A Guide to Visitor Management Software in Commercial Real Estate

Visitor management software has a significant impact on enhancing security, efficiency, and overall operations in commercial buildings. Our Director of Sales & Operations Guy Adderley lists some of the key impacts and benefits.

1. Enhanced Security:

  • Access Control: Visitor management software helps in controlling and monitoring access to the premises by allowing only authorized visitors.
  • Identification and Verification: It verifies the identity of visitors by capturing important details and using features like ID scanning and facial recognition.
  • Real-time Monitoring: The software provides real-time monitoring of visitors, allowing security personnel to respond promptly to any suspicious activity.

2. Improved Efficiency:

  • Streamlined Check-In Process: It automates the check-in process, reducing waiting times and ensuring a smooth experience for visitors.
  • Pre-registration and Pre-Approval: It allows for pre-registration of visitors, saving time during the actual check-in and providing a more organized entry process.
  • Notifications and Alerts: Automated notifications to hosts and relevant personnel streamline communication and ensure preparedness for a visitor’s arrival.

3. Record-keeping and Compliance:

  • Digital Records: The software maintains a digital log of visitor data, including entry and exit times, purpose of visit, and other relevant information, aiding in compliance with regulations.
  • Audit Trail: Easy retrieval and analysis of historical visitor data facilitate audits and investigations when necessary.

4. Enhanced Visitor Experience:

  • Personalized Welcome: Hosts can be notified in real-time of a visitor’s arrival, enabling them to provide a personalized welcome and efficient assistance.
  • Seamless Experience: A smooth and hassle-free check-in process improves the overall perception of the organization and fosters positive relationships with visitors.

5. Cost Savings and Resource Optimization:

  • Reduced Administrative Burden: Automation of visitor management reduces the administrative workload associated with manual entry and record-keeping.
  • Resource Allocation: Optimizes the use of human resources for managing visitors, allowing staff to focus on critical tasks.

6. Integration and Scalability:

  • Integration with Other Systems: Visitor management software can integrate with other security systems, such as access control or surveillance systems, creating a comprehensive security network.
  • Scalability: The software can easily scale with the growth of the organization, accommodating a higher volume of visitors without compromising efficiency.

7. Emergency Preparedness:

  • Quick Response in Emergencies: In case of emergencies, the software provides vital information about the number and location of visitors within the building, aiding in evacuation or emergency response planning.

In summary, visitor management software significantly improves security, efficiency, and the overall visitor experience in commercial buildings, making it an essential tool for modern organizations.

If you want to know more, connect with the Sentry Interactive team here or find out more about Sentry’s smart access solutions.

Author – Guy Adderley, Director of Sales & Operations (UK and Europe)

William Bainborough

Board of Directors

William is an experienced British entrepreneur, founder, and accomplished board executive and advisor for a number of businesses. He is the CEO and co-founder of Doordeck, the world’s only true cloud-based access control aggregator. He is also the managing director and founder of Group Secure, a leader in providing security, CCTV, and access control solutions, products, and installation for high-net-worth individuals in the UK. 

William established his first business at just seventeen and brings 20-plus years of in-depth experience and industry knowledge. He has a proven track record for building businesses from the ground up—and then leading them to profitability and a successful exit across a myriad of sectors including hospitality, retail, security, telecommunications, and e-commerce. William’s leadership, vision, and experience in creating cutting-edge SaaS-based technology platforms will prove invaluable for Sentry Interactive moving forward.

Denis Hébert

Denis Hébert

CHAIRMAN & CEO

Hébert began his career at Honeywell International where he held several leadership positions including Managing Director for the Automation and Controls business in France and eventually President of the NexWatch Corporation from 1999-2002. Hébert led HID Global as President & CEO over a transformative 12-year period from 2002-2015, where he provided strategic guidance and grew the business tenfold through a mix of strong organic and acquisitive growth. Most recently, Hébert was President of Feenics Corporation which is a cloud-based access control company that was successfully sold to ACRE LLC at the end of 2021. Hébert also served on the Board of Directors for the Security Industry Association (SIA) from 2009-2020 and was nominated to be Chairman of the Board for SIA from 2016-2018. He is currently Chairman of the Board for Nightingale Security based in Newark, CA.

