Intercom systems play an important role in securing residential and commercial properties. For business users, what should they look for when selecting an intercom system that best fits their needs? This article takes a closer look.
Intercom systems play an important role in securing
residential and commercial properties. For business users, what should they look for when selecting an
intercom system that best fits their needs? This article takes a closer look.
Intercom systems for business allow visitors to communicate directly with the host/receptionist desk and gain access into a building once their identity is verified. Benefits are manifold. One major benefit, of course, is offering enhanced security to the end user organization.
“IP audio video intercoms can greatly enhance the security for businesses. With the IP audio video intercom, you can not only speak to and see the visitors, but you also have a digital record of that visit, allowing audit or any investigation that may be required,” said Ler Wee Meng, MD of Securevision.
Other than security, intercom systems for business can offer greater operational efficiency as well.
“The advantages of using IP intercom systems for businesses are twofold. On one hand, they can enhance the personal safety of employees (for example, restricting access to strangers, enabling employees to make one-click calls to security personnel in case of safety threats). On the other hand, these systems can make business operations more efficient (for example, employees participating in video conferences at their workstations through IP network visual control consoles, reducing the need for physical movement and thereby increasing productivity),” said Zhou Liang, CTO of
SPON Communications.
How to select an intercom system for business
Selecting an intercom system for business should take several factors into consideration. For example, should the user get a wired or wireless system? Should it include remote unlocking capability? Below we offer four points for consideration when selecting an intercom system for business.
Wired vs. wireless
Wired intercom systems offer clear and stable communication yet requires wiring and cabling. Wireless solutions, on the other hand, offer more flexibility yet are subject to communication quality issues.
“Wired intercoms are a great choice when you need a reliable security system with robust cybersecurity features and stable access to power. This is very beneficial for businesses, hospitals, and or schools where usage is an order of magnitude more than a single family residential solution. However, some older buildings might not have the right type of wiring available at the front door, which could make it more challenging, or costly to install,” said Alex Kazerani, CVP for Cloud Video Security and Access Control at Motorola Solutions. “Wireless intercoms offer more installation convenience, and are comparably less costly. This makes it easier to install in some locations that are harder to wire, and it’s easier to add additional intercoms as needed. Users can access and manage their wireless intercoms from anywhere over Wi-Fi, however they depend on stable wireless network connections to operate.”
“The choice between wired and wireless depends on usage scenarios. For fixed communication with high-quality requirements, wired intercoms are more suitable. For mobile communication with flexible deployment, wireless intercoms are preferable,” Zhou said.
Video vs. audio
Next, the user should consider whether to get a video or audio-only intercom system for business. Generally speaking,
video intercoms offer more advantages than their audio-only counterparts.
“Video is always better than audio because it enables visual verification of guests. Audio-only intercom systems are typically a little less expensive, but with these systems you forgo the ability to integrate a video door station with your surveillance systems for facial captures. A video intercom system also ensures visual verification so that you are allowing access to only the people you are seeing and speaking to. With an audio-only system, you might be opening the door for what you think is one person – and instead five unknown people enter through the secure door,” said John Hemp, Director of Sales for Mid Atlantic & New England at Aiphone.
“Video alone doesn’t allow for audio conversations. By combining it with audio, security staff can help improve the experience for visitors. For example, a delivery person at the wrong entrance can be directed to the correct door. However, audio alone doesn’t provide the visual information that can be helpful for making a decision to grant access or not. In the case of audio-only systems, there may be a camera nearby, but it may not have the right angle, or be integrated in with the intercom system, requiring the user to switch between applications,” Kazerani, said. “Intercoms with both video and audio offer the best combination of visitor experience, ease of use and safety and security.”
Intercom with remote unlock capability?
According to Hemp, this really comes down to end user policies and procedures. “Some high-security buildings require guests to be escorted while on the grounds and some do not. Outside of high-security applications, a remote door release is usually best for convenience purposes, allowing staff to multitask and manage access to a location without physically being there to open the door. Staff can stay on-task in their offices or at a remote location and still manage secure access to the doors,” he said.
“Many intercoms offer remote unlock capability. Depending on the organization's security concerns, this feature can be turned off or disabled. Perhaps in selecting the IP Intercom, choose those that provide tight security control over the mobile apps. Only authorized members can log in and install the app and members can be added or removed from the app by the administrator,” Ler said.
Support for both telephone line and mobile app
Some newer intercom models can integrate with the telephone system and use mobile apps, and this indeed offers certain advantages.
“Connecting through phone lines allows the ability to make the intercom part of an existing phone system and also dial outside phone numbers, such as 9-1-1 or 24-hour monitoring centers. This is especially useful for rescue assistance applications, area of rescue, emergency towers and call boxes, and lock down procedures,” Hemp said.
He added: “Mobile apps give customers the flexibility to be able to move throughout a facility and still be able to manage the doors without being tied to a desk. Churches and schools love mobile apps for use with after school programs and sports. While faculty may be in the gym or the library, they can still manage visitors through a mobile app integration. School resource officers can also move freely through a facility and can often trigger lock downs from a mobile app allowing them to address an emergency in in the moment without needing access to a physical master station. Mobile apps offer enormous flexibility to customers while reducing potential delays in response times.”