Office Technologies

Smart buildings technology can help commercial and retail real estate leaders differentiate themselves in the market, but operators still face integration challenges, according to a report by Forrester Consulting and Johnson Controls. 

While smart buildings can help operators manage facilities, provide optimized occupant experiences and reach sustainability and security goals, 73% of sustainability leaders from the retail and commercial real estate sector say their organizations lack the technical expertise to optimize building systems using collected insights, according to an online survey of 3,445 smart buildings leaders conducted in August 2023 by Forrester Consulting.

As a result, technical and strategic partners are needed to help leaders fill expertise gaps and advance smart building initiatives, per the report. To ensure proper implementation, operators must create a roadmap of near-term and long-term strategic building initiatives that can meet the needs of corporate tenants by prioritizing areas such as energy efficiency, occupant safety and optimized operations, the report says. 

Building insights are increasingly important to organizations as they seek to achieve sustainability, security, health, space optimization and safety goals, with many departments now relying on building data to inform decisions, according to the report, which was commissioned by and developed in collaboration with Johnson Controls. Sixty-five percent of commercial and real estate respondents said a desire to improve security operations is a top driver of smart building investments, while 51% cited physical security concerns as a motivator. 

Optimizing space management is a driving factor for investments among 41% of respondents, while modernizing buildings and reducing carbon emissions were named as key drivers by 40% and 39% of respondents, respectively. Over 60% of respondents pointed to the potential for smart building technology to reduce costs, accelerate sustainability initiatives and drive business growth.

“The business case for smart and sustainable buildings should drive the alignment necessary for the move toward smarter buildings,” Vijay Sankaran, vice president and chief technology officer at Johnson Controls, said in an email. “By leveraging technology and analytics, organizations can identify areas of improvement, implement energy-saving measures and reduce their carbon footprint. The results are twofold: reduced emissions and substantial cost savings.”

Only 13% of commercial and retail real estate leaders believe their building systems and equipment are fully integrated, however.A lack of integrated data and insights is adversely impacting operations, revenue and brand perceptions, with 62% of leaders saying they contend with decreased operating efficiency as a result. Further, 57% said they face increased regulatory penalties due to a lack of integration. 

Smart building solutions can unite data from all systems and equipment, automatically alerting and adjusting environments for safety and efficiency, while making it easier to capture insights that can guide decisions and recommendations, the report says. Over 70% of retail and commercial real estate respondents said they struggle with using captured insights to optimize their building systems and achieve their top goals, however. 

As a result, retail and commercial real estate leaders are seeking smart building solution partners that can offer deep integration abilities, industry experience and user-friendly platforms, Forrester says. Owners and operators especially want advanced technology from their smart building partners, with 79% of respondents noting that using the latest technology is a “valuable” or “extremely valuable” attribute in a partner. 

“It’s critical to future-proof technology. Facilities managers should look for advanced edge solutions to connect devices, equipment and control systems, simplifying integrations as technology changes,” Sankaran said. “Digital twin technologies enable an immersive analysis of your locations, events, assets and people, predicting outcomes in real time. And tools to monitor and continuously improve the quality of data and analytics.”

Approximately 70% of respondents said they looked for partners that can provide a single digital platform across all sites and use cases, as well as ease of use for cross-departmental stakeholders, end-to-end expertise or seamless integration with existing systems.

“Given the complexity of smart buildings, and the fact that they generate a massive amount of data that facility managers will need to understand and analyze, facility managers should plan to partner with technology experts,” Sankaran said. “This could include an internal IT department, external consultants, or a technology vendor that can provide guidance and support for implementing and managing smart building technologies.”

Sustainability remains a key business priority in the sector, with 72% of retail and commercial real estate organizations setting carbon reduction goals across their building portfolios to above 75% by 2030, according to the survey. Sustainability and health goals are driving real estate leaders' preference for smart building technology that can advance building sustainability goals, enhance transparency in reporting and boost the appeal of real estate portfolios to tenants and buyers, Forrester says. 

