Why sensors will be at the heart of our future workplaces
The recent upsurge in the application of sensor technology, and the associated creation of the so-called Internet of Things (IoT), has been nothing short of astounding. We anticipate businesses to utilise this surge and increase their adoption of technology in the workplace – specifically, sensor technology, for the purpose of optimising the workplace, enhancing the office experience, and aiding the real estate decision making process.
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We interviewed almost 400 global business leaders to understand how they’re adapting their real estate strategies for the years to come. The below insights are based upon their responses. To discover the data behind the story, get the full picture in (Y)OUR SPACE.
There were 15.4 billion IoT connected devices worldwide in 2015. By 2020, this number had doubled to 30.7 billion. Now, it’s forecast to reach more than 75.4 billion by 2025. In other words, there has been a five-fold increase in the number of connected, data-generating sensors in operation globally in just a decade. With so many of these sensors capable of being embedded within office buildings (or are already embedded), the opportunity for the workplace is huge.
Sensors have the power to support a wide range of building management issues, including temperature and air quality management, occupancy monitoring and enhancing our understanding of how and when occupants engage with the workplace or even potentially with one another.
They are at the heart of the so-called ‘smart building’, which Siemens defines as one characterised by the presence of a digital infrastructure robust enough to collect and amass building operational data; provide the connectivity needed to analyse, learn from it and share it; and ultimately leverage it for the benefit of a broad roster of stakeholders.
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Based on our research, we believe business leaders around the world will increase their adoption of workplace sensors for three reasons:
1. Optimising the workplace environment
Our survey results clearly show that office environments will be configured differently. Real estate leaders will need to know how these changes are playing out on a granular level. Occupancy sensors can help determine which spaces are being utilised – and which are not, allowing room for optimisation. If, for example, a part of the office isn’t being used, air conditioning and lighting can automatically be turned down – or off – to save energy. Occupancy sensors can also support track and trace initiatives, as businesses strive to mitigate any future outbreaks.
2. Curating and sustaining the workplace experience
The workplace isn’t just a box in which to place people. It’s an experience. It has the capacity to shape the way people work and interact. This is going to be even more crucial in a world where employees have the option to work away from the office at least some of the time. Smart buildings and sensor technology can help achieve a seamless office experience. Connected community apps, for example, that support building occupants in finding a desk, locating co-workers, booking amenities or meeting rooms, or even accessing concierge services, will be key.
3. Enhancing the real estate decision-making process
51% of businesses we surveyed expect to make greater use of data to inform their real estate and workplace decision-making over the next three years. Historically, corporate real estate decisions have been at the helm of senior business leaders, gut feel and market opportunism. As a result, they have fundamentally focused on one metric: Cost. Smart buildings present a unique opportunity for a more informed, analytical approach, backed by data and a sustained understanding of how a building is being used, operated and how it ultimately supports the business’s strategic agenda.
Siemens, for example, has equipped its Singapore office with sensors so that the office’s 650 employees can book desks, find colleagues, check occupancy rates, raise maintenance tickets and register their intention to travel in. Meanwhile, it provides Siemens with the ability to define daily occupancy limits and garner insights on right sizing its portfolio.
To explore what the future of work means for your business and understand how you can optimise your real estate strategy, step into (Y)OUR SPACE, or get in touch with a member of our team.
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