Relevate One owner Leah Maki was recently featured in the Kansas City Business Journal article, “Table of Experts: AI in action – delivering real results for your business.”
The article brought together business and technology leaders to discuss how AI, automation, and connected systems are being used to solve real operational challenges. The conversation focused on practical ways companies can use technology to improve efficiency, safety, infrastructure, and long-term business outcomes.
In the discussion, Leah shared Relevate One’s approach to helping clients think beyond individual technology upgrades. She explained that many businesses are not simply looking for a new camera system, access control upgrade, or another standalone tool. Instead, they are often trying to solve deeper challenges related to liability, operations, safety, tenant satisfaction, or resident experience.
“Most of our clients don’t actually have a technology problem; they have an outcome problem.”
Leah also emphasized that the right solution is not always a full replacement of existing systems. In many cases, businesses already have much of the technology they need, but those systems are disconnected. Relevate One helps clients bring those tools together so they can work in a more intelligent and effective way.
“Honestly, in our space, build versus buy is the wrong question. Almost nobody should be building. The right question is integrate versus replace.”
One example Leah shared was garage tailgating, a common security issue in multifamily buildings and commercial garages. She described how Relevate One created a custom API using license plate readers. When a vehicle enters behind an authorized car but is not registered to a resident or tenant, the system can trigger a strobe, alert the front desk, and play an automated message through a talk-down speaker.
“That single integration has changed what ‘security’ means for our clients. It’s not passive recording anymore. It’s the building defending itself in real time.”
The article also covered how AI can support employees rather than replace them. Leah explained that AI-enabled systems can help front desk teams and building staff respond to potential security concerns faster by sending real-time alerts to monitors, phones, and front desk displays.
She also discussed how modernizing technology is not always about buying something new. Instead, it can be about getting more value from the data a company is already collecting.
“Modernizing isn’t necessarily about buying new technology – it’s about getting value out of data you’re already collecting.”
Leah shared examples of how connected systems can help multifamily and commercial properties improve operations. In one multifamily example, cameras, access control, and a guest intercom were unified into an AI-monitored environment. In another commercial example, AI-flagged incident response was integrated with cameras and access control to help document and resolve liability events faster.
The conversation also touched on future trends in security and building technology. Leah pointed to more public-private security system integration and growing insurance requirements as two areas that may shape adoption in the years ahead.
At the end of the discussion, Leah noted both the opportunities and concerns around intelligent environments. She expressed excitement about the use of connected security tools and data, while also warning about the risks of using consumer-grade or non-compliant products in commercial environments.
You can read the full article on the Kansas City Business Journal website here