The scene is repeated every month. It appears without mercy, under the door, usually loaded with "bad vibes". It is about the envelope with the expense, that nobody wants to receive.Millions of Argentines live in buildings and more and more people have difficulties paying them on time, as a result of the sharp increases in maintenance costs, salary and contributions of the building manager, cleaning service, security, among many other items."Based on data that we manage together with colleagues, we estimate that delinquency in expenses is around 40%," says Claudio Vodanovich, general secretary of the Argentine Chamber of Real Estate (CIA). And he adds: "Depending on the number of homes in the building, they increased about 50% in the last twelve months, in some, even more.""Nowadays, the delinquency is higher than in previous periods, and this is mainly due to the increase not only in the salaries of those in charge, but also in security expenses," completes the CIA executive.According to the specialists consulted by iProUP, the expenses will increase about 40% this year and the item "Surveillance expenses" will be one of the expenditures that will suffer the most "snipping". And it is not for less, given that:- It amounts to $ 300,000 per month in the case of a "physical" vigilante (at a rate of $ 400 per hour, 24 hours, 30 days)- If the building or place to be guarded has two entrance doors instead of one, that figure rises to doubleIn this framework, sources of the sector affirm that the new technologies allow to reduce near 70% the cost linked to the security that, for many consortia, has become unpayable."Totems or remote watchmen are presented as a solution, and many buildings have implemented access systems for fingerprints, proximity keys and camera systems," says the CIA general secretary.Central objective: to reduce expensesThe sayings of Vodanovich coincide with those of Daniel Tocco, president of the Argentine Chamber of Horizontal Property (CAPHAI), which brings together the administrators: "The increase in expenses went from a floor of 35% and reached 70% of a year to the other, in the case of buildings with a boiler or central heating ".In this context, he assures that remote surveillance is gaining prominence: "Some consortiums replaced their two vigilantes by remote monitoring, others added technology and stayed with only one of them.""All the consortiums are reducing costs and doing away with the porters, the retired porter is not renewed, they also cut the security 24 hours, since it represents 50% of the expenses", says Marcos Bergenfeld, of the Association of Owners of Properties in Horizontal Property (APIPH).Bergenfeld reports a strong migration towards alternatives that reduce common expenses. And he points out that all the consortiums are shrinking due to the high delinquency. "As an interest of between 4 and 5% is paid, they prefer to accumulate debt and pay with penalties before the embargo, since it is cheaper than a credit in the bank," he says.Rozados, director of Real Estate Report, agrees in the "tendency to streamline management", since the increase in rates caused the consortiums to focus more on reducing expenses."In the projects that are being developed for the medium level and that do not have a large scale, we are analyzing how to replace traditional surveillance because it impacts very strongly on expenses," he stresses.Technology, allied with consortiumsFrom Prosegur, one of the companies that is betting on the "virtual vigiladores", assure iProUP that it notes a marked tendency to incorporate these devices and that the amount of queries and requirements grows at rates higher than 20%.Another of the companies, Hikvision, which develops security solutions, confirms to this medium that requests for information about this type of products based on technological innovations have doubled.In all cases, the objective is the same: to acquire solutions that maintain security, but at a third of what "traditional surveillance" costs.In the case of Prosegur, its menu of options ranges from classic alarms to quite sophisticated solutions. That is, from monitored cameras (which start from a monthly payment of $ 900) to the installation of filming equipment for outdoor and indoor, with video recording and monitor ($ 10,000).However, the flagship product of the portfolio is the "totem" of surveillance, which is seen more and more frequently in buildings and housing complexes and that are part of "Ojo del Halcón", an integral solution whose monthly subscription starts at $ 40,000.About the service of monitored cameras Carla Egitto, manager of Prosegur, explains that they are connected to the Central Alarm Receiving Center of the company and that it operates under an encryption system."Users can access the Internet and see the real-time recording of cameras in their home, as well as record images.When an alarm is triggered, the mechanisms for detecting and recording images before and after the event are triggered", explains the directive to iProUP .In addition, Egitto points out that "before a warning signal an immediate response operative is activated, giving notice to the client and the security forces so that they may go to the home," he explains.Another company that is growing in the sector is IP Solutions. It offers the iDenta service, Virtual Porter, which consists of the total or partial