'Removing Redundant Systems': Propkey, The Customizable Property Management App

For years, landlords and property managers have juggled a patchwork of software systems and manual processes to keep their multifamily buildings running and creating an elevated experience for residents.

Now, a new technology aims to change that by combining software and hardware in one customizable platform.

The technology, developed by Rittenhouse Communications Group, or RCG, integrates everything from package delivery and maintenance requests to intercom services and guest access. 

“We wanted to address clients’ demand for a comprehensive property management system,” said Sean Edwards, president of RCG. “So we created a simplified all-in-one system, PropKey, that integrates existing technologies and combines software and hardware.” 

Many building technology integrators focus primarily on hardware installation, while third-parties provide the software.

“We saw a gap in the market,” Edwards said.

Rittenhouse Communications Group staff installs the hardware for the building themselves, including everything from structured cabling to access control technology. This technology package serves as the basis for its software application, PropKey.

PropKey invites a simple way for tenants to take control over their living experience, Edwards said. Integrated with all of the building’s hardware systems, tenants can control their smart home devices, schedule a package delivery or add guest keys with the click of a button.

On the property management side of the equation, Propkey gives building staff ultimate control over their systems by integrating them into one platform. RCG offers ongoing post-installation customer support 24/7 to ensure that both tenants and managers have a seamless experience. 

“By creating an application with native access control that didn’t require any type of IoT bridge, device or WiFi, we gave property managers what they actually needed,” Edwards said.

Data That Syncs

One of the key features of PropKey is that it enables property managers to easily control who is granted access at both the base of the building, at amenities spaces and at the unit level.

“It’s cumbersome for property managers to have to add and remove users from multiple systems during move-ins and move-outs,” Edwards said. “With Propkey, they can update the data once and it’s done. No need to toggle between platforms.”

The technology that makes this simplified data handling possible is PropKey’s API integration with RealPage, AppFolio and many other platforms, Edwards said.

“All the data syncs, which saves a lot of staff time,” Edwards said. 

All-In-One And Paperless

Edwards said that property managers appreciate PropKey’s all-in-one capabilities, which touch every aspect of a resident’s experience of living in an upscale apartment community, including streamlining maintenance requests, hassle-free package delivery management, and staying up-to-date on community events.

“Residents can submit maintenance requests, including uploading photos of what the maintenance issue happens to be, right through the app,” Edwards said. “The app also has a car valet feature and lets residents book amenities spaces on their phones.”

Residents can also check on how busy a given amenity space is to make better informed decisions on how to spend their time, Edwards said.

“It lets people see how many Peloton bikes are open at the fitness studio at any given moment,” Edwards said. “If it’s crowded, they can decide that maybe it’s a good time to lift weights instead.”

PropKey also has a message board feature where residents can post about furniture for sale and where property management can inform residents about upcoming events, like Wine Down Wednesdays and Taco Tuesdays.

“The app enables property managers to blast out mass notifications,” Edwards said. “Those can work for both safety issues like notifying residents about a pre-scheduled fire drill or community oriented events.”

Additionally, Propkey serves as a replacement for the paper-heavy, administrative aspect of property management.

“Your lease, as well as building rules, regulations and FAQs can all live on the app,” Edwards said.

PropKey’s features include two-factor authentication, critical for security in the era of password sharing. The platform also enables users to generate guest keys that can be permissioned at either the tenant or property management level.

“That way, we ensure that your dog walker can get in, but not your ex-significant other,” Edwards said.

Custom Configurations

PropKey can be configured with custom options to cater to specific client needs, Edwards said.

“Our approach is more bespoke than most,” he said. “We don’t give clients products off the shelf. PropKey is customizable.”

For example, a parking company asked RCG to create a version of PropKey solely for parking that allows owners to check on the status of their cars in real-time.

Most PropKey customers are property management firms of rental buildings, but RCG also serves condominium owners’ associations. As such, the company rolled out a version of PropKey for a condominium client that provides more granular data to owner-users than would be available to residents of a rental building.

The level of data the app can generate is also fully customizable, Edwards added.

“It can also include IoT features, like monitoring for water leaks and thermal sensors, but these are optional rather than required, driving down cost for our customers,” Edwards said. “The goal is to remove redundant systems and streamline them into a single pane of glass.”

This article was produced in collaboration between Rittenhouse Communications Group and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.