In today’s fast-paced delivery culture, apartment building access systems are showing their cracks. Residents depend on regular deliveries—from food to packages—but outdated apartment buzzers and intercoms often create barriers rather than entry points. Locked gates with no easy buzzer access leave delivery drivers stranded outside, while residents miss important packages and hot meals. This isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a widespread problem impacting the lives of millions. With over 70 million packages delivered daily across the U.S., even a small failure rate means significant frustration and lost time. Research shows about 20% of apartment deliveries fail on the first try simply because the delivery person can’t get in. When drivers are locked out, packages get left in unsafe places or returned, food gets cold, and residents lose trust in both their building and delivery services.
The problem goes beyond mere inconvenience; it introduces security risks too. Crowds of delivery drivers waiting outside create opportunities for unauthorized entry through tailgating. Shared static door codes circulate beyond intended recipients, while broken or unreliable buzzers leave residents unable to control access remotely. These gaps erode the safety of the community and increase worries about theft and unwanted visitors. As delivery volumes rise and on-demand services become routine, apartment entry systems that haven’t kept pace are causing real headaches—and it’s clear that modern solutions are urgently needed.
EnterKey’s smart, PIN-based mobile access app is designed specifically to address these issues. It transforms any existing apartment buzzer system into a secure, delivery-friendly smart buzzer network—without expensive hardware changes. By understanding why old systems fail and how new technology bridges these gaps, residents and property managers alike can improve satisfaction, security, and convenience in their buildings.
Imagine a DoorDash driver arriving at an apartment complex only to find a locked gate with no way to buzz inside. They send a text saying, “I’m here,” then wait impatiently while juggling several orders. Residents hear no buzzer, since the old intercom only rings inside the units, and if they’re away or on a call, the driver leaves or abandons the delivery outside, risking theft. This scenario repeats nightly, leaving hungry residents frustrated and drivers struggling with long wait times and missed tips.
Residents report running downstairs repeatedly to buzz in couriers or else missing deliveries entirely. One tenant shared how cold sushi was returned to the restaurant after their buzzer failed to ring or connect. Some buildings require packages to be left at leasing offices that close in the evenings, pushing deliveries into “limbo” spaces where packages can be stolen or misplaced.
From the property manager’s perspective, broken buzzers and outdated wiring cause repeated tech support calls and tenant complaints. Buzzer bombing—where pranksters spam buzzers to every unit—adds to the chaos, increasing security concerns. Couriers with permanent lobby codes or keys are hard to track, increasing vulnerability to unauthorized access and tailgating. Without any audit trails on who entered or when, property managers are often left in the dark when incidents occur.
Old school apartment buzzers and phone intercom systems were built for a different era—one without mass deliveries on demand or expectations for remote mobile control. Many use analog wiring prone to failure, breakage, and limited functionality. The buzzers either don’t ring reliably or connect incorrectly, creating false positives and missed calls. Residents are forced to stay near their units with a phone in hand to buzz people in, which is impractical in modern daily life.
Buzzer bombing exploits the one-way communication style of legacy buzzers and widespread sharing of static lobby codes. Because codes never expire and keys can circulate unchecked, security risks multiply. Additionally, these systems provide no method for remote buzzing if residents are away or occupied. Delivery workers become bottlenecked outside, and residents depend on chance or luck to catch the buzzer call.
Moreover, traditional buzzers offer zero visibility or audit trails. Without digital logs, property managers cannot track who entered the building or investigate theft or security breaches thoroughly. The lack of integration with delivery workflows, such as DoorDash or Amazon, means drivers must rely on inefficient workarounds like calling residents or waiting outdoors, increasing delivery times and dissatisfaction on all sides.
Proptech companies are pushing toward cloud-managed, mobile-first entry systems that retrofit existing buzzers or replace them entirely. EnterKey and similar services enable residents to remotely buzz visitors and delivery workers in through smartphone apps, no matter where they are. This remote buzzing capability eliminates the need to rush to the door or rely on faulty in-unit phones.
One-time PIN codes are becoming a standard security feature. These time-limited, single-use PINs can be sent directly to delivery drivers or guests, allowing controlled, temporary access. This approach drastically reduces the risks from permanent shared codes and lost physical keys, giving residents and property managers control over who can enter and when. Temporary guest codes can also be used for dog walkers, cleaners, or visitors, expiring automatically to maintain security.
Video intercom systems further enhance security and convenience by allowing residents to see and confirm who is at the door before buzzing them in. All entry actions are logged in a cloud audit trail, providing transparency and aiding investigations in case of theft or unauthorized entry. These smart buzzers are explicitly designed to integrate with common delivery services like DoorDash, UberEats, Amazon, and FedEx, minimizing wait times and reducing delivery errors.
EnterKey reinvents the apartment buzzer system by layering smart, cloud-based software on top of existing hardware—no costly upgrades needed. Residents can remotely buzz delivery drivers in from their phones, whether they’re home or away. This means no more missed packages or running downstairs in a frantic rush to open the door. The app supports temporary PIN codes: residents or property managers send a one-time, time-limited PIN directly to drivers during their delivery window. These PINs expire automatically, ensuring only authorized, temporary access and drastically reducing security vulnerabilities associated with static codes.
For casual use, EnterKey offers a free plan that includes five buzzes per month at no cost—unprecedented in the market. This makes it easy for residents to start experiencing the convenience and security improvements immediately without needing building-wide cooperation or expensive installation. For high-volume users, paid plans expand buzzes and features as needed.
EnterKey’s delivery-friendly design integrates seamlessly with major delivery platforms like DoorDash, UberEats, Amazon, FedEx, and UPS. Drivers can be buzzed in remotely without phone calls or confusion, reducing waiting times and improving customer satisfaction. Family and roommates can also be given temporary or permanent access, enhancing flexibility and control over building entry.
Every buzz and PIN use is logged in real-time, producing a transparent audit trail that improves accountability and security. Property managers gain a powerful tool to monitor entry events and investigate incidents easily. Because the system is cloud-based, there’s no reliance on outdated wiring or analog hardware, enhancing reliability and minimizing maintenance headaches.
Unlike complicated package lockers or limited-hours package rooms, EnterKey allows packages and deliveries to be safely accessed without bottlenecks or theft risks. The zero-cost adoption model lowers barriers for buildings to implement smart access widely, helping millions move beyond broken buzzers and locked gates to a modern, secure access experience.
Outdated apartment buzzers and intercoms cause delivery failures, security risks, and daily frustrations for residents and drivers alike. As delivery culture continues to grow, these problems will only worsen without smarter solutions. EnterKey’s smart buzzer app offers a simple, retrofit solution that turns any apartment buzzer into a secure, remote-access system with temporary PINs, real-time audit logs, and delivery-friendly design—without hardware upgrades or building-wide cooperation.
With EnterKey, residents gain peace of mind knowing packages and food will arrive safely, delivery drivers get faster access, and property managers improve security with clear visibility. It’s time to replace the broken buzzer with a flexible, modern alternative built for today’s delivery demands.
Ready to say goodbye to missed deliveries and locked gates? Try EnterKey for free today and enjoy five free buzzes every month with no hardware installation required. Whether you’re a resident frustrated with delivery access failures, a driver tired of being stuck outside, or a property manager seeking improved security and convenience, EnterKey makes apartment building access effortless and secure.
Join thousands of users already transforming their buildings with a smart buzzer system designed for the delivery era. Sign up now to experience remote buzzing, temporary PINs, and delivery-friendly access—at zero cost to get started. Don’t let outdated buzzers hold your building back any longer. Make the switch to EnterKey and never miss a delivery again!