The report notes that properties with green certificates or energy efficiency labels achieve an average of 6.3% higher rental incomes, 6% higher occupancy rates and a 14.8% higher sales price than those without these certificates or labels.

Businesses are increasingly turning to facility management solutions to improve operational efficiency and ensure compliance and safety, according to a June 2024 Gartner report. To streamline vendor and work order management, many firms are integrating centralized permissions and access controls, Gartner says. 

Here are some access and facility management software firms making news recently. 

Siemens taps Genea to bolster security systems

On Thursday, Siemens and Genea announced a collaborative effort to provide security professionals and facility managers with a centralized, cloud-based security management dashboard for existing security technologies like cameras and door readers. 

Through Genea’s cloud-based open application programming interface, or API, platform, Siemens customers can integrate various building systems or applications such as visitor management, Apple Wallet, video management or identity management into their workflows. They will also be able to assign and distribute near-field communication and Bluetooth mobile credentials to users’ smartphones, with credentials stored in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet for easier accessibility, according to a Nov. 21 release. 

SwiftConnect plans to scale access, credential lifecycle management platform

SwiftConnect recently announced that it raised $37 million in Series B financing this month to expand its access network, scale operations, drive geographic expansion and support new product initiatives.

The company’s access management platform integrates with existing mobile platforms, credential technologies and business systems to provide authorized access to facilities across commercial real estate, including financial and professional services, life sciences and technology firms. 

The access network’s ability to automate, centralize and digitize access management and credential lifecycle management “gives people the freedom to use their mobile access pass in NFC wallets and any other credentials to conveniently access buildings, offices and enterprise resources, amenities, and much more — regardless of the existing access control, identity management and building systems in place,” SwiftConnect said in the release.

The company has grown its market base in the U.S. over the past year, helping to deploy the first corporate badge in Google Wallet and the first in Apple Wallet, per the release. 

Fortive announces corporate spin-off, focusing core company on operating solutions

Connected workflow solutions provider Fortive announced plans earlier this year to split into two independent publicly traded companies. The planned spin-off will consist of portfolio brands currently operating under Fortive’s Precision Technologies segment; Fortive will retain its Intelligent Operating Solutions and Advanced Healthcare Solutions business segments. Key Intelligent Operating Solutions brands include facilities management tools such as Accruent, Fluke, Gordian, Industrial Scientific, Intelex and ServiceChannel. 

The company has also emphasized integration and innovation within its Intelligent Operating Solutions segment. Last year, it launched a strategic partnership between Accruent and ServiceChannel, combining their solutions into an integrated workplace management system for multisite business operators.

Sponsored content

By Pitney Bowes

The role of technology in modern shipping and receiving

As technology continues to reshape industries, shipping, mailing and receiving have become pivotal in optimizing office operations, evolving from simple tasks to strategic functions. For large office shippers—organizations managing significant shipping volumes between internal teams, clients and hybrid work environments—this shift requires innovative solutions to keep up with the demands of modern business.

The changing landscape of office shipping and receiving

Shipping today is more than just moving parcels from one place to another. It’s about precision, efficiency and adaptability. With rising carrier rates, fluctuating surcharges and unpredictable service levels, businesses face numerous operational challenges. In this environment, companies must adopt advanced inbound and outbound shipping solutions that integrate seamlessly into their workflows.

The growth of eCommerce and decentralized workforces has magnified the need for streamlined shipping processes. Offices are now navigating a complex balance between remote and on-site operations, which has made both internal and external shipments more critical. For example, financial firms must expedite sensitive loan documents, while law firms require secure delivery of case files. The variety of shipments and the need for secure, timely delivery highlight the importance of tools that reduce complexity, enhance efficiency and improve customer satisfaction.

Leveraging technology for efficiency

Advancements in technology have transformed shipping operations. Tools like Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms, artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics have become essential for optimizing office shipping.

