The Smart Building Show, held every year at London Excel, is the largest smart buildings event in the UK. Attendees gather from all over the world in the heart of London Docklands, to discuss their shared interest of technology and learn about the latest innovations in the built environment industries.
What struck me most about the 2024 show was that so many talks focused on people. As well as delving into tools, technology and physical spaces, it was mentioned time and again that people are the beating heart of the built environment. By putting employees, visitors and other occupants at the heart of smart buildings, it can open avenues that seemed impossible previously. At a time when AI is dominating the industry, this feels especially important.
Delivering total asset value at scale
The first talk I attended featured JLL’s Ross Powell and Matthew Marson. Together, they stressed that clients know what they want but often struggle to articulate their needs and identify the necessary steps to get there. A skilled facilities manager in their eyes must be able to communicate effectively with their customers to be able to deliver what they visualise.
They also emphasised that FMs must understand the market they work in. Not all asset managers prioritise sustainability. However, premium customers do and savvy FMs are catching on.
Smart talk, dumb buildings
Schneider Electric’s Tom Hammond and Planon’s Darlene Pope and Rob Williams collaboratively spoke about the integration of systems. If there was one data element to focus on in the built environment, Pope explained, it was occupancy data. Understanding where attendees are at any time is enormously beneficial because it helps identify where investment in assets is most needed.
Data, Pope explained, eliminates uncertainty because it allows FMs to follow trends. This is especially critical with ESG reporting, where a study from 2023 found that less than a third of businesses use a framework for evaluating ESG data.
Start with why: the business case for human-centric lighting
Ayça Donaghy, from the Lighting Industry Association, alongside Shelley James, from Age of Light Innovations, discussed how lighting is one of the least-talked about areas of smart buildings. However, a considerate approach during construction can greatly impact building users, especially when careful thought is given to the installation of lighting.
Studies show that hospitals are seeing improved results when using circadian rhythm lighting. Optimising natural daylight can be enormously beneficial to those with photosensitivity or other visual impairments. As workers are facing a return to the office, consideration of lighting will be advantageous to those who stay away from offices due to harsh lighting. As the Equality Act makes clear, we must employ accessibility adjustments for those with disabilities.
How converging technologies are shaping the user experience
This three-part presentation from Hazel Bedson and Paul McCarthy, Service Works Global (SWG), and Daryn Fitz, Symetri, provided a comprehensive insight into the world of building information technology, more commonly known as BIM, to collect appropriate data in a short of amount of time (the company’s Swedish project was complete in 11 weeks). Asset management and proactive maintenance are supported by digital twins. These are 3D copies of the building which help visualise the work before it takes place, as well as allow the user to digitally test out potential fixes, thereby increasing the first-time fix rate.
SWG’s computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) can also be used to improve employee experience for those coming back into the office. CAFM assists with booking meeting rooms, managing lighting and temperatures, making the office a more comfortable environment. Facilities managers also benefit from the data from sensors that trigger alerts for timely action, which in turn saves engineers time with workers returning to the office.
Letting go of spreadsheets
Steve McGregor, from DMA Group, concluded with a presentation focused on the pitfalls of papers and spreadsheets, where companies have lost millions due to simple errors. Interestingly, McGregor also discussed the potential pitfalls of CAFM systems, including the challenges of adoption, customisation, and, if using a bought system, ownership of the data if the software is dropped or replaced.
DMA has built its own system BiO® aimed at creating an entire end-to-end workflow. The development of this stand-alone software required a lengthy process where every single DMA colleague was monitored on how they work to help them build a solution that worked for everyone. While this level of depth might not be possible in every work situation, McGregor felt that many FMs throw away technology because they do not accurately define the problem in the first instance.
FM and listening
The key takeaway from the Smart Building Show was that leaders in the built environment – those interested in pushing the industry forward – must listen to people. This isn’t just about listening to customers and their requirements but also to their colleagues, and the wider market, and paying attention to what customers don’t say. While sensors aren’t the most innovative technology, they help ‘listen’ to what users are doing, which in turn helps facilities managers. It is only by accurately defining the problem or pitfalls that technology can really be utilised.
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