replacement of security features and products in buildings, countries, companies and private homes by a single system."iDenta increases security and reduces operating costs, which is reflected in greater savings for the consortium," Gerardo Gazzano, managing partner of the company, told iProUP.Gazzano adds that security costs are reduced by up to 75% compared to a traditional system. "Today, the cost of a 24-hour vigilante, every weekday, ranges between $ 250,000 and $ 300,000 per month, while the cost of a 24-hour virtual gate system is $ 60,000," he specifies.Other sources of the sector consulted by iProUP account for even higher figures when it comes to wanting to hire "traditional" security."Prosegur and Securitas, are the most expensive in the market, since they charge around $ 450 an hour for each watchman, so the consortium can pay up to $ 325,000 per month per contracted person," according to the Blecher administration.In another order, Gazzano remarks: "Our advantage is that we are developers and we set up an ecosystem that is constantly growing, so we take care of different requirements that the clients are raising, and we ensure the entrance to the building, while other services only observe the movement".The system is complemented by an application for mobile phones that, among other things, has a panic button. "This app allows the owner, virtually, always be at home, avoiding the vulnerability of the empty apartment," adds Gazzano.Smart equipmentAnother possibility in which consortiums are advancing to reduce expenses is to install devices so that owners can monitor them from a closed circuit or remotely.In the sector there are many suppliers of this type of technology. One of the most recognized is Hikvision, which also provides solutions for residential, commercial and corporate buildings."We started with security cameras, which is the heart of our business, but now we have Video Intercoms, which allow us to answer calls from any smart phone," says Martin Hanono, Regional New Business Manager of Hikvision for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.The executive stresses that "access controls based on authentication by cards, fingerprints or faces" are also gaining acceptance. "All our facial recognition equipment allow authentication through QR: the visitor of a building or private neighborhood simply must show the code to enter from the screen of his cell phone", exemplifies.Another solution proposed by the controllers for elevators, so that each person can only access their floor, authenticating themselves with a card, fingerprint or face. Among the biggest players in the sector is LoJack, which offers its Strix platform for security solutions for homes and real estate based on the Internet of Things."This service is oriented to take care of not only the home but also the family, through the installation of an alarm system, linked to an app, users can know the status of the situation instantly", says Santiago Martínez Porras, manager of massive Strix products."It has an accompanying solution that allows them to feel accompanied when they enter their homes, which is ideal for buildings without 24-hour security," recommends Porras.From the app a timer is activated with the estimated time of arrival at home, if the account ends and the application is not deactivated, notice will be given to the people assigned by the user."When the building has few units or is looking to reduce the cost of the surveillance service, it is possible to install cameras in common spaces and give access to residents, it is also possible to equip the departments individually so that each one has its own security parameters, "explains the Strix executive.Another point in favor is that it is "agnostic" of any technology, that is, integrates seamlessly into existing cameras and hardware. "Our solution for homes with monitored alarms linked to an application includes a monthly payment of $ 789," reveals Martínez Porras.The feature includes an app to handle the alarm from the phone, cellular communicator that does not require a telephone line, a magnetic for doors or windows, motion sensors, interior siren, keypad, central alarm panel, battery and dissuasive posters.On the riseOn the importance of security versus the excessive costs of this service, Egitto, of Prosegur, recognizes that customers want to lower costs, but at the same time they are aware of the importance of security for the family group."That's why El Ojo del Halcón was so successful, because it has a much lower cost than traditional surveillance and provides an optimal result in terms of preventing intrusions," he says."As a reference, the terminals start at $ 300. Access Control combined with video has become a very popular tool for buildings", completes Hanono.Regarding the future of the sector, all those consulted by iProUP coincide in pointing out that the control of entrance and movements in buildings allows to significantly raise the levels of security and comfort."It is no longer just about seeing what happens, but also about preventing the events from happening, making it difficult for people who are not authenticated by the system to enter," concludes the Hikvision official.For now, more and more Argentines are betting on these systems to lower costs in times of war economy. As if pressing the "panic button" before the anguished escalation of inflation.