Dan Drogman, Founder and CEO of Smart Spaces
- What tech innovations do you see having the biggest impact in the real estate sector in the next 5 years?
It’s an exciting time for the real estate sector. As building owners and operators drive towards their net zero and sustainability objectives, they’ll be looking towards proptech companies to help lead the way.
We’re already seeing buildings integrate IoT technology to help understand occupancy and security, and these devices allow building operators to pull data and analyse this on the macro scale, identifying how they perform from an energy efficiency perspective and where savings can happen.
This will really help to drive an accurate level of data reporting, so the industry can ensure that they remain on-track to be truly net zero. This tech is already available, but I envision it becoming the norm across large cities all around the world. We’re a connected society already, it makes sense for buildings to follow this trend.
This is only one piece of the puzzle though. In the next five years, we’re going to see innovations like AI, smart building access solutions, blockchain and big data really come to the forefront. I see there being a paradigm shift for the built environment where smart tech solutions become truly intertwined with user experience. It’s only a matter of time before this becomes the norm across the country.
- How do you see smart buildings and technology being the facilitator for successful partnerships and collaboration in the property sector?
Partnerships and collaboration are key to driving the industry forward. There are plenty of non-competitive companies out there who can work together to deliver products which can make real positive change and impact for the sector as a whole. Whether this is combining software and hardware to work in tandem to connect building operators, managers, owners and employees to the place they occupy.
Smart buildings collect a vast amount of data about their operations, such as energy usage, occupancy rates and maintenance needs. This data can be shared with partners and collaborators to improve decision making on important topics like sustainability or security. Not only this but these collaborations enable tasks like lighting and HVAC to be truly automated, creating efficiencies across the entire lifecycle.
Technology can also improve communication between partners, ensuring key issues don’t go unnoticed. For instance, smart buildings will have integrated sensors that will be able to identify when maintenance problems occur, before they’ve been reported. These issues can be immediately flagged to contractors who can attend to the problem before it affects the working environment.
- What role do strategic partnerships in real estate play in the drive towards net-zero goals for buildings?
Sustainability goals are being taken very seriously by real estate owners, investors, developers and operators. However, making a building net-zero is a big ask. It requires strategic, ongoing work that scrutinises existing business practices.
To be truly successful at this, building operators, managers and owners must lean on the support of their partners. This comes in the form of analysing data about how a building is being used, retrofitting equipment, optimising their businesses and working with customers to reduce their energy consumption. For example, office buildings would historically have all lights on throughout the course of their business day (and often throughout the night too). By working with tech companies, these buildings can detect when certain sections are not in use, ensuring light and HVAC systems can be turned off to ease energy usage.
At Smart Spaces, our client relationships are all partnerships. We work closely with companies to advise them on how to use technology effectively to ensure their buildings are more connected, sustainable and secure.
- What are you most excited about seeing at PropTech Connect?
Events like PropTech Connect always get me excited. I find myself energised when the best and brightest minds from across the industry come together to discuss the future of the sector. I’m always excited to see how new innovations in technology are shaping property and finding unique solutions to big problems like climate change.
We also have a great working relationship with a number of partners in the sector and PropTech Connect is the perfect opportunity to shine a light on the exciting work they’re doing, as well as the projects we collaborate together on.
- Can you tell us more about the Smart Building Showcase?
We’ve done something very exciting for this year’s PropTech Connect. We’ve invited our valued partners to join us for the first world’s first Smart Building Showcase by Smart Spaces. This unique interactive experience will be our opportunity to demonstrate the technology that powers the smart buildings of the future.
From the moment you step through our smart access gates using your Apple Wallet integrated pass, you’ll be immersed within our very own mini smart building. Here, you’ll be able to speak to partners like HID, Ideal, Kone, PointGrab, Vorboss, Metra, Fastlane, Simmtronic, Delta Controls, LenelS2, and of course our great team at Smart Spaces.
- Can you tell us more about your ‘tap into the future’ campaign?
As technology advances, more and more companies are replacing traditional methods of accessing buildings with smart solutions that offer increased convenience, security, and efficiency.
Smart building access solutions have gained significant momentum in recent years, with the ability to streamline operations and enhance user experience. Solutions like Apple Wallet and Google Wallet aren’t just offering teams a more seamless experience but are also highlighting the drawbacks and security concerns associated with more traditional methods like keys, cards, fobs and pin codes.
The technology leverages the power of smartphones or smart watches to offer a secure and convenient way to enter the workplace. Users simply approach a compatible access point, tap their device on the reader and the door or gate will open if the user has appropriate authorisation.
This technology can already be seen in action at 22 Bishopsgate, a smart building enabled by Smart Spaces, in partnership with HID, and is a European first for Apple Wallet integration. We really see this as the future of accessing smart buildings, and all it takes is just a tap!
About Smart Spaces
Smart Spaces is the multi-accredited and award-winning smart building operating system. Its cloud-hosted Smart Building Platform powers over 60 million square ft. of commercial real estate. The world’s leading real estate and occupier brands utilise Smart Spaces technology across a portfolio of alpha-class buildings in prime global locations. The software is currently in 26 countries and growing, it scales with your organisation’s needs and is compatible with all major languages.
Rated to Smart Score Platinum, Smart Spaces connect your access control, lifts, HVAC, lights, IoT sensors to provide integrated controls and reporting via a single pane of glass dashboard. The provision of interactive 3D modelling and a workplace app for the building community ensures a world-class smart building experience.
Smart Spaces continually invests in R&D and innovation, it is bridging the physical and digital and is the world’s leading white-label Smart Building Employee-Engagement App. Functionality includes live meeting room and desk booking with community, communications, smart controls, facility management tools and digital twin.
