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Strata Building Technology in Vancouver: Less Admin, Faster Answers

For strata councils and property managers

Strata building technology in Vancouver that fixes what councils live with: lost fobs, an old enterphone, footage recorded over and leaks found too late.

Book a free IT consult
Call (604) 813-7881

Free consult with Tony. No pressure, no jargon.

What you can count on

  • One teamfor door entry, cameras, sensors and the network
  • Privacy firsta clear purpose, signs and short retention
  • Group chaton WhatsApp, Slack, Google Chat or Teams
  • 24/7a person answers (604) 813-7881

What problems does strata building technology solve?

It takes the busywork out of running a building. Residents use a phone instead of a fob, managers handle access by email, council pulls camera clips without a security company, and leak sensors alert you before the unit below calls.

Lost fobs and move out chasing

The fix: phone entry with ButterflyMX or Kisi.

What you get: access by email, removed in one step at move out. Keyless entry guide

An old or broken enterphone

The fix: a ButterflyMX video intercom.

What you get: video calls to residents’ phones and an online directory. Intercom upgrade guide

Footage recorded over while you wait

The fix: Rhombus cloud cameras.

What you get: a clip saved and shared with police the same day.

Waiting at the gate, lost parkade remotes

The fix: ButterflyMX licence plate recognition.

What you get: approved plates open the gate, and a removed resident’s plate stops working.

Leaks found too late

The fix: Rhombus leak and humidity sensors.

What you get: an alert when water shows up, before the unit below calls.

Package theft and unknown visitors

The fix: entry logs, delivery passes and mailroom cameras.

What you get: a record of who opened which door and when.

ButterflyMX video intercom panel set into a brick wall beside a building entrance
ButterflyMX 8 inch video intercom. Photo: ButterflyMX. See it on ButterflyMX

Why are strata councils replacing key fobs?

Every lost fob means a form, a fee and a new fob to program, and an unreturned fob keeps working. With phone entry, the manager adds residents by email and removes them in the dashboard. See our condo keyless entry guide.

Key fobs compared with email and phone accessThe old way: a resident loses a fob that still works for whoever finds it, fills in a request and often pays a fee, the manager programs a new fob and mails it or hands it over, and someone has to remember to switch off the old fob. The new way: the manager types the resident’s email, an invite arrives by email, access lands on the resident’s phone for only the doors they are allowed, and when they move out the manager removes them and their phone key stops working. ButterflyMX and Kisi both add residents by email.THE OLD WAY: KEY FOBS?A resident loses a fobWhoever finds it can still get in.They fill in a requestand often pay a fob fee.The manager programs a new fobthen mails it or hands it over.Someone switches off the old fobif they remember to.Paper, fees and follow-ups for every fob.THE NEW WAY: EMAIL AND PHONEThe manager types an emailresident@email.comAn invite arrives by emailThe resident sets up the app.Access lands on their phoneOnly the doors they are allowed.Moving out? Remove themTheir phone key stops working.Works in ButterflyMX and Kisi.Key fobs compared with email and phone accessThe old way: a resident loses a fob that still works for whoever finds it, fills in a request and often pays a fee, the manager programs a new fob and mails it or hands it over, and someone has to remember to switch off the old fob. The new way: the manager types the resident’s email, an invite arrives by email, access lands on the resident’s phone for only the doors they are allowed, and when they move out the manager removes them and their phone key stops working. ButterflyMX and Kisi both add residents by email.THE OLD WAY: KEY FOBS?A resident loses a fobWhoever finds it can still get in.They fill in a requestand often pay a fob fee.The manager programs a new fobthen mails it or hands it over.Someone switches off the old fobif they remember to.Paper, fees and follow-ups for every fob.THE NEW WAY: EMAIL AND PHONEThe manager types an emailresident@email.comAn invite arrives by emailThe resident sets up the app.Access lands on their phoneOnly the doors they are allowed.Moving out? Remove themTheir phone key stops working.Works in ButterflyMX and Kisi.

How can a strata council get camera footage fast?

