Development of Smart Building Management Applications
Highlights
- Mobile access via NFC, Bluetooth, internet
- Door unlocking and elevator control
- Integration with access control systems (ACS), CRMs, etc.
- Parking access management
- Space booking (meeting rooms, offices)
- Event creation and participation
- Access rights management for tenants and visitors
- Analytics dashboard and reports
Client
The client is a company operating in the PropTech sector, focusing on commercial real estate management and tenant experience in Boston. It previously had a cross-platform application built with React Native for smart building management.
Challenge
The application featured an outdated, disparate building management system, inconvenient manual access control, limited functionality, and a poor user experience, resulting in inefficient processes. The client approached SoftTeco with the request to automate a building management system, consolidate all services into a single platform, and create native Android and iOS applications with additional features and new design.
Solution
We developed IoT mobile applications (for Android and iOS) that connect to the building infrastructure. With them, users can interact with connected devices such as doors, elevators, and parking systems in real time via NFC, Bluetooth, or the internet. The app has two admin panels: for visitors and for managers. With an intuitive interface, users can easily unlock doors, call elevators, access the parking facility, reserve meeting rooms and offices, as well as create and attend events. Administrators can manage access rights, view analytics, and oversee tenants.
The application unifies and automates mobile access, user management, space booking, event organization, notifications, and integrations with access control systems (ACS), CRMs, and other platforms. It helps the client simplify interaction with the building’s infrastructure, automate day-to-day processes, and reduce manual errors.
How it works
We created two native iOS and Android applications to provide visitors with a convenient way to manage all building services from their smartphones. Our developers created the backend as a central system built on a microservices architecture with REST APIs. It handles authentication by using OAuth/JWT, access management, booking logic, and integrations with third-party systems. We added a middleware layer to easily work with the client’s legacy access control systems and smart lock SDKs. It allowed us to extend app functionality while keeping enhanced security in mind, without disrupting the operations of the current infrastructure.
Along with that, our developers added new functionalities, like mobile access control, elevator and parking access, space booking, event and tenant management, notifications, and analytics. We also optimized the user experience, since the existing solutions were outdated and clunky, making navigation and task execution difficult. Our design team created a sleek, intuitive user experience that provides quick, frictionless access to building services with minimal clicks.
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Results
SoftTeco developed Android and iOS applications for the smart building management system, added new features, and created a stunning design. IoT solutions help the client to simplify access management, reducing manual operations by up to 70%, lowering the workload on administrators, and enhancing the tenant user experience. Now, we continue to work on the product to add more functionality and expand its global adoption.
