Why Smart Amenities Demand Smart Staffing
- bberrodin
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Smart amenities have quickly shifted from “nice to have” to “expected.” From smart locks and package lockers to EV charging stations, access control, and AI-powered leasing tools, today’s residents want convenience, connectivity, and seamless experiences. But while properties continue to invest heavily in technology, one critical piece is often overlooked: the people required to support it.
The reality is simple: smart amenities only perform as well as the teams managing them. Without the right staffing strategy, even the most advanced technology can become a source of frustration rather than a competitive advantage.
The Rise of Smart Amenities in Multifamily
According to industry research, over 70% of renters say smart home features influence their leasing decisions, and properties offering technology-enabled amenities often see higher retention rates and stronger NOI performance. Smart access systems, automated maintenance platforms, and connected building systems promise efficiency, but they also introduce new operational complexity. Smart amenities don’t eliminate work. They change it.
Technology Still Needs a Human Touch
While automation can streamline processes, it doesn’t replace the need for skilled professionals. Smart systems require:
Onboarding and resident education to drive adoption
Ongoing monitoring and troubleshooting to prevent downtime
Vendor coordination and system updates
Data interpretation to optimize performance and resident experience
When technology fails or residents don’t understand how to use it, property teams are the first line of defense. Without proper staffing, small issues quickly escalate into negative reviews, increased service requests, and resident dissatisfaction.
The Skills Gap Is Growing
Smart amenities demand a blend of technical aptitude, customer service, and operational knowledge, a combination that’s increasingly hard to find. Many onsite teams are already stretched thin, balancing leasing, maintenance, compliance, and resident engagement. As properties add more connected systems, they often discover:
Maintenance teams need tech-enabled troubleshooting skills
Leasing professionals must confidently sell and explain digital amenities
Property managers are expected to interpret system data without added support
This skills gap can slow adoption, reduce ROI on PropTech investments, and place unnecessary strain on existing teams.
Smart Staffing Enables Smart ROI
The most successful multifamily operators recognize that technology and talent are not separate investments; they’re interconnected. Smart amenities require:
Faster response times
Consistent system uptime
Confident, knowledgeable teams
Proactive resident communication
Without the right people in place, even the smartest systems fall short. So, to fully realize the value of smart amenities, properties need a flexible staffing strategy that evolves alongside their technology. That may include:
Supplemental onsite support during system rollouts or peak leasing seasons
Specialized talent familiar with smart building systems and PropTech platforms
Short-term expertise for upgrades, integrations, or vendor transitions
Backfill support to keep daily operations running smoothly
Strategic staffing allows property teams to focus on the resident experience while ensuring technology performs as intended.
Preparing for What’s Next
Smart amenities work best when they’re backed by teams who know how to support them. BGSF helps multifamily operators bridge the gap between technology and execution by providing flexible, PropTech-ready talent to support smart building systems, digital leasing tools, and connected resident experiences.
Whether you need supplemental onsite support during a rollout, specialized expertise to manage evolving platforms, or short-term backfill to keep operations running smoothly, BGSF helps ensure your technology investments deliver real operational and resident value. Contact us today!