Can Smart Services unlock the digital transformation of the Smart Buildings sector? Technology industry analyst firm Transforma Insights thinks that it certainly can help. In a report titled, ‘Digital Transformation in Smart Buildings’, Transforma Insights identified and highlighted nine key areas (including Smart Services) where disruptive technologies are contributing to the digital transformation of the sector.
This article offers a comprehensive overview of Smart Services, with a primary focus on its three key aspects: Smart Restrooms, Smart Cleaning, and Smart Pest Control. It also delves into the benefits of these services for businesses, explores the vendors providing these solutions, and highlight some enterprises that have successfully implemented them.
Smart Services cover smart restrooms, waste management, and pest management. These solutions not only enhance operational efficiency but also ensure environmental benefits by reducing paper, water, and consumable wastage.
The need for Smart Services primarily stem from the challenges generally faced by facility management teams, in terms of maintaining cleanliness and sanitation in public washrooms, ensuring timely restocking of kitchen supplies, and preventing pest infestations in commercial buildings. In this blog, we have explored three crucial paradigms of Smart Services: Smart Restrooms, Smart Cleaning, and Smart Pest Control.
People typically use restrooms three to four times a day (according to Kimberly-Clark Professional), making them susceptible to issues like unpleasant odours, empty paper and towel dispensers, and unflushed toilets, which stress the importance of providing a clean and comfortable restroom experience by building operators.
Sensors deployed in restrooms can send alerts to building supervisors for timely replenishment of supplies when toilet papers, paper towels, and soap dispensers run low or are empty. This, in turn, saves cost and time, resulting in efficient utilisation of resources.
Sensor monitoring systems use occupancy, desk, and door swing sensors to optimise cleaning schedules according to building usage. This ensures that cleaning occurs only when needed, preventing unnecessary cleaning of little-used areas. This strategy enhances operational efficiency by directing resources to where they are most required.
To cite an instance, JLL implemented a dynamic cleaning solution for a global banking customer. By utilising near real-time data from a mix of occupancy, temperature, and door-swing sensors, along with employee feedback, JLL adjusted the cleaning schedule accordingly. This initiative led to a 15% reduction in cleaning time for underutilised spaces, showcasing the effectiveness of intelligent cleaning approaches.
Pests infiltrate buildings through cracks, spreading diseases through their saliva that can greatly impact human health. Their presence can lead serious conditions like asthma, allergies, and other microbial illnesses. Pest management solutions often involves using toxic and unsustainable methods to eliminate pests and protect buildings from infestation. However, connected pest control devices begin with a site survey and followed by the deployment of IoT devices to monitor and detect pests. These smart pest control systems utilise connected devices, a network communication system, and a remote technician team for efficient pest management. Some of these devices can even identify rodents by their body heat and eliminate them with electrical shocks. Additionally, certain devices can capture multiple mice and rats in a single unit.
In this section, we delve into the ways in which Smart Services can benefit businesses across various industries.
Smart Services (especially smart restroom solutions) can enhance building operators' supply and communal replenishment management by reducing the need for frequent staff supply orders. This leads to more efficient utilisation of a building’s resources, eventually improving the building’s efficiency.
Sensor devices that are installed in buildings can detect usage of a building’s facilities (like washrooms) and by using this near real-time building usage information, the facility team can optimise cleaning schedules. This, in turn, can reduce janitorial expenses and save significant amount in maintenance costs.
Smart pest control solutions can detect the presence of pests and provide timely alerts to facility team in a building, allowing the team members to take the required steps. This helps in eradicating and eliminating pests and ensures better hygiene for the building’s occupants.
Below, we have provided a list of vendors offering smart services, designed to enhance operational efficiency and user experience across various industries.
In this section of the blog, we list some organisations which have deployed Smart Services. For instance, Sage Realty is using GP Pro’s KOLO Smart Monitoring System to install 1,857 tissue, soap, sanitiser, and towel dispensers across 428 restroom facilities present in six facilities in New York. To cite another instance, the Durst Organisation, a real estate company in New York (USA) partnered with Kimberly-Clark to use the company’s Onvation portfolio of smart restroom solutions, and has subsequently reduced product wastage and expenses, better allocated its staff, and has increased the satisfaction of its tenants. Similarly, Tesco is using Rentokil’s connected pest control solution in its buildings in the UK and has decreased the use of rodenticides at its stores and warehouses by 40%.
As highlighted in the article, Smart Services provide businesses with improved operational efficiency and environmental advantages. These solutions effectively tackle facility management challenges, including cleanliness maintenance and pest control. Implementing these innovative solutions can enhance efficiency, lower costs, and promote better hygiene practices, thereby becoming a valuable asset for businesses.