• SaaS platforms: These platforms centralize shipping data, allowing businesses to make informed, centralized decisions across multiple locations. By integrating with existing systems, SaaS solutions streamline operations and provide visibility across the entire shipping process.
• AI and automation: Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing shipping by automating critical tasks like address validation, carrier selection and real-time tracking. AI helps businesses reduce errors, save costs and ensure shipments are delivered on time and accurately.
• Data analytics: Data analytics tools provide actionable insights, helping businesses forecast demand, optimize routes, and manage costs effectively. With real-time visibility, companies can respond to carrier rate changes, address seasonal fluctuations and meet evolving customer demands, ensuring they stay competitive in an unpredictable market.

Security and compliance

As organizations handle sensitive data—such as client information and shipment details—ensuring robust security is paramount. Modern shipping platforms provide encryption, access controls and compliance with industry standards like GDPR and HIPAA, safeguarding data integrity and maintaining client trust. Some even take it a step further leaning on the highest level of Government security accreditations to ensure compliance with rigorous Government standards to protect sensitive data and ensure national security. By adopting these technologies, organizations can reduce the risk of breaches and ensure compliance, which is critical for maintaining reputations and avoiding legal pitfalls.

The future of office shipping

Looking ahead, organizations that adopt advanced shipping technologies will transform their operations into a strategic advantage. Scalable and adaptable platforms can help organizations of all kinds remain competitive, even during peak shipping periods or unexpected market shifts. As shipping evolves, the focus should shift from merely adapting to thriving—leveraging technology not only to meet current demands but to enhance productivity, reduce costs and deliver superior service.

“Balancing competitive pricing and operational expenses is one of the biggest challenges we’ve seen as the shipping landscape evolves”, said Gitika Jain, Vice President of Product, Pitney Bowes. “That’s where data-driven shipping solutions really make a difference.”

Solutions like the Pitney Bowes Shipping 360®  platform provide offices with tools to centralize operations, automate processes and unlock insights that can drive business success. These platforms are designed to streamline complex shipping operations, offering real-time analytics, increased visibility and adaptability, which allow organizations to respond swiftly to changing conditions.

Conclusion

In an era where efficiency and reliability define success, transforming your shipping strategy is no longer an optional investment—it’s essential for maintaining competitiveness. By embracing innovative technologies, businesses and organizations can meet the demands of modern shipping while preparing for future challenges, ensuring that they remain agile, secure and cost-effective in a rapidly evolving market.

Read more on the importance of embracing a new era of shipping technology to drive new levels of efficiency in our eBook with SVP of Product, Gitika Jain.

Access control and video surveillance are the top priorities for 2025, according to a survey of 5,696 physical security professionals conducted by Genetec in August and September 2024. The report highlights that 69% of channel partners, 54% of end users and 63% of consultants said they would prioritize access control, while 63% of channel partners, 40% of end users and 52% of consultants plan to focus on video surveillance. At the same time, the integration of AI into physical security systems was named as a promising development that end users are eager to explore, with 37% planning to do so in 2025, compared with just 10% that did in 2024, according to the report. 

As physical security becomes a priority for owners, operators and occupants, firms are leveraging AI to improve existing cameras and develop new technologies that can protect facilities and people. Simultaneously, these solutions are being used to bolster occupancy insights, enabling firms to provide better data that can drive space planning, lease management and operational efficiencies. 

Heat sensors provide anonymous occupancy tracking

Last week, Butlr launched its Heatic 2+ solution, a wireless and anonymous AI sensor that features a multi-year battery life, scalability and real-time insights into how people interact in their environments.

“In the past decade, we only had two types of sensors to detect people at scale,” including motion sensors and accurate, full-capability security cameras, Honghao Deng, CEO and co-founder of Butlr, said in an interview. While motion sensors do not pull in enough information to provide actionable insights, security cameras pull in too much, “violating people’s privacy,” Deng said.

