An Oslo-based housing association faced a problem: their 1980s legacy intercom continued to malfunction. There were two paths they had to choose from, repair the old wiring again, or switch to a modern digital system with minimal wiring. But with wires going to every apartment in the building, and with the Board looking for reliability, simplicity and more control over costs, the repair of the 1980s intercom looked less and less appealing. 

The Challenge

For decades, the housing association’s old wired intercom had served 30 apartments and countless visitors. Every time the intercom failed, the cost of tracing and repairing wiring grew higher. The budget for maintenance had been exceeded, and the intercom continued to work less frequently.

Replacing the system with a similar legacy style intercom would have meant new wiring through walls, which is an invasive and expensive project. With this in mind, the board of the housing association began to look for modern, digital alternatives that didn’t require such extensive wiring. 

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The Solution

The housing association discovered Defigo after seeing a number of systems installed in their local area. Upon researching, they found that a new digital intercom from Defigo requires only one unit at the entrance and an internet connection.
Residents can use their own smartphones or tablets to open the door to the building instead of relying on fixed indoor stations and physical keys. Installation takes a matter of hours and requires no rewiring and no apartment visits. 

By switching to Defigo, residents can answer visitor calls anywhere, and the board can manage users online in the Defigo WebAdmin instead of coordinating nameplate updates.

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The Results

The choice was clear for the housing association. Either they could continue to pay steep maintenance fees to rewire the 1980s intercom system, or switch to Defigo where they’d never have to consider wiring again. But it wasn’t just the wiring that tipped the scale. There were many other factors that promised to help the Board and tenants in their daily life: 

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Predictable costs
Unlike the old system, which came with unpredictable service bills, the new setup introduced a clear and modular pricing model. The building paid once for the hardware, and the Board could add on extra features, such as video calls or mobile credentials, if they needed them. For the board, this meant no hidden costs and no extra work managing individual preferences. It also meant a reduction of 60% in maintenance costs in the first year. 

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Future Proof
A key realization for the housing association was that a digital intercom doesn’t just mean it looks “modern”. It means it is future-proof: software updates happen remotely, new features can be added without visiting the building, and when a new resident moves in, the access list is updated with a few clicks.

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Learnings

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For this housing association, the steep maintenance bills were the tipping point. But since switching to Defigo, they also realized that there were a number of other issues with the intercom that they hadn’t thought about, and would urge others to consider.

Spare parts
Aging wired systems depend on physical connections and legacy components that are no longer manufactured. Every fault requires specialized labor and spare parts that grow harder to find. Over time, “small” repairs accumulate into thousands spent just to stay functional.

Missed efficiency
Modern digital intercoms manage tenants, deliveries, and guests in minutes. Older systems can’t, which means administrators spend unnecessary time updating nameplates, handing out keys, or coordinating manual access for service providers.
That time has a cost, even if it doesn’t appear on an invoice.

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Hidden safety risks

When systems age, so do their security standards. Outdated firmware, unmanaged user lists, and physical keys can create both technical and operational vulnerabilities. In multi-tenant environments, this can even impact insurance conditions or compliance with new building requirements.

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Opportunity cost 

Delaying modernization means missing out on features that create real property value: remote management, flexible credentials, and integrations with delivery and facility systems. Each year of postponement makes the eventual transition more expensive.

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Every building pays for its intercom in one way or another. 

With outdated systems, you pay in maintenance, time and missed opportunities. 

With a modern, digital intercom, you invest once and gain control, predictability and long-term value. 

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Contact sales to learn more about getting Defigo on your building. 

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