As a property manager, you should be aware of the importance of security.

If you’re a building manager, you’re well aware that the job entails a wide range of tasks. Taking care of any structure is a difficult and time-consuming undertaking. Even though many events and incidents occur outside of normal business hours, property and building managers devote a significant amount of time and effort to reduce risk, maintain accessibility, and promote safety.

 

Security is one of the most important tasks for any building manager. Burglary is the last thing any company wants to deal with. Burglary affects thousands of Americans each year, according to crime data. In 2017, the FBI reported 1,401,840 burglaries, resulting in estimated property losses of $3.4 billion, with just 67 percent of incidents occurring at residential locations. It might mean the difference between a costly incident and a safe, secure facility if your commercial security solutions are integrated with your property management software.

 

 

No matter how hard a building manager tries, there will always be a burglary. In 2017, almost 1.5 million occurrences were reported across all 50 states in the United States. However, a closer look at the FBI’s statistics on break-ins reveals why cloud-based property management software and access control systems are becoming increasingly popular. During those twelve months, 57 percent of all break-ins were classified as forced entry, 36 percent as unlawful entry, and the remaining 6% as an attempted forced entry.

 

What does this mean for property managers? To address that question, it’s helpful to understand why a police officer responding to a burglary uses three separate legal terminologies to report the crime:

 

Attempted Forcible Entry

 

Attempted forced entrance, as the name implies, refers to incidents that are abandoned or interrupted. It occurs when a criminal begins to force open a door or window, for example, but never completes the task and is unable to obtain entry. Whether or not the criminal is still on the scene when authorities arrive – and whether or not anyone is ever caught – that term is utilized.

 

Forcible Entry

 

Forcible entry is self-explanatory as well. All acts when force is used to unlawfully enter a building with the goal of committing theft are referred to as ‘Burglary—Forcible Entry’ by law enforcement officers. A burglar breaking an office window or door or forcing an entry point with a crowbar or other instrument, is a regular situation. If the perpetrator obtains access to a master key or picks a lock, the phrase also applies. Forced entrance accounts for slightly over half of all break-ins in the United States, but it isn’t the whole picture.

 

Unlawful Entry

 

So, what is an unlawful entry, and why should building managers be concerned that it accounts for 36% of all burglaries in the United States? Offenders who enter a structure or facility through an unlocked door – or any other method other than breaking or picking a lock – are committing unlawful entry. Thefts from common places, such as communal gyms in apartment buildings, office parking lots, and even lobbies. Importantly, unlawful entry includes situations involving deception. For example, if a thief entered a retail shop posing as a cleaner, or if a thief tailgated an employee entering an office building, this would be a wonderful illustration of an infraction like this.

 

Property management software and access control systems that are cloud-based can help prevent unauthorized entrance. The crew must be present to monitor and respond to security concerns with on-site property management software, and remote options are limited. Building managers, on the other hand, have 24/7 visibility and better control over who enters the building with cloud-based commercial property management software. Building managers can also receive real-time alerts via cloud-based property management software, allowing them to act more quickly and accurately to potential incursions, reducing damage.

 

COVID-19 has impacted almost every business and industry. Businesses are almost unanimously preparing for a “new normal” in terms of how we enter and use commercial facilities – and this includes building management. Whether we’re talking about access and security or telecommuting for office workers, the fact is that many of the current advancements entail completing activities remotely. They’re here to stay, according to the prediction.

 

Openpath’s property management software and access control systems are cloud-based, allowing for safe management from anywhere. To handle everyday operations, you no longer need to be onsite or even at a dedicated computer. Building managers can set up alerts to be notified of occurrences such as forced entry, door left ajar, or permission failure. Because Openpath is built on an open platform, building managers can use integrations to automate activities throughout their whole property using the cloud-based property management software.

 

Another option to future-proof your building management is to use mobile credentials. Openpath’s mobile-based system allows you to unlock doors with your smartphone or Apple watch, removing the need for unwieldy and dangerous badges or traditional keys. The credentials for the mobile app are available for iOS and Android, and they can function with encrypted key cards or fobs at the same time, with each user-maintained directly in the commercial property management software. When it comes to visitors and access, you can rapidly make guest passes that allow you to send a one-time-key to them without them having to download an app.

 

Because Openpath access control software is cloud-based, you don’t have to worry about scalability or replacing servers as your company, locations, or premises expand. Organizations frequently hire complete security teams to oversee each location or site. One person can do the task that ten persons could accomplish with an on-site property management system using Openpath’s cloud-based technology. Openpath provides building managers with a truly future-proof solution in a post-COVID environment that necessitates remote operation, control, and property management systems.