To provide operators with the information they need to understand presence, movement and occupancy without capturing identities, Butlr designed “something right in between,” using heat sensing and AI to create a system that can pull in the location, trajectory and body posture of those working without sensitive information, Deng said. 

The Heatic 2+ sensor doesn’t require cables and involves minimal maintenance, the company said in a Dec. 11 news release.  Featuring a magnetic back for flexible and easy attachment to steel surfaces, the sensor delivers enterprise-grade security and integrates with an API-first data platform to provide accurate, real-time and historical occupancy insights, Butlr said. 

As workplace customers have expanded their use of Butlr to better understand how offices are used by staff and visitors, the company saw an opportunity to further develop its sensors to “accommodate the needs of academic, healthcare and corporate campuses,” per the release. For example, in retail stores, operators can use the product to more efficiently manage traffic, allocate staff, balance heating and cooling, and present products and services in ways that are most engaging to customers, Butlr said. Meanwhile in healthcare settings, the AI-driven sensors can be used to detect falls or bathroom activity, providing improved safety while protecting privacy, Deng said. 

Deng noted plans to expand reach to enterprise businesses, higher ed campuses and retailers that seek to “maximize their investments in the built environment while practicing sustainability and energy efficiency.” 

Volt AI tackles security

Volt AI is also leaning into artificial intelligence to unify existing cameras to provide dynamic tracking of people and objects in facilities’ digital twins.  

The company states that its machine learning models have been trained to detect weapons, fights, medical emergencies and other critical events, with human-in-the-loop validation providing facility-wide situational awareness. The platform offers dynamic renderings of people’s movements and delivers real-time intelligence on occupancy, according to Volt AI’s website. The company emphasizes privacy, noting that its AI monitors behaviors rather than individuals, with fully encrypted personally identifiable information data.

“[The] common thread is ‘How do you reduce staff or reduce costs?’,” Dmitry Sokolowski, founder and chief technology officer at Volt AI, said in an interview. “With a system like ours, you're able to basically remove the historical sort of non-useful tasks for people and redeploy them in a more effective way.”

The company says its platform also provides a single dashboard for camera health monitoring, direct integration with emergency response programs, analytics for security resource allocation optimization and supports up to 10 years of video archiving.

Internet-of-things and smart building technologies are increasingly important to building operators as they seek to achieve sustainability, security, health, space optimization, maintenance and operational goals, with many businesses relying on building data to inform decisions, according to a September report by Johnson Controls.

Optimizing space management was a key investment driver for 41% of 3,445 smart building leaders surveyed last August in a study conducted by Forrester Consulting and commissioned by Johnson Controls. Forty percent of respondents named modernizing buildings as a key driver, while 39% highlighted carbon emission reductions, according to that survey. 

The market for smart building technology “is moving in the right direction very quickly, and I think that starts with the infrastructure. The infrastructure and the movement from IT to OT convergence,” Erin McDannald, CEO of Elevated, which provides smart lighting and IoT solutions, said in an interview. “There's a lot of talk in the industry right now about the integrated workplace management systems meeting operation technology and those two converging.” 

To better serve operators seeking insights that can drive decision-making and automation in their buildings, smart technology vendors are working to bolster their capabilities and expand their market presence. 

LG CNS expands into US building technology

LG CNS announced its entry into the U.S. buildings technology sector on Dec. 2. The South Korean digital transformation company that is part of LG signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S.-based real estate investment and development fund SomeraRoad and Mastern America, the U.S. branch of Korea’s alternative investment company Mastern Investment Management.

The three corporations will collaborate on smart real estate initiatives, incorporating digital transformation technologies like AI, IoT and automation to transform building management efficiency and enhance user experience, according to a news release. These capabilities include services for employees, visitors and managers of smart buildings, such as mobile access cards or digital employee IDs that provide greater convenience for security and payments. Additionally, LG CNS’ content management system enables “simultaneous delivery and management of various types of signage in large buildings,” per the release. 

