Student Housing Business is the voice of the student housing industry.
Issue link: https://studenthousingbusiness.epubxp.com/i/488341
SMARTER OPERATIONS STUDENT HOUSING BUSINESS .COM MARCH/APRIL 2015 97 unique balancing act of security and convenience. Management teams and residents want to feel safe and secure at work and at home, while, at the same time, not being inconvenienced by the safety and security features. For Cardinal Group, the com- pany strives to create a balance through a planned implementa- tion strategy. If the implementa- tion of a new strategy goes well, no one will be the wiser, notes Gladden, however, if it goes poor- ly, the damage to a property's rep- utation can be staggering. "Price, functionality, ease of use and customization on the backend to create fexibility with how spac- es are controlled are top priori- ties for Cardinal Group," explains Gladden. "We try to create the best balance between spaces that promote resident use but are also managed well to limit liability and loss." While high-tech devices and programs can be great, it's impor- tant to select a security and access system that is user friendly and easy to maintain for the manage- ment team. Mark Trittipo, president of Houston, Texas-based Advant Solutions Inc., suggests fnding an intuitive product that is scalable and can grow with your needs. "Like any software package, a system is only as good as the data that is input and maintained, and it's up to the property to man- age their process and control the access cards," he notes. "The sys- tem will only be as secure as the data is up to date; we can support the physical layer of the system, but it is up to the property to properly maintain the data." BenefITs of success A successfully implemented and maintained access and secu- rity program can provide a vari- ety of benefts to student housing property. From creating a safe and secure environment for residents and staff to ensuring property facilities are secured with con- trolled access, a well-maintained security program can really boost the reputation of a student hous- ing property, which can lead to increased occupancy rates and possibly higher rents. But beyond the typical securi- ty and access capabilities, many of the new technologies offer residents and staff the ability to streamline and integrate utili- ties, resident verifcation, monitor property activity and other servic- es. Operators and security/access companies are excited about the continued integration of technolo- gies and the potential it brings to the student housing space, from mobile device-based access