FM & TECHNOLOGY DATA IS KING
Dr Shrikant Sharma, Group Director at Buro Happold, explains why data can help FM teams to manage current challenges and prepare for the future.
Bill Gates once said that “content is king”, but I believe there’s a strong contender to rival that – data. With data, we have knowledge; we have the power to make changes. At a time when adaptability is the key to survival, using data and analytics will be even more important to facilities management teams as they manage the return of people back into the workplace and adjust to a new way of working.
COVID-19 has presented FM teams with many challenges, as they implement social distancing measures and other precautions to maintain staff safety. How can workers go back safely into the workplace? How can FM teams identify where there is unused space that could be better utilised to adhere to the guidelines? Data can help to support this process, but also in continuing to manage the building day-to-day, which can be done remotely.
Returning to the new-look workplace As I mentioned, the main challenge is how to configure the office to implement social distancing measures, without having to find extra space. Having a better understanding of how the space is used is invaluable here, as predictive modelling can be used to scenario plan how an office would look at reduced occupancies.
In the pre-COVID workplace, businesses wanted more collision points – i.e. water coolers, entrances, break out areas, open plan spaces – to drive more interactions and outcomes among the team. It’s essential that opportunities for interaction and collaboration aren’t interrupted, as they’ll be key in supporting the economic recovery, but in the interim, more attention is focused on minimising these collision points.
Business as usual This work has placed additional pressures on busy FM teams, who have had to continue managing workplaces throughout lockdown. This is where data can help by providing insights into how the building is performing to help create a more efficient workplace.
Sensors can be installed into overhead smart lighting systems that connect directly to the cloud and allow real- time data to be available for analysis. They can monitor how and where spaces are being utilised, and assess workplace behaviour; for example, how often people leave their desks for a break, where they start conversations and how long a ‘one-hour meeting’ actually lasts. A complete picture can then be built to demonstrate how effective a workplace is in terms of its space utilisation, environmental and energy efficiency, and, most importantly, connectivity, productivity and wellbeing of its people.
26 | TOMORROW’S FM
Sensors and remote monitoring are providing deeper insights that were previously not possible. For example, workplace analytics are now driving decision making at Vodafone’s London office, in terms of space use, employee productivity through better CO2 monitoring, and improved insights into staff collaborations. The analytics have uncovered opportunities to reduce more than 30% of meeting spaces by resizing them to meet actual usage demands and it’s highlighted opportunities for significant improvement of productivity; the sensors revealed that a third of time seemed to be over the CO2 threshold considered optimum for human productivity, so the team is now able to better manage the levels with a pinpointed accuracy.
Monitoring from afar Not having regular access to the workplace has certainly made things challenging for building managers. This is where remote dashboards have become invaluable, giving insights and data into how buildings are performing, where changes can be made and remotely managing key variables, such as air quality and space use, at the touch of a button, while working from home.
Looking ahead Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has taught us that the physical workplace needs to change; for many businesses, the days of being based in the workplace all of the time are gone. Similarly, businesses have realised they can make savings by reducing the amount of space they need, particularly if they’ll continue to implement remote working and rota systems going forward.
The biggest lesson of all has been that we need to learn and adapt as we go, rather than waiting for the next major hiccup to give us a wake-up call. By better using data, facilities management teams can be empowered to prepare for whatever the future may hold, all at the touch of a button.
www.burohappold.com/
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
