Security Needs To Be At The Core Of A Proptech Ecosystem

Ten years ago, the top three priorities for an occupier in the building design process were safety, quality materials and reliability. Today, security is second on the list, topped only by sustainability. However, although landlords and occupiers are increasingly demanding integrated security in their buildings, developers are not delivering early enough. 

A survey by cloud-based access control company Brivo found that not considering security in the design phase adds an average of 11 days — and significant expense — to a project. Post-build security costs can amount to as much as 20% of a project’s budget.

“This is a real cost to both a landlord and an occupier,” said Paula Balmori, Brivo global director of security design and integration. “But when security is considered early on, it can bring huge benefits in terms of efficiency and future planning.”

Overall, developers and architects are accounting for technology earlier than in the past, Balmori said. Installing a high level of connectivity is essential in any modern building, as well as having the flexibility to connect Internet of Things devices. Additionally, property owners are increasingly interested in making sure they can accommodate proptech solutions as they become available. 

But to make the most out of these solutions, all separate technology components in a building need to speak to each other, starting with security.

“Security is the essential component to the whole proptech ecosystem,” Balmori said. “Without it, you're unable to maximize your business operations or ensure they remain uninterrupted. When properly incorporated into building design, it enables you to achieve the maximum potential of the building's use.”

An access control system can do more than allow entry, however. It can also help manage building operations, from parcel delivery to maintenance. If a door is left open or a fault occurs, it can send automatic alerts to the management team. 

“Overall, it makes operations smarter and faster because businesses aren’t relying solely on human interaction,” Balmori said. “Cameras and sensors have improved over the years, and today it’s possible to have multiple data points across a building.” 

Brivo’s solution integrates with other technologies to enable an occupier to give visitors and employees a joined-up experience. This includes meeting room booking technology and software used by businesses such as Google Suite. 

A landlord or occupier can use the data collected by cloud-based access control systems to feed into building design, Balmori said. By combining data from sensors and cameras, they can better understand how people are using space. 

“This can help a property owner to see how the spaces they have designed are really functioning,” she said. “They can see if one entrance in particular is more frequently used, how often they use a café or book a meeting room. You can transfer this knowledge to when you design the next building.”

As demand for cloud-based access control has grown, Brivo is expanding its customer base in the UK. Balmori said there is still a need to educate the real estate sector on the benefits of considering security early in the process of property development. 

“A lot of organisations in the built environment are still learning about how to gather data,” she said. “They are only starting to realise how a cloud-based access control system can do far more than just let people in and out of the building, but feed into overall efficiency and design.”

Balmori will be speaking at the upcoming Bisnow webinar Design in Security: Future-Proof Your Blueprint.

This article was produced in collaboration between Brivo and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to [email protected].