SET-listed developer AP Thailand Plc is remaining focused on residential business, launching two new services for home maintenance and security to improve customer satisfaction.

Vittakarn Chandavimol, chief of corporate strategy and creation, said the new services comprise security management brand Katsan and home maintenance brand Homewiser, both from Claymore Co, a new subsidiary it set up late last year.

"The property sector is in a transition," he said. "Developers need to adjust and seek new businesses, whether they are non-residential or non-property ventures."

AP wants to avoid non-residential development such as offices, retail, hotel or serviced apartments. Early this year it announced three new businesses, all non-property yet related to residential development.

"The new ventures are services for residential business. As a developer, we should not only build residential units but also improve customers' quality of life and take care of them post-sale," said Mr Vittakarn.

Security management Katsan is a 24-hour personal security platform. It will screen outsiders entering a project with the use of computer vision and an artificial intelligence processor.

The firm hopes to reduce errors that may occur from negligence and take advantage of a security matrix including smart entry-exit processing through recognition of car registration plates to differentiate residents' cars from public vehicles, and monitor public vehicles that overstay.

Other security management functions will link together users, property management and the security team to a residential project's main database to ensure prompt operation and acknowledgement.

Services in Katsan include pre-registering of visitor's vehicles, do-not-disturb for residents who refuse a visit, a car directory to inspect registration plates and identification of owners with vehicles blocking traffic.

There are also e-stamps via mobile phone, security alerts for emergencies or special help, and automatic notifications when there are visitors or announcements from the project.

Katsan is installed at 10 projects, all of which are low-rise. AP will offer Katsan to non-AP projects at a price of 300,000 baht per set per project.

The other service launched yesterday is Homewiser, offering home inspection with a checklist of more than 400 items, including basic maintenance, home maintenance advice and on-demand service.

Vittakarn: Property sector in transition

Mr Vittakarn said AP will invest a combined 1 billion baht during 2019-21 for the three new businesses, including design innovation developer Claymore Co, life management ecosystem operator Vaari Co and learning centre SEAC.

"The property market will continue slowing in the second half. Marketing housing projects will be more difficult," he said.

AP shares closed yesterday on the SET at eight baht, down five satang, in trade worth 101 million baht.