Facial Recognition Software Simplifies Resident, Tenant Access

The pandemic proved the catalyst for improving many technologies. Commercial real estate, particularly multifamily, has upped its game when it comes to access. 

Video surveillance and biometrics, such as fingerprints, are common options—not to mention key cards—but forward-thinking properties are now moving to facial recognition software for tenants to enter indoors as well as through vehicle gates.

Touch-free facial recognition addresses consumers’ increasing attention to health and safety. They are becoming accustomed to these efficiencies such as at airport security clearance stations managed by companies such as Clear.

Operators are finding these applications to be a less costly approach that expedites the access process, avoids challenges such as lost key fobs or forgotten PINs and satisfies tenants.

One prominent hardware/software provider goes as far as to call facial recognition an “AaaA” or “access as an amenity,” something that apartment companies can show-off as part of prospective resident tours.

Leasing agents use facial recognition when entering apartments while touring prospects to create a ‘wow’ factor and demonstrate the technology.

Facial recognition access systems built specifically for apartment buildings, such as Swiftlane’s, support guest access methods through integrated video intercom. This allows the system to assist with not only resident access, but food deliveries or service providers such as dog walkers or cleaning personnel.

Users can opt-in to the facial recognition access feature, which requires residents to register their facial credentials with Swiftlane as they would with face ID on their phones. It then allows them to approach a door and look at the mounted reader device to unlock the door. 

Fred Schwark, Co-Op Admin, Hell’s Kitchen Co-Op, said that many teens live in his apartment and it always had to charge the residents a $50 “new key” fee, and they weren’t happy about that. 

He said any system repairs needed for facial recognition systems are much less expensive than with SaaS systems.

Resident Adoption Rates at 90 Percent

Resident adoption rates are roughly 90 percent in apartment communities that offer it. Options are in place for anyone who wishes to use a more traditional entry method because the secured systems are generally tied together.

Bridget Zinkiewicz, residential property manager at apartment community, The Greene in Beavercreek, Ohio, said her residents have embraced the concept.

“They’re excited about facial recognition,” she said. “This is a modern access tool that improves the entire building and living experience.”

Assistant general manager there, Jessica Baer, said facial recognition software saves her onsite team’s time by automating the move-in, move-out process through the system’s dashboard or mobile app. 

The Wellshire apartment community in Denver said its facial recognition system is creating positive first impressions with prospective residents.

The Wellshire’s legacy entry system was considered outdated and unimpressive. Given that access control impacts the resident experience on a day-to-day basis, The Wellshire team recently chose to upgrade to a more modern, sleeker entry solution, especially for visitor and delivery management.

Wellshire resident Dan Hartman said he appreciates that the facial recognition option “saves him” from any times when he might go out for a run and forget his key – as he says he tends to do.

“Another time, my phone died and I forgot my key and I had to try to call a locksmith but they couldn’t come until the next day,” he said. “That won’t ever happen if I just use facial recognition.”

No More Lost or Stolen Key Fobs

In the commercial space, Atlanta-based legal services video marketing firm Crisp has an approximate 70 percent adoption rate among its employees who use it to enter its vehicle security gates and within the building.

Employees have the option to use fobs or key cards if they choose. Crisp’s Director of Production, Mike McMullan, said he relies primarily on facial recognition entrance.

“Since we installed facial recognition about a year ago, I’ve only used my key fob six or seven times,” said McMullan. “Once it recognizes the face, it triggers the same access function that we used when we had key-card access, sending a relay that goes all the way back to our control board for our access control system. When installing it, we didn’t have to do much else to get it up and running.”

These systems work with existing electronic door locks and building infrastructure through a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) based install. 

“Using it while going through a vehicle gate is what’s most effective because I don’t have to reach for my keys to enter,” McMullan said. “I just open my window so it can see my face. We’re building out the size of our facility and we wanted a system that was future-proofed—and attractive looking.”

McMullan said Crisp wanted to move away from installing something like a small square box with a silver button that is pushed to call someone.

Installation costs for these systems are similar to that of key-card based systems and vary widely, depending on the number of doors, whether the property has electric strike, existing wiring and which service provider is chosen. The price point “per door” is generally less than key-card systems, operators said.

Security experts say that key cards can be cloned with cheap technology and can be stolen. Key cards cannot verify who is carrying the card. Tenants’ facial data are stored on the Swiftlanes’ cloud-based servers with stiff restrictions to access it.

Facial recognition software uses a SOC 2 certified access control system and processes anti-spoofing via 2D and 3D data of the face, and prevents attempts to get in with just a photo or video of a person. Recognition readers check the 2D and 3D depth data of a face among other factors. Deep learning algorithms check against this data for authentic authorizations.