Give them direct access. With Rhombus cloud cameras, council and the manager open the app, find the moment, save a clip and share a link with police the same day. No waiting on a security company, and a saved clip stays in the cloud instead of being recorded over.

Rhombus logs every clip saved or shared.

A Vancouver strata, the old way

What happened: after a theft, the council asked its security company for the footage. The response was slow, and by the time anyone pulled the video, the recorder had recorded over it.

Getting strata camera footage, the old way and the new wayThe old way, with a recorder on site: something is stolen and the council needs the video, they call the security company and wait for a callback, they wait days for a response because nobody else can pull the video, and by then the footage is recorded over and the evidence is gone. The new way, with cloud cameras: a council member or the manager opens the app from anywhere, finds and saves the clip, which stays in the cloud, and shares a link with police the same day. Owners see a live view of common areas only if the council approves it. Rhombus logs every clip saved or shared.THE OLD WAY: A RECORDER ON SITE?Something is stolenThe council needs the video.Call the security companyThen wait for a callback.Wait days for a responseNobody else can pull the video.The footage is recorded overThe evidence is gone.Slow, and out of the council’s hands.THE NEW WAY: CLOUD CAMERASA council member opens the appOr the manager, from anywhere.They find and save the clipSaved clips stay in the cloud.They share it with policeA link, the same day.Owners see a live viewOf common areas, if approved.Rhombus logs every clip saved or shared.Getting strata camera footage, the old way and the new wayThe old way, with a recorder on site: something is stolen and the council needs the video, they call the security company and wait for a callback, they wait days for a response because nobody else can pull the video, and by then the footage is recorded over and the evidence is gone. The new way, with cloud cameras: a council member or the manager opens the app from anywhere, finds and saves the clip, which stays in the cloud, and shares a link with police the same day. Owners see a live view of common areas only if the council approves it. Rhombus logs every clip saved or shared.THE OLD WAY: A RECORDER ON SITE?Something is stolenThe council needs the video.Call the security companyThen wait for a callback.Wait days for a responseNobody else can pull the video.The footage is recorded overThe evidence is gone.Slow, and out of the council’s hands.THE NEW WAY: CLOUD CAMERASA council member opens the appOr the manager, from anywhere.They find and save the clipSaved clips stay in the cloud.They share it with policeA link, the same day.Owners see a live viewOf common areas, if approved.Rhombus logs every clip saved or shared.

How do you keep cameras and entry logs private?

Footage, entry logs and plates are personal information. BC stratas fall under PIPA and the OIPC BC privacy guidelines for strata corporations. We set up:

  • A written purpose for each camera, and signs.
  • Short retention: about 10 days, per the OIPC BC, unless needed for an investigation.
  • Recordings for council and the manager only.
  • Council or bylaw approval first.

General information, not legal advice.

How does a strata technology project work?

  1. 01

    Assess

    We walk the building and note what can stay.

  2. 02

    Install

    As a partner of ButterflyMX, Kisi and Rhombus, our technicians install the devices, signs and network.

  3. 03

    Support

    A person answers (604) 813-7881 24/7, plus a group chat with IT specialists.

Brands we work with

Questions councils and managers ask

What does strata building technology cost?

It depends on your doors, cameras, wiring and software fees. After the free consult, we walk the building and compare options.

Can every owner watch the strata cameras?

No. Owners only see a live view of selected common areas if council approves it, with signs posted.

Can licence plate recognition open our parkade gate?

Yes, with ButterflyMX. A plate camera, an AI Camera Gateway and a controller check each plate against your approved list and open the gate. Revoking a resident removes their vehicle, and the app is the backup if a plate isn’t read.

Can a strata use licence plate or face recognition?

Rhombus offers both on its Enterprise licence. Plates and faces are personal information under BC PIPA, so use them only for a clear purpose, with signs, short retention and limited access. Council decides.

Will a leak sensor stop a flood?

No. It alerts someone sooner. Rhombus sensors are not life safety devices.

Tired of chasing fobs, footage and leaks? Start with a free consult.

Call (604) 813-7881 and ask for Tony. A person answers 24/7.

Book a free IT consult
Call (604) 813-7881