Stephen Taylor Matthews

Board of Directors
Stephen is a very accomplished attorney, member of the Texas State Bar, licensed commercial real estate broker, and an avid philanthropist. He is an experienced executive board member, serving in leadership positions for more than 20 community councils and corporate boards—ranging from Boy Scouts of America to the ABBA Business Leaders Council, and most recently the American Bank BOD, the Real Estate Council of Austin, and the Marbridge Foundation BOT. With more than 35 years experience, Stephen and his firm, Barrond & Adler, L.L.P. are devoted to eminent domain cases in Texas.

Jon Davis

Board of Directors

Mr. Davis is an Experienced corporate board member, having served on boards of public, private equity-backed, and venture-backed companies. Jon possesses deep industry expertise in dairy, food processing, food technology and manufacturing, and food, beverage, and entertainment services. 

During Jon’s tenure of 25 plus years, he’s led operations, research and development, and mergers and acquisitions. He’s served as CEO and has been the founder and active board member for many successful enterprises—from startups to billion-dollar corporations. While COO and CEO of Davisco Foods International, Jon built a state-of-the-art cheese plant which was awarded the United States Dairy processing plant of the year in 2005 by Dairy Foods magazine. Currently, Jon is active with several non-dairy projects, including investments in local real estate, the Wayzata Brewworks, and his latest venture the new CōV restaurant in Edina’s Galleria.

Joe Caldwell

Founder and Chairman of the Board

Joe is an American entrepreneur, investor, and accomplished executive. He has co-founded, founded, and led many successful businesses, including US Internet, a leading fiber internet service provider, Securence, a leading provider of email filtering software, and Ravon, an industry-leading digital voice communications service. 

It was Joe’s venture, Municipal Parking Services (MPS), that inspired him in 2020 to start Sentry Interactive, an advanced touchless and staffless detection platform.

Caldwell currently serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board for Municipal Parking Services (MPS), a global tech company based in Austin, TX responsible for inventing and patenting technologies that assist in parking and security enforcement.

Joe was named one of Minnesota’s 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders for the past two years—and is a seasoned corporate board member. He’s served on boards of public, private equity-backed, and venture-backed companies—and has deep industry expertise in all aspects of digital technology.

Jason Bohrer

Jason Bohrer

Board of Directors

Jason Bohrer is one of the visionaries behind our mission to bring people back together safely and securely, in any environment, through Sentry’s advanced digital communications and detection platform. With over two decades of senior leadership experience, Jason’s track record of success spans across sales, operations, product innovation, strategy, and technology for domestic and global companies like Bexar Technology Partners, CPI Card Group, HID Global, and Motorola, Inc. Prior to launching Sentry Interactive, Jason was actively involved with several key technology transitions across multiple industries, including the contact and contactless EMV transitions in the U.S. payments industry and the adoption of smart card and mobile technologies in the global access and identity market. Jason was an inaugural member of the University of Chicago Executive Institute and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. He also serves as the Executive Director for two industry-leading not-for-profit organizations: the Secure Technology Alliance and the U.S. Payments Forum.
Brent Terry

Brent Terry

Chief Operating Officer
Brent Terry leads the operations and solutions organizations at Sentry. This includes all product innovation, development, and operations management. A veteran in the technology space, Brent has more than 30 years of experience across a myriad of industries, like physical security technology and building automation, SAAS, hardware and software product development, internet, digital TV, interactive TV, digital media, telecommunications, and medical products and services. Prior to Sentry, Brent has spun up successful startups and led high-performing teams for some of the biggest global, Fortune 500 companies, including ARRIS, Conerco, Motive Communications, SeaChange International, and IBM. Brent holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Louisiana. He also is the committee Chairman and Program Director for a non-profit organization responsible for the rollout of smart cards for physicians and first responders.