From Leading Edge to Bleeding Edge Technology

August 28, 2018 | By: Alex Peters
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Across the world in virtually every industry sector, advancements in technology are pushing the boundaries of innovation. Common operational practices are becoming more and more streamlined as big data continues to collect and organize information and provide the first step to implementing best practices. The building operations and maintenance industry is no different.

Even more so, building operations is one such industry that could benefit the most out of these new and innovative trends in technology. Technological advancements present the capability to revolutionize how assets are being managed and maintained, while also creating a standardized process that can be applied across the board. By implementing new operational methods utilizing advanced technology, workforces in every industry can become more efficient with their daily tasks and therefore are able to work smarter, not harder. In the end, this saves valuable time and money for everyone involved.

Technology Drives Industry Standards

Besides creating higher efficiency at a property, why else is adapting to new technology important for building operation professionals? In an increasingly competitive market, leaders must stay above the fold in terms of trends and tech developments to retain their status in the industry. Being an industry leader who is aware of the constantly evolving trends will help to attract and retain clientele.

Testing and adapting to this new technology also allow building professionals to remain financially competitive and leverage their services in an increasingly aggressive market. Today, we’re seeing immense progress in building operations through building maintenance systems, environmentally friendly HVAC systems, and the implementation of mobile applications in cutting-edge ways.

Progress in Building Maintenance Systems

Since building maintenance systems are the foundation to a well-functioning property, it’s no wonder that these systems would be some of the first to undergo the new trends in technology. For building operation professionals, this progress helps streamline building maintenance with higher precision. A big reason behind this is the continued collection of big data. New and improved technology in building maintenance systems can analyze the output of the building through this data and then create the most efficient control mechanisms possible for each specific property. In turn, this allows building operation professionals to spend more time looking after other operational procedures that may get overlooked otherwise.

For building owners and managers, the advancements in building maintenance systems also assists in reducing the overall operational cost of the property. These systems, with the added technological advancements, can collect more data than legacy systems. Analyzing this data, owners and managers are then able to create the most efficient maintenance process based off each property’s unique data, while also lessening the toll on the property budget.

Using this data and consistently analyzing it, maintenance professionals can predict future issues before they even occur. Never have we seen this done in the velocity that it is now, directly owed to advanced technology collecting a larger span of data and analyzing it to its maximum capability.

Creating Smart Buildings from The Ground Up

Besides revamping current technology, the growth in building construction and development across the nation has allowed for new, groundbreaking technology to be implemented into buildings from the ground up. This gives properties a whole different level of functionality and control that retrofitting existing buildings with new technology tends to lack. A higher threshold of building automation in new construction can help reduce the cost and improve functionality right from the start. Building automation system experts are creating smart buildings utilizing the most recent technology which can include, but is not limited to, thermostats and other HVAC related appliances, smart locks for tenants and building managers, and overall building communications between staff, building maintenance systems and tenants.

Innovations in HVAC Systems

HVAC systems play a special role in how technological advancements are affecting the building operations industry. Not only are they altering technology to improve the system in terms of efficiency, cost, and longevity, HVAC systems also play a major role in creating environmentally friendly buildings. Reducing the cost of the HVAC system is not only a win for the budget, but also furthers sustainability efforts in the maintenance of the property.

When a HVAC system adopts the newest technology, it can aid in preventing future problems, monitor usage and use that data it collects to create a well-oiled machine functioning to its highest capability. When a system performs fully, this in turn will use less energy and reduce the overall operational costs.

Since HVAC systems are some of the biggest energy hogs but are at the core to a well-functioning property, it’s no surprise that the HVAC sector has one of the highest growth rates. Property owners and managers can clearly see the savings and therefore, are more apt to invest in the money and time to upgrade these systems – especially those found in large industrial complexes.

Mobile Applications for Smartphones Lead the Way in Remote Capability

We’ve talked about how building maintenance and HVAC systems are some of the first to get upgrades as our knowledge of technology expands, but how are professionals interacting with these systems. Now we are in the age of mobile.

Mobile applications aren’t just for texting, snapping a photo or for playing your favorite game anymore. What used to take an entire computer room, can now can be enabled and modified in the palm of our hands.

While mobile apps help property managers maintain communications with their tenants and staff, these apps when connected to building systems, help immensely in maintaining a building’s functionality without even having to step foot on the property. Using application technology, building engineers can report and track work orders remotely allowing issues to get resolved more quickly. Being able to input information from anywhere streamlines the process and provides a greater collection of data.

This data taken from applications that reads data like temperature, CO2 levels and the status of equipment, can then be used to calculate the best practices for that property. As the systems function more efficiently, less energy is being wasted, creating a smaller building footprint and operational cost point. As mobile applications for smartphones continue to adapt to the rising trends in technology, the possibilities of what can be managed remotely are endless.

Using Technology to Your Fullest Advantage

Although some remain anxious that the advancement of technology will take over the jobs of humans, staying knowledgeable of these advances will establish a building operation professional as a leader in the future of the industry. If not, they may risk opportunities that could have improved the functionality of a property, which has an impact on owners, managers and tenants.

Instead, by embracing these changes and recognizing when it’s time to upgrade failing systems with new technology, future-focused operations and maintenance professionals will be able to reduce a property’s operating expenses and environmental impact. Although staying up-to-date with current trends can be a task within itself, in the long run, it will benefit everyone—from the ground up.