The Role of High-Quality Audio and Video in Multi-Tenant Buildings

This is especially true for multi-tenant buildings. Whether it’s a mix of commercial units or a building blending commercial and residential, building owners, tenants and visitors all want to feel protected.

But security is just one part of the equation. As mindsets shift to user-centric buildings and cities, convenience, efficiency and user experience need to be prioritized alongside safety.  

With more buildings adopting smart infrastructure to meet this need, door entry intercom and video display systems are a key component in security strategies for multi-tenant buildings. But one thing is often overlooked – audio quality is the foundation of any intercom installation, and can make or break its value for building owners and tenants. 

Understanding Multi-Tenant Door Entry Communication 

Commercial buildings are often home to multiple tenants, resulting in a constant flow of foot traffic in and out of the building throughout the day. Employees, maintenance, visitors, deliveries all need swift and seamless access to the building.

By installing an intercom at the door, building occupants can communicate with visitors, verify their identities and then grant entry to:

• Enhance security – Quickly and easily identify and communicate with visitors before granting entry. This deters unwanted visitors and limits unauthorised access.  

• Increase convenience – Clear, crisp audio ensures a seamless interaction with the door intercom and  the residents of the building, helping visitors to achieve their objectives quickly.

The Role of High Audio Quality in Multi-Tenant Building Intercom Systems

The audio quality of a building intercom is the difference between conveying accurate information and creating confusion and uncertainty.  

However, maintaining clear communication in all environments, and at all times, is not always easy. Some spaces are naturally louder or have more disruptions.

Take an entry point, for example. It serves as the first line of defence in a building’s security infrastructure, but is often situated in a loud environment with street traffic and other background noise.

Real-Life Consequences of Poor Audio Quality at the Door

Consider a scenario. Your high-profile potential customers are in town, visiting your offices for a final product demonstration and contract negotiations. You have been preparing for weeks and everything is ready.  

The visiting CEO presses the intercom button and your team inside asks for identification. But they cannot understand the CEO’s distorted response. They ask for clarification but still struggle to understand. They hesitate, leaving your visitors, and potential revenue, frustrated on the street outside while they walk down to the entry door.  

This scenario is not uncommon in buildings where effective entry communication and management has not been a priority. It clearly shows that while security is paramount, user experience, first impressions, confidence and trust must also be considered.  

Video Display Intercoms for Added Security and Confidence 

While high-quality audio is the foundation of any door intercom solution, some intercoms also enable visitors to initiate a two-way video call with the tenant. This brings a sense of security and confidence to both parties by enabling ‘face-to-face communication’ before entering the building.  

Let’s consider another scenario. You work in a multi-tenant building and hear the intercom. The visitor claims to be a maintenance engineer needing access to the building to complete some work.

The newly installed video display intercom allows you to safely ask them to remove their motorcycle helmet and hold up their photo identity badge to confirm they are who they claim to be. Upon entering the building, the engineer then knows exactly who they need to find to get the job done.  

Choosing Door Entry Communication Systems for User-Centric Buildings 

Given the clear benefits, audio and video intercoms are now an integral part of modern, multi-tenant buildings. They undoubtedly bring a robust first line of defense in any building’s security infrastructure, but it is their ability to enhance convenience and user experience that increases their value and impact. All of this equates to tenants that feel safe, in control and happier, important factors in helping them renew tenancy agreements and stay longer. 

But there’s a lot of choice on the market. Building owners and managers, business owners and architects have a number of considerations when choosing a door entry communication system. Here’s a quick checklist to evaluate solutions:

And take care with that last question. If the audio quality cannot meet the demands of the environment, security, convenience and user experience quickly disappear.  

Hear, Be Heard, and Be Understood with Zenitel 

With our background in critical communications, we know the importance of being understood, every time and everywhere. And that’s not a simple as it might sound. Communications systems need to be able to deal dynamically with any situation and adapt to their environment, ensuring crystal clear and natural speech comes through. And good audio is not guaranteed by great parts and features, it’s the carefully tuned hardware, software and mechanics working in concert that makes the difference.

Our latest door entry video intercom and display systems are engineered to deliver exceptional audio performance, and rigorously tested to ensure clear, reliable and effortless door entry communication for visitors. And our large ecosystem of safety and security technology partners ensure that our systems can integrate seamlessly with, and add value to, your existing security systems.  

Get in touch to unlock safety and satisfaction for your multi-tenant building.