COVID19: Doing Our Essential Bit

This crisis will pass. But what we do now and why will matter more than ever.

In times of crisis, humankind has always resorted to essentials. The specifics of essentials have varied. But their essence has not - common, everyday items without which life comes to a grinding halt. 

Or worse, ends. 

During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, these included items like electricity, shelter, fresh water, etc. During San Francisco earthquake in 1906, these included fire protection, water supply, etc. And during humanitarian crisis - like the one in Yemen - these included broken governance, health and judicial systems.

During COVID-19?

From nurses seeking face masks, to hospitals seeking ventilators and almost everyone seeking safety and supplies, it is safe to say, humankind is again back to essentials. 

We don’t know if these essentials will be enough. But what we do know is not having them is not an option. And if we are to outlast this crisis - which we will - everyone will have a role to play.

That is why we are playing ours.

We are giving away our most popular and used feature - resident communication hub - to all property managers in North America for free.

We believe that, in a digital world, the ability to communicate is the ultimate essential. Imagine being locked in your homes and unable to communicate effectively with the outside world during this pandemic. That is the reality many of us - including our customers in apartment communities - face today. Our customers across the nation are working round the clock to meet the needs of their residents: of safety, health and service. Central to this is their ability to communicate with their residents. 

And as a company, we decided that we will do everything in our capacity to ensure nothing comes in the way of our customers' ability to connect with their residents in this time of need. Not cost, not speed, not time. 

And certainly not ourselves.

That is why, we cut cost down to zero. Drove delivery time down by 10x. Removed communication limits.

And created a new product. 

That is Free. Fast. Forever. 

We are calling it - perhaps unsurprisingly - Mobile Doorman Essential. With it, property managers can communicate with residents, residents can communicate with each other. And the entire apartment community can stay in-the-know during COVID.

I am proud of everyone in our company for stepping up in this time of need. And grateful to the over 100,000+ apartment units in the US who - just in the last two weeks - have entrusted us with their most essential need - of communication - during this pandemic.

As they work hard to serve their customers, I want them to know that we are at work doing the same for them.

We are doing our essential bit. (Get it here)