The advent of the internet of things (IoT) has revolutionised how we connect with each other, providing countless streams of data that can be used to enhance our daily lives and, moreover, how we work – but the surface has only just been scratched.
With the IoT, employees can connect to each other and their surroundings more easily to enhance collaboration and productivity, while all facets of the buildings they occupy become ripe for reconfiguration to generate a more relevant and effective workspace, making significant cost-savings.
Of course, this is the ideal. Some may say that the kind of holistic and cohesive approach, which is redefining what it means to be a smart space, is long overdue. Often the “smart” label has been used loosely in the business narrative, with many organisations purporting to be so when the reality doesn’t merit the description. Despite good intentions and generous budgets, the focus can be too narrow, the approach too tokenistic and key errors made around basic implementation which ultimately thwarts success.
Applying a piecemeal, ad hoc approach to smart technology is a particularly common pitfall. Although some have gone as far as integrating their digital applications and infrastructure throughout their portfolios, the critical element that is missing is an overarching system which can make sense of how the end-user engages and interacts with the buildings.
Many organisations deploy intelligent systems that are placed into discreet silos, only dealing with single core mechanics and functions at an infrastructure or operational level. This results in critical data being collected in a singular fashion to resolve singular issues. More often than not, the humanistic element that is absolutely essential in creating smart, engaging environments is a secondary consideration or in some instances overlooked completely.
