The Challenges of Managing a Multi-Storey Building in the Current Climate
Maintaining standards of service and a great first impression when people visit a building is challenging. Rising costs, staffing issues and a global pandemic have all added to the complexity of this task. But what if there was a way to maintain – or even raise – standards, reduce costs, and evolve buildings to embrace 21st technology all from one source?
The challenge of COVID-19 has made business owners and building managers around the globe examine closely how best to provide a high standard of service to their residents and visitors – in both commercial buildings and multi-unit residential spaces. The traditional method of having a person on site 24/7 is costly and can be unreliable, unwanted and unnecessary.
Recent figures released by Remit Consulting showed office occupancy levels in the UK dropped by over ten percent from 20.8% the previous week, to 10.7% in the week ending Friday December 17. The evolution of front of house is an area that many managers have been examining, not just to deal with health and resource challenges, underlined by these statistics, but also to take advantage of the change in technologies and techniques available. There is increased opportunity to partner with companies offering a complete service that offers real human interaction combined with building automation systems that take charge of security and access, as well as integrating with existing building management systems.
Building managers have of course been able to access Virtual Receptionist or eReceptionist services for some time. However, a growing number of companies are now discovering that combining a professionally trained Digital Receptionist offering live interaction combined with cutting edge control technology fits their needs perfectly.
Organisations accessing these new evolved systems see their expectations met. Costs are cut, high standards for occupants and visitors are maintained, security is improved, and data is gathered. Their building is run more efficiently in every way.
Commercial vs Residential: Different Needs Met
No two buildings are the same, of course, and the needs of commercial spaces and residential buildings are different. Adding a specially trained human Digital Receptionist takes performance and delivery to the next level, as they react in real time to the needs of any occupant or visitor.
For commercial buildings
- Managers will want fast and efficient reception services that get visitors where they need to be whilst informing the necessary people of their presence.
- The cost saving of using a remote, but human Digital Receptionist, is considerable and frees up valuable real estate as the attractive interactive displays that greet all users take up much less space than a traditional receptionist’s desk.
- The system also provides valuable access to data helping to plan resource allocation for every aspect of building life.
- These systems also deliver evolved security and access control to multiple entry points across multiple sites.
For the manager of a residential space
- A warm welcome and peace of mind as well as increased efficiency and building useability are all paramount.
- A Digital Receptionist backed up with cutting edge technology can deliver in all these areas at multiple sites – simultaneously. This delivers considerable cost savings.
In an increasingly competitive market for rental and purchasing, having a building that promotes safety and smart building technology – with a human touch, delivers a real competitive edge.
In high-end residential spaces, particularly in urban settings, occupancy levels are often low due to their use as second or holiday homes. The quality of reception services still needs to be very high, but the amount of interaction needed makes a 24/7 human presence unnecessary.
Digital Receptionist systems represent the merging of the power of human interaction with technology to offer a SaaS driven IP based Visitor Management System truly fit for the 21st century.
Are you ready to switch?
If you are looking to transition away from a full or part time in-person receptionist to a digital replacement, use our 10 question checklist to help you to make the decision.
