Edited from the video captions for clarity while preserving the customer’s meaning.
My name is Tina, and I’m a council member and the caretaker at the Hawthorne building in Langley. Before the upgrade, we had the original system installed with the building. Compared with the new system, it was quite archaic. Residents needed physical phones connected to landlines inside their units, and there were no video features. That limited both building-security options and the ways residents could grant access. People had to be inside their unit to answer the intercom, and the aging system had also become less reliable.
The new video intercom has made a huge difference. Residents can download the app, and multiple family members from one unit can have access. They are no longer tied to being inside the suite: with a data connection, they can answer the intercom and let in visitors, package couriers or care aides from anywhere. The live video is especially helpful because residents can see the person calling instead of relying only on what the caller says. That has given the building more flexibility and peace of mind. Optional features also include facial recognition and temporary QR-code access.
Gate access was another major reason for the upgrade. With the old equipment, a power outage could leave the gates stuck closed, requiring a manual release at difficult times of day. Since the new system was installed, Hawthorne has not had those gate problems. Residents can still use a basic remote, while the app and temporary QR codes provide additional ways to arrange visitor access.
Having different access options is important in a strata community. Some Hawthorne residents enjoy the app and its features, while some senior residents initially found the technology overwhelming. The transition remained simple for them because they could continue using a physical fob and conventional landline intercom calling. Residents who wanted familiar methods could keep doing what they had done before, while others could use the newer options.
Deliveries have also become much easier. Residents can use a QR code, a unique PIN or a live intercom call to grant approved access even when they are not home. A courier can enter the building, deliver to the mail room or, when the resident provides the appropriate access, use the elevator to reach the resident’s floor. Tina says this has been useful for services such as UPS, Amazon and food delivery, helping both residents and delivery drivers.
Tina says Hawthorne obtained several quotes before choosing WeTech. She found the information WeTech provided professional and the communication prompt, which gave the building confidence in the proposed upgrade. She says the installation began quickly after the decision, was completed efficiently and was handled professionally. As the caretaker coordinating the change and informing owners, she also valued having a responsive resource available to answer questions.
After installation, Tina says WeTech continued to provide strong customer support. Questions or small issues received a prompt response and were resolved quickly. She recommends WeTech to other strata councils because the system has been reliable, has made daily access easier, provides more options and has improved the building’s sense of security, while the team has remained professional, responsive and helpful.