The initiative will focus on developing smart technology into SomeraRoad projects, including hotel and luxury condos and multifamily residential properties within mixed-use projects in Kansas City, Missouri; Nashville; and other locations, the companies said. 

Amerlux rebrands as Delta

Last week, commercial lighting manufacturer Amerlux, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Electronics, announced a strategic shift to better serve building operators with smart and sustainable building solutions, legally renaming itself as Delta Intelligent Building Technologies.

Despite the name change, Amerlux will continue to operate under its original brand, focusing on architectural lighting fixtures. Other Delta Electronics subsidiaries, including Delta Controls and Loytec will continue providing building automation, according to a Dec. 2 news release.

The integration aims to strengthen Amerlux and Delta’s positions in the North American building automation sector, enhancing sales, system integration and customer service capabilities, the companies said. According to the release, the move is part of Delta’s vision to create an integrated ecosystem of advanced technologies that can meet the evolving needs of modern building management.

Akenza works to bridge BMS, IoT

As facilities look for smarter ways to manage and optimize operations, integrating building management systems and IoT provides actionable insights that can help operators and facilities teams simplify building management, according to IoT platform Akenza.

Last week, the company announced the launch of its Building Edge solution designed to bridge the gap between BMS and IoT for enabling intelligent, efficient and sustainable building operations. The new platform combines traditional wired BMS systems and wireless, battery-powered sensors into a unified platform, standardizing data points and providing operators with a cohesive view of their facilities, Akenza said in a Dec. 3 news release. 

“By integrating the akenza Building Edge, building operators can transition from isolated systems and fragmented data toward a comprehensive, cohesive view of their facilities,” Akenza said. “This shift not only simplifies building management but also empowers sustainable and efficient decision-making.”

Logitech has released a suite of smart office tools to help improve workplace experience for employees and strengthen analytics for business IT teams, the company announced Tuesday. 

The Auto Book and Auto Release features can automatically reserve and cancel room bookings based on workplace behaviors, with status updates reflected in Logitech View, an interactive tool that provides a digital office map that aims to make navigation easier in large office complexes, the company said in a Nov. 12 news release. 

These tools attempt to provide operators with more accurate data on which rooms are used, helping to streamline workplace room bookings, as employees report problems with finding and reserving meeting spaces, Logitech said. The software will also help to ensure that conference rooms are equipped with technology at the right time and that facilities teams have the information needed to optimize office real estate, according to the release. 

Nearly 90% of workers surveyed by Robin reported that their companies use meeting room booking software, according to a 2024 return-to-office report by the workspace platform provider, which polled nearly 600 full-time hybrid employees at companies “that are embracing flexible work.” Among survey participants whose companies do not use meeting room booking software, 74% said it can take up to 10 minutes to find a free meeting room. 

More than half of the nearly 5,000 employees surveyed across 11 countries by Steelcase in 2022, including a majority of U.S. respondents, expressed a desire for hybrid collaboration spaces, single-person enclaves for hybrid meetings and workspaces with full or partial enclosures. Fifty-seven percent cited the desire for reservable workspaces. 

Further, one in four employees feel their technology does not effectively support hybrid collaboration meetings, according to the findings of another survey of 10,700 participants reported by Unispace in October.  As employees seek flexibility, businesses must tailor their workplace designs and strategies to accommodate flexible scheduling and invest in workplace technology and customization options that can meet the needs of different workstyles, enabling workers to customize their day-to-day experience, according to the Unispace report.

“With hybrid work so pervasive, the office can feel like the Wild West,” Henry Levak, vice president of product at Logitech for Business, said in a statement, noting that the smart office tools bring predictability and insights into these dynamic work environments.

The Auto Book and Auto Release tools can help with common problems that cost employees time during the day – reserving rooms when employees start using them, releasing space when nobody shows up to use it, and automatically canceling meeting series after multiple no-shows, with changes reflected in organizations’ calendars, Logitech said.

