From dated to digital: an apartment building’s journey to a smarter, future-proofed future

Cobwebs in the walkways, lift buttons that had seen better days, and internet speeds that felt like a relic from a bygone era – that was everyday life in one of Melbourne’s well-known 1990s apartment towers, before our committee decided to act.

Like many older buildings, we faced the challenge: how do you bring a classic structure into the 21^st century without overwhelming the committee or the budget? This is our story of transformation.

The ticking clock: why modernisation became non-negotiable

We had grappled for years with the hallmarks of ageing infrastructure. Our original lifts, well past their typical 20- to 25-year service life, were a constant source of frustration, with “buttons falling out or becoming completely non-operational, to lift doors jamming,” as noted in our upgrade logs.

This wasn’t just an inconvenience; across Melbourne, ageing lifts pose real risks – in 2018 alone, the Melbourne Fire Brigade rescued more than 15 people each month from lift entrapments in the city. Residents, understandably, were losing patience.

But the lifts were only half the story. Our building’s internet still ran on fibre-to-the-basement (FTTB) copper, throttling every apartment to a theoretical 100 Mbps – and often far less at peak times.

In practical terms, that meant choppy video calls for residents working from home, endless buffering when families tried to stream a Friday-night movie, and overnight uploads for anyone dealing with large design files or cloud backups.

In a post-COVID world where “home” is also the office, the classroom and the media hub, sluggish internet wasn’t a mild annoyance; it was a daily productivity drain felt by almost all 200 residents.

Silence isn’t golden; it’s costly. Relying on lobby posters and elevator notices meant the owners’ corporation (OC) committee never had a clear picture of what was broken or who’d been told. Updates went up hours late, got covered by older sheets, and reached owners who rarely visited the building but not the tenants actually living with the problem.

With a steady churn of residents and a maze of stakeholders – building manager, OC manager, security, cleaners, trades – maintenance became guesswork and frustration mounted, all because our only “system” was a corkboard no-one could keep current.

Embracing the future: a strategic tech overhaul

To address these pressing concerns, OCs often embark on a strategic tech overhaul. Unreliable lifts are typically the first priority. A complete modernisation, culminating in touchscreen lifts, is a popular choice. This isn’t just about dependable mechanics and a sleek, intuitive interface; it’s about enhanced safety and reliability.

As lift consultants highlight, ensuring even the door sensors are upgraded to the correct specification is crucial. Modern lifts like these can also contribute to smoother operations and a more premium feel for the building.

Recognising that existing copper NBN lines are a major bottleneck, many committees initiate the upgrade to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). This decision, often involving a clear five-phase process with NBN Co. and a co-contribution from the OC (starting from around $275 per lot), is about futureproofing. FTTP unlocks gigabit-speed potential essential for modern digital demands and, as NBN Co. suggests, can make properties significantly more attractive to up to 75 per cent of renters, potentially boosting a building’s appeal.

Finally, to tackle communication gaps and streamline building management, we embrace a digital solution: the NEX2US mobile app. This type of platform can revolutionise how residents report issues, book shared amenities and receive real-time building notifications. It addresses a key OC challenge by creating transparency – everyone can see what’s reported and its status, fostering accountability and ensuring everyone is kept in the loop.

The digital difference: a connected and efficient community

The journey from dated to digital demonstrates that modernising an older Melbourne building is not only achievable but profoundly impactful. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

Residents appreciate the “smooth, modern, and – most importantly – “safe and reliable” lifts and the ease of communication. Problems are now “addressed in a timely manner,” and there’s a palpable sense of a “well-maintained and connected” community.

While we experienced a significant boost in resident satisfaction, broader research indicates such tech upgrades can also positively impact property values – for instance, FTTP connections have been linked to increases of three to seven per cent in some markets.

This shift to proactive digital management has also freed up valuable committee and building manager time, previously spent chasing issues, for more strategic planning.

For other OC committees in Melbourne considering similar upgrades, our experience shows that strategic investment in technology pays dividends. Resources from bodies like Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) or industry groups like Strata Community Association (SCA) Victoria can offer valuable guidance.

Platforms like the NEX2US app, for instance, also offer practical insights and tools for committees fostering better engagement and managing their buildings more effectively on their own path to a smarter future.

For more information: nex2.us/blog •