It’s surprising how many building entrances are still reliant on ageing analogue intercoms. Many have no visitor communications system at all! In the modern world, providing a secure but friendly welcome to visitors makes a huge difference. And for businesses, it’s imperative that the system is flexible, scalable, and manageable.
That’s where SIP intercoms come in. They combine the traditional doorbell entrance experience with the security and integration of modern SIP technology.
In this blog, we’ll look at five big reasons why businesses are switching to SIP intercoms like the Robin range.
1. Improve security at every entrance
For businesses, knowing who’s at the entrance is vital for security. When you can see and speak to someone before they come inside, you’re ensuring nobody unknown or unsafe is coming into your building. With high definition video allowing you to clearly identify individuals, it’s easier than ever to reduce unauthorised access.
In addition, SIP technology in the background means staff can answer intercom calls remotely from anywhere. You get full visibility of everyone entering and exiting, without the need for 24/7 on-site staff. Plus the audit trail you gain from the captured footage and event log serves you well as a backup in case of any incidents.
2. Manage visitors from anywhere
We’ve already briefly mentioned it, but let’s look at this in more detail. SIP intercoms mean you have so many more options. From call routing to different user groups or call queues to remote answering from a computer or a mobile phone, SIP gives you serious flexibility. It’s ideal for hybrid work environments or multi-site businesses where you want to ensure visitors aren’t left waiting, but without permanent staff on-site.
3. Integrate with existing business systems
SIP is a standardised protocol that’s recognised and used by all kinds of business systems. And that means getting them to talk to each other is quick and simple. What kind of systems can be integrated with a SIP intercom?
- VoIP phones. Voice over IP (VoIP) systems use the internet to transmit voices instead of old analogue landlines. Integrating with a Robin SIP intercom means staff can answer calls from the intercom in the same way they answer any phone call.
- Access control. If your building controls entry and/or exit with card readers, PIN codes, or biometric fingerprint readers, you might want to integrate your intercom to back up your event log with video footage.
- VMS platforms. Video Management Systems are designed to handle and store large quantities of video footage. A SIP integration with your intercom is simple and makes great sense for retaining intercom call footage.
When all your security infrastructure works together, you avoid having separated systems that have to be managed separately. It’s better for the security of your building and much more time-efficient for your staff.
4. Reduce long-term costs
Your instinct is probably to assume that switching to a new system is expensive. But in the long-term, a SIP intercom actually saves you money compared to an outdated analogue system. SIP solutions get both their power and their network connectivity from Ethernet cables. And many businesses will already have this kind of cable infrastructure in place, so there’s nothing new or specialist required to upgrade. It also means the intercom solution is flexible and scalable as your business grows.
Additionally, the ongoing maintenance is easier and cheaper. SIP is a standard and well-known technology, so installers are usually well-practised and used to troubleshooting and fixing issues.
5. Future-proof your building
Switching to a Robin SIP intercom is choosing a solution that will grow with you. If your building expands or you open new sites, it doesn’t mean starting from scratch every time. Just expand what’s already there. SIP infrastructure makes integrating with future technology easier, as well as the existing compatibility with both cloud and on-prem communications systems.
As the needs of your business and its people change, your intercom evolves too. You’re not locked into proprietary systems that quickly become outdated and restrictive.
Start the journey to switching today!
Choosing a Robin SIP intercom to manage your business’ customers and visitors is about more than just upgrading front door hardware. It’s about investing in better security, greater efficiency, and a more future-proof building. And you might even save some costs along the way.