By leveraging AI-powered, in-camera sensors within Logitech’s Rally Bar, workplaces can “automatically detect and respond to natural workplace behaviors with no human intervention needed,” Levak said. “Employees can focus less on manual actions and more on collaboration, and IT admins get a realistic picture of which rooms are actually used, not just which rooms are booked.”

The availability status of rooms is also reflected in near-real time in Logitech View,  which aims to help hybrid workers and visitors with easier wayfinding through color-coded visibility of meeting rooms, workstations, amenities and exits, per the release. These maps can be displayed on large monitors or TV screens. These interactive maps allow users to book rooms directly or search for colleagues desks, Logitech said. 

These features can be used with Appspace, Envoy, Microsoft, RICOH Spaces, Robin, Zoom, and other booking platforms, Logitech said. The View, Auto Book and Auto Release tools are available as part of the Logitech Essential or Select service plans, priced at $199 and $399 per room annually, respectively, according to the release. 

In August, Logitech announced an integration of its meeting room scheduling panel, Logitech Tap Schedule, with Envoy’s conference room scheduling software, Envoy Rooms, with an aim of helping employees automatically reallocate rooms, streamlining meeting room management and reducing the administrative burden of managing meeting spaces. 

Envoy has released a product designed to remotely staff multiple locations, streamline vendor management and extend visitor management capabilities, the company announced July 30. 

The tool, Virtual Front Desk, allows companies to have a presence at front desks when their staff is away or after the office’s main hours, the company said. A single person can also serve as the front desk point of contact for multiple offices, according to the release. 

As companies increasingly encourage or mandate workers to be in offices, unstaffed entry points can pose significant security risks and result in inaccurate visitor records, Envoy says. The tool addresses these challenges by maximizing the efficiency of existing staff and helping to enforce compliance requirements via virtual assistance and oversight of unstaffed entries.

Envoy Chief Product Officer James Colgan said the Virtual Front Desk allows companies that might not want to have a full-time front desk presence to offer a premium front desk experience, nonetheless. 

“We end up being this single pane of glass where somebody can manage spaces and visitors in San Francisco, Austin, London, Berlin, Paris, Tokyo, etc.,” Colgan said. 

Colgan added that the product is flexible in its application, working for large companies that might have to manage multiple offices as well as smaller companies that might want to cut costs. 

The Virtual Front Desk is among five capabilities Envoy has announced for its integrated workplace platform. The tool has been available for beta testing since around May, a spokesperson for Envoy said. Colgan noted that the feedback thus far has been positive. 

For example, a non-profit organization that uses the tool, with a main office and multiple satellite offices that don’t require a full time front desk employee, sees the virtual front desk capability “as a way to give that personal service, that human touch, without actually having to go to the expense of putting a full time person on that front desk,” Colgan said. 

Envoy has previously highlighted the challenges that businesses face with manually monitoring workplaces. To that end, the company has introduced platform capabilities that aim to improve security and expedite workplace processes, including an emergency notification system, a facial recognition tool and passive presence capture feature that mitigates reporting errors in occupancy data.

“What you're really looking to do is ensure that [when] somebody walks through the front door of your premises that they have someone that can help them get into the premises, answer their questions, respond to any issues or emergencies that may arise,” Colgan said. “Sometimes the person on premises is right there that can help you, but more often, there's not. Now you're getting situations, premises, buildings and times of the day when someone just isn't physically there.”

Virtual Front Desk pairs with the Envoy Visitor package, which manages visitor processes like registration, and the Envoy Workplace package, which allows companies to invite, register, screen and keep track of visitors entering their workplace locations, according to the company website. track how their office space is being used. The tool also would work with visitor management systems features, such as invite approvals, ID verification, and digital NDAs, according to the press release. 

The tool also helps enforce compliance requirements via virtual assistance and oversight at unstaffed entrances, Envoy said.

VergeSense has updated its Occupancy Intelligence platform, unifying data from various existing building systems to provide operators with occupancy insights, the company announced Tuesday.

