Gate Intercom Systems can Reduce Tailgating at Residential Communities

Gated communities give residents a greater sense of security, reduce vehicle traffic, limit solicitors, and offer many other benefits. But there are challenges associated with gated entrances that can leave tenants feeling frustrated or even unsafe. The most common is someone tailgating a resident into the community while the gate is open.

Tailgating — in the context of a gated property — refers to an unauthorized vehicle that follows a resident or another authorized individual so closely that they can pass through the gate while it remains open. Also called “piggybacking,” tailgating is a serious security breach — though not all tailgating

has malicious intent. People often tailgate during busy times of the day to save time. In other cases, it’s just an authorized resident who tailgates because they forgot their fob or access credentials. It might even be a resident’s guest following the resident to their home in a separate vehicle.

Aaron Rudenstine, CEO of ButterflyMX, a company that provides solutions for secure, convenient, smartphone-based property access for over 8500 properties, including gates communities, says regardless of the reason, tailgating is still a threat to staff and residents’ safety. “It’s best to prevent it altogether. And safety isn’t the only thing at stake. Other common risks of tailgating include physical damage to the gate, which can lead to costly repairs, and a negative reputation for the property if it is perceived to be unsafe. Harnessing the power and convenience of smartphones makes gate access simple and safe. Both property owners and their residents love the ease of use these systems provide.”

Historically, the most popular solution to securely and effectively manage gate access has been with a guard station staffed 24/7 by a gate attendant. Gate attendants are tasked with verifying residents’ identities and vetting visitors before granting them property access. This solution is challenging due to the high costs of staffing and the slow process, which can lead to backed up traffic.

Rudenstine says a gate intercom system is a much more affordable and effective solution to reduce tailgating. “Gate intercoms make gated community access control simple. By installing an intercom at the front entrance of your property, you can speed up the flow of traffic and mitigate common access issues such as tailgating, car stacking, and more.” He says choosing the best gate intercom system is critical and suggests partnering with an experienced, well-respected gate intercom provider like ButterflyMX and selecting a system with the following four features:

MULTI-TENANT SYSTEM

A multi-tenant gate intercom system — not a single-station system — allows visitors to contact residents directly to gain access. Because the resident can immediately identify the visitor and approve entry, vehicles can pass through the gates much faster than if they had to wait for their information to be recorded by a gate attendant. With fewer cars in line, wait times are shorter, which decreases the likelihood that an individual will try to tailgate another vehicle through the gate.

MOBILE APP-BASED INTERCOM SYSTEM

A gate entry system with a mobile app means visitors can reach residents at any time, even if they aren’t home. Residents can remotely grant property access for visitors through the intercom’s mobile app on their smartphones. With a single swipe or push of a button, tenants can open the gate from anywhere.

App-based gate entry systems cut down on wait times for guests seeking property access, and for residents who can quickly open the gate for themselves with their smartphones.

VIRTUAL KEYS AND PIN CODES FOR QUICK ACCESS

Another way to facilitate smoother gate entry and reduce tailgating is by choosing an intercom with features like virtual keys and PIN codes. Many cloud-based gate intercom systems like ButterflyMX offer these features. Tenants can create and send virtual keys to visitors ahead of time. Guests receive a QR code that can be used on-demand, eliminating the need to call upon arrival. Codes can be single-use for one-time visitors or deliveries or multiple-use for regular visitors such as housekeepers or dog walkers.

BUILT-IN CAMERA AND AUDIT TRAIL

A gate intercom system with a camera will prevent tailgating naturally by acting as a deterrent. When visitors see the camera on the intercom, they’ll see themselves reflected back on the screen and sense the feeling of being watched. This impression is usually enough to stop them from breaking the rules.

Make sure your gate entry system goes a step beyond just a camera. Choose one that also provides an audit trail of gate access activity. The ability to record and review every gate access event enhances security and can help you identify tailgaters.

Learn more about the smartphone-powered property access solutions from ButterflyMX at www.butterflymx.com.