There’s no denying the value of real time data insights. Being in possession of the very information that shows what’s going on in the here and now is a powerful position in which to be. And when that information helps us make changes that improve workplace well-being and enhance the health and safety of a building, it becomes even more precious.
The good news is that, in today’s workplace, it is possible to capture such data insights courtesy of Internet of Things powered technology known as a smart building management system.
In a smart building, connected devices and sensors pick up and channel information into a central platform, where analytics software crunches it and reports on all sorts of things, including indoor air quality, lighting conditions and temperature and humidity. All the very things that dictate how healthy a building actually is.
Why are healthy buildings so important?
Healthy buildings are incredibly important. For employers, they can help attract the very best talent. They can enhance productivity, and they can boost staff retention, well-being and morale.
For brands, healthy buildings can strengthen reputation, as well as back environmental and sustainability policies.
For the building owner, healthy buildings have the potential to appeal to long term tenants who are willing to pay top scale rental rates. A healthy building can also reduce energy costs and operational overheads, because the effort that goes into making a building healthy, for example regulating temperature and light levels, can translate into valuable energy savings.
For occupants, the health of a building is vital because it can directly impact on physical and mental health.
‘Sick building syndrome’ is a widely documented phenomenon, with symptoms such as headaches, nasal issues, skin complaints, dry or sore eyes or throat, and concentration difficulties all reported as being connected with the likes of poor lighting and indoor air quality.
Workplace wellness is one of the core driving factors when it comes to talent acquisition and retention. It also directly impacts upon productivity and, ultimately the success of a business and its growth.
When people feel healthy, they work to the best of their abilities. They are more likely to want to come to work, and they’ll naturally get more done.
So, if you are able to create the best possible workspace in terms of indoor air quality, lighting and temperature, where your employees don’t have to waste their time requesting adjustments so they don’t feel tired or have to struggle to focus in poor light, you’ll be a good few steps closer to achieving your business growth goals.
How can smart data insights help create healthy buildings?
Premises that are controlled by a smart building automation system are designed to enhance working conditions, as well as reduce waste and boost productivity. They use Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors to monitor an array of building functions, from the functionality of machines and plant, to HVAC controls, security, lighting and energy usage.
These IoT devices and sensors are all interconnected. They pick up on all sorts of actions, sounds, vibrations and fluctuations, producing insightful data insights that combine to reveal trends and patterns.
Such data insights could be things like heating or air conditioning being adjusted by occupants in line with outdoor climatic fluctuations, and lights being switched on or off at certain times of the day. But these data insights could go further, highlighting issues, for example, with machines that are not functioning properly and therefore causing noise pollution, or producing unhealthy emissions.
All of this office insight data is channelled into a central platform where it is examined via a sophisticated analytics program. The insights that come out of it empower managers to make decisions that drive down expenditure, cut energy wastage and improve workplace well-being.
What’s more, smart building management systems also incorporate machine learning and artificial intelligence, using data insights to create sophisticated automations that have the ability to transform workplace comfort, without time consuming manual intervention.
For example, when indoor air quality exceeds what is considered healthy, when temperatures rise to an uncomfortable level, or when light levels drop to the point where occupants are struggling to undertake their roles, an automated trigger would make adjustments, without the need for a frustrating wait whilst a request to make changes is manually dealt with.
How does Smart Spaces improve workplace well-being through data insights?
Smart Spaces is an Internet of Things (IoT) powered platform that transforms an ordinary building management system into a smart building management system.
Driven by internet-connected sensors, machine learning and artificial intelligence, Smart Spaces has the ability to automatically control various elements of a building management system, including heating, lighting, ventilation and air conditioning.
Smart Spaces technology makes it possible for facilities managers to assess, regulate and maintain the highest standards of workplace wellness. Using a ‘digital twin’ visualisation system, a 3D replica of the building is produced, making it straightforward to see what needs to be actioned so that the best working conditions can be achieved.
Data insights on the likes of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide, noise levels, and temperature and humidity levels feeds into the central dashboard, allowing managers to either make manual adjustments to ensure top level workplace well-being and productivity, or triggering automations that take the task out of their hands, leaving them free to focus on other priorities.
Even better, via a smartphone app, building occupants get to control the temperature and lighting conditions of their own individual workspaces. Machine learning stores personal preferences, and creates pre-sets for specific tasks, times of day and environmental conditions.
With access to the building’s data from its array of integrated systems, Smart Spaces is able to go a step further than any standard control method. Data insights highlight how you can best improve your workspace, showing you who uses your building, how they use it, occupancy and wellness, as well as benchmarking performance against other buildings.
To learn more about how Smart Spaces can deliver valuable data insights that can enhance the wellbeing of your workplace, you are welcome to request a free demo or get in touch.