The platform will now be able to access and analyze WiFi data, space booking systems and other asset sensor data, enabling operators to understand trends across a portfolio, the company said. By comparing booking trends with actual space use from area sensors, operators can optimize their most expensive spaces with precision, VergeSense says. 

“Facilities teams can leverage floor and neighborhood-level insights from WiFi data to deactivate specific spaces on the days with historically low usage, allowing them to reduce energy consumption and operational costs,” VergeSense CEO Dan Ryan said in an email. “As granular space usage insights become necessary for more sophisticated neighborhood planning and space design decisions, workplace leaders can add area sensors, unify all of their data into a single platform, and make more confident decisions that drive efficient operations and better employee experiences.”

Companies’ real estate portfolio plans have shifted in the past year, with 38% of respondents surveyed by CBRE saying they expect their portfolios to grow, compared with 20% who cited such expectations in 2023. While 58% of large companies with over 10,000 employees say they will likely trim their footprint over the next three years, 80% of smaller companies with fewer than 1,000 employees expect that they will need more space in that time, according to CBRE’s 2024 Americas Office Occupier Sentiment survey, which polled 225 corporate executives.

As a result, occupiers are prioritizing technology such as enhanced video conference tools, room and space booking software, smart building systems and occupancy sensors to better connect hybrid workforces and make space planning more predictable, the survey found.

“Space booking data is crucial for workplace management because it provides visibility into the difference between planned and actual space usage. When unified with occupancy data … it enables workplace leaders to identify patterns, such as no-show bookings or underutilized spaces, and make adjustments to space booking policies accordingly,” Ryan said.  “Leaders can also leverage space booking automation to auto check-in or release space based on human presence or absence in a space, freeing up more available space. This allows for better space planning, increased efficiency, and a frictionless employee experience by ensuring that the right spaces are available when needed.”

The Occupancy Intelligence platform provides support for space booking and other data through integrations for more than 50 technology providers including Cisco, Eptura, Planon, Robin, Schneider Electric, Microsoft and Google, VergeSense says on its website, noting that operators can operate and automate workflows to save time, reduce costs and improve employee experience. 

The platform’s latest incarnation allows the automatic booking and release of meeting spaces as teams move throughout the office, with area sensors detecting human presence and autoreleasing conference rooms with ghosted bookings. 

The Occupancy Intelligence platform is also designed to integrate with various building automation and control systems, Ryan said. For example, by utilizing granular space utilization insights, “operators can move to usage-based cleaning schedules and only clean spaces that have been recently used to drastically reduce cost,” he said. Ryan noted that a VergeSense customer who integrated the platform with Switch Automation was able to align their cleaning schedule with annual space usage and ultimately renegotiated a 50% reduction in the cleaning schedule, garnering $2 million in savings.

VergeSense’s newly launched Workplace Assistant can analyze data from other existing building systems, such as badge data and passive infrared motion sensors, with uploaded data providing actionable recommendations and insight in minutes, the company says. The AI-powered feature is designed to provide personalized guidance based on attendance, efficiency and space shortage trends, helping operators “quickly capitalize on optimization opportunities,” per the release. 

Operators can thus spend “less time manually analyzing data across disconnected systems, and more time experimenting, iterating and optimizing,” VergeSense said in the release. 

Its Occupancy Intelligence platform is now available to businesses, VergeSense said. The company will host a webinar for a walkthrough of the platform on Oct. 8.

Entryway counting can provide higher-quality occupancy data compared with traditional collection methods such as worker assignments, seating ratios and even badge entry data, enabling building owners and operators to more accurately gauge space utilization, according to a November white paper by R-Zero. 

Entryway counting uses anonymous people-counting sensors to determine real-time and historical occupancy levels across buildings, floors or smaller spaces. This method enables operators to implement a lower-cost way of determining occupancy in larger spaces without requiring as many devices, or measure occupancy in areas where current sensors won’t work, for example in those with high ceilings or with privacy concerns, R-Zero says.

