By Sandy Jack
When you think about technology in multifamily, conversations have previously focused on solving one problem at a time. If you needed a lock, for example, so you bought a lock. If you needed Wi-Fi, you found a provider. Each of those individual tech decisions might have made sense in the moment, but none of those decisions was connected to the others.
Operators are redefining technology by shifting the question from, “What do I need to invest in today?” to “How do these tools work together to better serve the community?”
At the end of the day, that is exactly what a multifamily property is. It is a community that includes the people who live there and who visit, the staff members who support the property, and the building itself.
Integrated Tech Stack Changes Visibility
An integrated tech stack means that everything works together. That includes access control, such as smart locks, mobile credentials, keycards or PIN codes. It includes energy management systems that can be monitored and adjusted in real time. And it includes property-wide Wi-Fi that connects everything together to drive optimization and efficiencies in operations. Digital security is also a critical component that layers across all these components.
The difference between an integrated tech stack and a disconnected one is clear: Without integration, components quickly become fragmented. With an integrated stack, your multifamily technology all lives on one platform where operators can see what is happening across the entirety of the property.
Having that type of visibility is what changes everything. In a disconnected environment, for example, a door being propped open for 15 minutes might go unnoticed leading to an HVAC system that had been running for 15 minutes trying to compensate for that open door. With an integrated system, the operator would know immediately, recognize the security issue, and be able to act in real time to save energy and money in the long run.
Having one platform that manages your access control, security and connectivity at once is key because it provides you with data that tells you about how your property is operating. That means that Wi-Fi is also now one of the most important pieces of infrastructure in a multifamily building because it is the backbone that connects devices, systems, residents and operators.
Flexibility and Predictability
While new developments offer the benefit of planning ahead, the reality is that no one can fully predict where technology will be two or three years down the line when a project finally opens. That said, it’s important to focus on technologies designed to flex and expand — whether they are being integrated from day one in a ground-up development or deployed in an existing community to create immediate operational and resident impact. The key in either of these cases is to think about how every decision supports the property as a whole.
That kind of thinking also matters even more when you look at how people are actually living today. The way residents interact with their buildings has changed drastically over the years, especially from a technology and connectivity standpoint.
More people are working from home, aren’t necessarily leaving their apartments the way they used to, and deliveries to the property are constant. Therefore, those residents are interacting with their communities in different ways than they had in the past. That changes how properties need to operate — including everything from access and security to leak detection and how shared spaces are used.
Technology Supports — Not Replaces — Community
While 92 percent of renters say a sense of community is central to their happiness, the industry keeps adding layers of automation. The question then becomes whether the technology that is being added supports the community, or if it is unintentionally taking away from it. The answer comes down to how the technology is being implemented and if it is handling the things people shouldn’t have to spend their time on.
Self-guided tours are a prime example. They’ve shifted from a “nice to have” to an expectation. As a result, many prospective renters won’t even consider a property that doesn’t offer them. They allow prospects to tour on their own schedule, increase accessibility for busy professionals, and free on-site teams from time-consuming tour coordination. At the same time, a strong self-guided framework signals that a property is tech-forward and aligned with modern renter expectations.
Technology also plays a more meaningful role as people stay longer in their apartments and pets become an essential part of the resident lifestyle. Connected, optimized systems reduce daily friction. Whether it’s setting up Wi-Fi instantly at move-in, managing pet access policies seamlessly or ensuring keyless entry just works, allowing teams to spend less time troubleshooting and more time supporting the growing needs of long-term residents.
Ultimately, a unified platform gives time back to employees so they can focus on relationships, experiences and genuine community — not repetitive tasks or disconnected systems.
When Technology Connects, Communities Thrive
There isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to the right multifamily technology. Interconnectivity provides flexibility and gives operators the ability to meet the various needs of their residents. Some residents, for example, might want to use their phones to access their apartment, while others prefer a fob or pin pad. There are also different cultural or religious requirements that can also impact on how and when technology can be used on the property that owners should take into consideration.
Technology falls short when its value isn’t effectively translated to the on-site teams expected to use it. The gap between what looks impressive on paper, and what staff can realistically apply day-to-day, is where many smart-building initiatives stumble. But when implemented well, the insights and data these systems provide about how communities actually function are invaluable. Discovering patterns, such as how shared spaces are used and when activity peaks, empowers operators to make smarter decisions and tailor programming accordingly.
In the end, those kinds of decisions stem from true understanding, and that’s what integrated technology delivers. It not only drives cost savings through greater efficiency, but also provides the clarity needed to build a stronger, more connected community.
Sandy Jack is vice president of strategic relations, multifamily, at Vingcard/Nomadix. To reach her directly, email [email protected].