Page 11 - Spaces Magazine Volume 1

400% increase in event turnout thanks to preference based push notification. Key to the City by Dan Drogman & Omer Sharif Smart Spaces Sometimes fairytales predict the future. Letting go of the shackles of reality gives storytellers unbound freedom to explore, without impossibilities. It’s not known whether the notion of Key to the City came through lore, or reality. Fabled depictions of a giant golden key, that would unlock the gates to the city and the amenities within it. Even today, being awarded the Key to the City signifies a level of indebted gratitude. It’s reserved for members of the public whose service to the community deserves a special level of recognition. Far from being relegated to fairytales, the idea of unparalleled access using just one key is becoming more of a reality day by day. It’s not atypical to find a morning office routine that is carried out entirely using a phone, without unlocking the device. We’re used to using our phone wallets to tap in and out of the tube, as well as our smart watches to buy breakfast on our way into work. Getting into work is already seeing a major overhaul thanks to mobile building access growing in popularity. HID’s most recent Google Wallet integration has brought that user experience to android users for the first time too. But if we’re already here now, what does the future office look like? Thankfully, the smart building industry has a few that like to lead the pack from the front, so we can get an idea of what the state of the nation will be like in 5, or even 10 years’ time. Peering into the lobbies of some of the best-in-class buildings on the market right now, smart building apps allow you into the building as well as call the lift, open lockers, book your desk seat, control the lighting, blinds and climate. World class buildings are built different. They are serving more functionality than ever before. Catering, health & wellness, cycle parking and tracking are some of the services tenants are beginning to expect at the best buildings. In that sense, they act as micro-cities within themselves. All these features are accessed through a single app interface, giving a whole new meaning to the idea of Key to the City. Technology is best when it’s invisible. The offices of the future will provide seamless experiences that blur the line between reality and magic. Your building will mould around you, giving you a bespoke experience that is tailored to the way you work. In fact, there’s already some indication around what that looks like. A recent client mentioned how they’re now able to call the lift whilst they’re still at their desk, and time it perfectly so by the time they’ve logged off and walked over, the lift doors open for them. It’s these small tweaks to the working day that compound to give a sense of unbridled access. Taking this analogy to the realm of fantasy, imagine if your Key to the City came with a 2-way line of communication with all the services that it gave you access to? That’s exactly where things are already. Smart building apps provide a point of contact, at source, in any given scenario. Troubleshooting issues with a live support desk reduces downtime across the board. It’s also been used to promote community engagement. At Workspace, they’ve seen a 400% increase in event attendance just by having that direct line of communication with end users. Social walls highlight events, and push notifications based on preferences increase sign up rates. What’s more, tickets are booked there and then, all within app. The office of the future will feel like you’ve been given the Key to the City, and what’s best is you won’t have to carry anything extra in your pocket. smartspaces.app | Yourspace,butsmarter