With entryway counting giving more precise insight into how their spaces are used, facility managers can optimize energy efficiency and better manage other operations, such as lighting, janitorial service and HVAC, through building management system integration, the report says. 

Sustainable building features and operations are in high demand, especially among large occupiers, with tenants increasingly expecting cutting-edge technology “to enhance employee experience and ensure safety and resource efficiency,” according to CBRE’s 2024 Americas Office Occupier Sentiment Survey, released in August. 

As tenants prioritize greener, more energy-efficient spaces, entryway counting can be an essential tool for facility managers, R-Zero says. By providing greater detail on space utilization, the occupancy tracking method can help guide building owners to consolidate underused spaces or expand high-traffic areas, including amenities like conference centers, gyms and coffee shops, R-Zero says. 

“Real-time occupancy monitoring enables precise energy management — allowing HVAC systems and lighting to run only when needed. This not only ensures that buildings meet the rising demand for sustainability but also makes them more attractive to the tenants willing to invest in spaces that align with their ESG goals,” R-Zero says in its report. 

In addition to providing the data to make “smarter, targeted investments in energy efficiency,” entryway counting insights can also support broader decarbonization efforts, helping properties stay ahead of regulatory requirements such as Local Law 97 and BERDO, R-Zero says in its report.

Accruent has launched a space optimization and planning software aimed at helping organizations reduce redundant systems and simplify workplace utilization data.

Accruent Space Intelligence, or ASI, provides centralized insights from aggregated leasing, maintenance and workplace data, such as badge swipe and sensor information, to help companies analyze, plan and implement space utilization and cost reduction strategies, the company says. 

Underutilized office space is projected to exceed 1 billion square feet by the end of this decade, with vacancy rates projected to be 55% higher than pre-COVID-19 levels, Accruent said in a July 16 news release. ASI’s digital tools can help companies make informed, strategic decisions based on their existing portfolios to navigate this challenge, the company says.

The U.S. has 5.56 billion square feet of office space, with projections indicating that the total inventory will grow to over 5.68 billion square feet by the end of this decade, according to a 2023 report from Cushman & Wakefield. With the shift toward flexible work arrangements, however, only 4.61 billion square feet will be required to meet workforce needs, leading to a substantial amount of underutilized office space, the report says. As the market continues to shift toward hybrid work, only about a third of office leases scheduled to expire between 2020 and 2029 have done so, per the report. 

In its recent 2024 midyear U.S. macro outlook, Cushman & Wakefield noted that it expects a decrease of 63 million square feet in the office sector this year, with a significant portion of sublease space expiring in 2028 or later. Meanwhile, the U.S. office sector hit a record vacancy rate of 20.1% in the second quarter — breaking the 20% barrier for the first time in history — Moody’s Analytics said in an analysis released earlier this month. 

To accommodate these shifting workplace patterns, 72% of organizations use data for space utilization planning, according to JLL’s 2024 global occupancy planning benchmarking report. Accruent says its ASI software can reduce the time, resources and redundant systems that organizations and educational institutions often rely on for gathering and analyzing space utilization data. 

ASI’s primary module provides “a single pane of glass analytics tool that simplifies complex utilization data by transforming it into actionable insights,” Accruent said in the release. This allows corporate real estate professionals to gain a holistic understanding of current space usage patterns, the company said. The software suite further provides forecasting capabilities that can act as a “virtual testing ground” to help teams enhance the accuracy of their planning by simulating departmental restacking and scenario comparisons, it noted. 

The tools also integrate with Accruent’s EMS and FAMIS 360 products and other data streams to help facilitate accurate data-driven decision-making, Accruent said. 

“Our goal is to enable our customers to take advantage of workplace data to maximize their current spaces to better align with today’s employee and student needs. This is a key contributor to cost savings at a time when corporations and universities are navigating budget constraints and optimizing their environments to changing space needs,” Richard Leurig, chief product and technology officer at Accruent, said in a statement.