3 Reasons why Visitor Management is an Asset to Schools

As students look forward to resuming their in-person instruction this fall semester, schools ready their built environments for the incoming rush.

The security and visitor management systems market has seen renewed activity in the education vertical, as the U.S. government’s various stimulus funds and grants avail schools in their bid to create a safe space, sensitive to social distancing, health, and more.

On account of that governmental assistance, the popularity of visitor management systems has run into a slipstream, and many schools are now pondering the benefits of adopting and installing the same on their properties.

In this post, we cover 3 main reasons why schools should take the next step:

1. Audit Trail & Detailed Reports for all Visitors

As schools look to deploy these systems on their premises, administrators may be acutely aware of how the digital interface includes a master dashboard to manage visitor categories—staff, students, parents, etc.—health screening compliance, and more.

But they may not be aware of how a visitor management system like VAMS logs visitor information, cross-checks it with external databases (such as the national sex offender registry, employment registries, etc.), and seamlessly integrates all visitor movement data with a reporting and analytics center.

What does this permit of the school administrators? It permits them to audit each and every visitor in a legal, timely manner—staff, contractors, and students. And it allows admin to analyze the human flow in specific zones of the school, understand visitor behavior, and create more fluid situations for the benefit of everyone inside.

2. Restores the Old Joy of In-person Instruction

While remote education necessitated itself over the last 19 months, many students regretted the lack of face-to-face interaction with colleagues and teachers. The common opinion seemed to be that Zoom classes served an educational expediency that, while the best case scenario for that time, amputated the joy of experiential learning, networking with new people, and partaking in practical and field assignments.

Visitor management systems create a safe space for the return of in-person instruction. It has allowed schools to build trust with local authorities, parents, and students, ensuring all-round vigilance and health regulation. On account of their integration with contact tracing, health screening, and body temperature scanning technologies, these systems will embolden people to come back to school.

3. Eliminates the Need for Additional Faculty

Health screening, security, and social distancing regulations would require beefing up in this pandemic situation, and that would usually entail extra staff members to man the entryways. Extra staff would entail higher expenses accrued by the school administration.

But with the automated visitor management system, entryways can be “manned” by contactless, self-service kiosks and face-reading devices that admit or reject visitors based on health-related criteria. This eliminates the need for employing more receptionists and security guards.

There are several more advantages and features to a visitor management system, such as express logging-in speeds, pre-planned visits, instant authentication, and delightfully-small waiting times. Schools looking to adopt these software solutions into their overall visitor experience infrastructure should take heart from the fact that they are exactly worth their reputation! With the U.S. government looking to aid schools in their adoption, the choice may end up being a no-brainer!