resign a lease if they have any security concerns.

Commercial intercom systems keep your building secure without complicating property access for tenants and authorized guests. With an intercom at the entrance, you can keep your door or gate locked while providing a convenient way for visitors to request access.

Improve tenant experience

All commercial property owners and operators share at least one goal: to retain tenants. And how do you achieve that goal? By investing in the tenant experience.

Modern commercial tenants are less concerned with flashy amenities like gyms and on-site dry cleaning services. While those perks may pique their interest, they won’t convince tenants to renew their leases year after year. What will keep tenants in your building are amenities that improve security, convenience, and productivity. Property technology solutions like commercial intercom systems offer all three.