Ease of management

There is a shortage of some 390,000 housing units in the Netherlands. This is according to the Atlas for Municipalities 2022. The housing shortage is by far the greatest in Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Hilversum, Utrecht and Amersfoort. Not surprising, because almost half of all house seekers prefer to live in our major cities. Within the municipal boundaries of these cities, however, suitable building sites are hard to find. "Buildings will have to go up in height, which also brings access management into play," says Edwin van Reijsen of Intratone. "Housing associations, for example, are diligently looking for wireless and real-time access management for residential buildings, in which convenience is paramount in addition to security, reliability and occupant comfort. Both during installation and operation, which also responds to a second current trend: the growing shortage of qualified personnel."

"New construction and renovation projects in 2022 will no longer be awarded on the basis of system set-up and delivery times, but primarily on simplicity of management," Van Reijsen says. "Is it possible to carry out mutation and key management remotely, so that building managers no longer have to get in the car for every (minor) change? So that they can facilitate a larger working area? And so that budgets can be spent more usefully? Among other things in the realization of housing project KARSP in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, these starting points come into their own perfectly."

Management as a Service

Intratone has long stood for access control and intercom solutions with real-time updates, which can be easily installed, maintained and managed. Also remotely. "With this, we offer Management as a Service," says Van Reijsen. "Distinctive about Intratone's systems is the use of the cell phone network. We place a highly resistant intercom system with SIM card on the facade, which is connected to the electronic locking system of the entrance door. Vulnerable wiring and/or weak spots in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth networks are not an issue. Instead, the GSM network guarantees a high-quality, stable and wireless connection from the intercom to the smartphone and vice versa. And communication via a landline is also possible, eliminating the need for a separate indoor station." With this, Intratone takes away a major annoyance for building owners and managers. "Indoor stations regularly suffer from malfunctions and defects, because residents do not treat them gently. By using their own devices instead, this problem is effectively overcome. After all, residents are a lot more careful with their own devices."

Remote mutation and key management

In case of relocations, administrators no longer need to come on site to replace nameplates. Indeed, by using digital name displays, all change management can be done very easily and through a secure online management portal on the desktop, tablet or smartphone. "Property managers can also easily add or remove users in real time and/or build in time locks for specific users. And key management also becomes easier."

Fully in control

"Keys are by far the most vulnerable part of access control," Van Reijsen emphasizes. "After all, it happens regularly that residents lose keys, making the front door vulnerable. And broken keys and cylinders are also commonplace. To unburden managers in this area as well and save time and costs, we offer an extensive range of electronic keys that can be easily issued and authorized remotely and through the same management portal. Lost keys are blocked in real time, taking security to the highest level. Moreover, temporary access can easily be granted, for example, to home care workers who come to wash and dress residents between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and help them back to bed between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. But also to installers, elevator mechanics, painters and other maintenance parties, who come to perform their work at a predetermined time." Notes and announcements can also be easily displayed on the info display. "In other words, complete management can be carried out from a central office location, saving time as well as transport movements. As a result, fewer building managers are needed to manage the total building assets. It also leaves more budget available for improving and making the existing housing stock more sustainable and numerous other initiatives..."