Page 34 - Spaces Magazine Volume 1

· 34 · Vol 0ne ® A changing world Today’s commercial landlords and business owners have several things on their mind. After more than two years of pandemic- related uncertainty, they were plunged into a world of high interest rates and inflation. This has an obvious impact on spending plans and the need for greater efficiency in building management systems. But the cost-of-living crisis has also led to increased concerns about economically driven crime. Many industry executives have cited an increase in physical security threats in recent years. At the same time, the pandemic left an indelible mark on the way we live and work. According to one study, nearly three-quarters (72%) of UK employers offer flexible working for their corporate employees, with just 28% requiring staff to be in the office full time. Those managing office buildings in this new world of hybrid working need the right information to answer questions like “on which days is our office busiest?” or “do we have enough parking spaces?”. Industry players are also under more pressure than ever to meet and go beyond energy efficiency standards, to satisfy tenants and shareholders of their ESG credentials. Doing so can also have a positive impact on cost control in the long run. And they must do all of this while managing persistent skills shortages—at least, when it comes to physical security. Some 70% of channel partners Genetec polled last year expect staffing challenges to increase globally. 72% of UK employers offer flexible working. No time for legacy The good news is that, despite persistent macroeconomic headwinds, we found that 62% of end users expect OPEX budget for physical security to remain flat or increase in 2024, versus just 15% expecting it to fall. However, where this money is spent will be critical. Investing in a collection of on- premises point solutions may create more problems than it solves. Typically, legacy solutions for video surveillance, access control, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), and intrusion detection are proprietary and closed, creating information and management silos. This limits how security teams connect and share data, creating security gaps and time-consuming, costly processes. It also restricts organisations’ ability to scale and future-proof their physical security infrastructure. Imagine a physical security system comprised of multiple siloed solutions, generating multiple alarms. Without an overarching management platform to unify them, the right people would not have access to the right alerts at the right time. This is where a unified solution like Genetec Security Center comes into its own, intelligently pulling data from a range of sources and presenting actionable information to users via a single intuitive dashboard. Smart Spaces Why it’s time to make your building smarter with a unified security platform By Viet Tang Genetec Legacy security systems may have been effective a decade ago. But they’re no longer fit-for-purpose at a time of rising cost pressures, sustainability concerns, skills shortages and physical and cyber- threats. Commercial property owners need a more intelligent way to protect their people, buildings and assets from physical security risks. This starts with deploying a unified security system that connects your security systems, sensors, and data in a single intuitive interface for analysis and proactive response. Such a platform can also go beyond security—to help organisations drive new operational benefits, support regulatory compliance, and even strengthen sustainability initiatives.