This report examines digital transformation (DX) in Smart Buildings, enabled by the key
technology groups that are the focus of Transforma Insights’ research. It focuses on
digitally transformative solutions adopted in commercial buildings including retail, offices, and hotel spaces.
Businesses spanning across multiple industries are using digital solutions within building systems to reduce operational costs and enhance occupant experience. Emphasis is put on intelligently designed building spaces for efficient utilisation of limited space to accommodate the maximum number of people. The emergence of net-zero targets has resulted in building owners and operators adopting digital solutions to not only reduce carbon footprint but also to provide an enriched occupant experience. Since buildings account for 30% of global final energy consumption, it becomes paramount for building operators to expedite their efforts to achieve sustainability goals and operational benefits.
Overall, we have identified nine key domains of change in the Smart Buildings sector that are enabled by digital transformation. These are discussed in more detail in this document and comprise:
• Smart Services, includes the servicing of restrooms, cleaning, and pest management
solutions by building facility teams for cleaning and maintenance purposes.
• Smart Safety & Security, includes the use of CCTV and smoke detectors to help
security teams with intrusion detection and better manage hazardous situations caused
by fire incidents in buildings.
• Connected HVAC, includes the use of connected heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning equipment in commercial buildings. These systems generally comprise
controllers and smart peripheral devices.
• Smart Lighting, includes the monitoring and control of lighting units like lightbulbs,
light fittings, and associated control panels in buildings.
• Air Quality Monitoring, includes devices that are used to measure indoor air quality.
Generally, these devices monitor PM1, PM2.5, PM10, CO2, CO, and NO2 levels in
buildings.
• User Experience, includes the use of smart workspaces and room reservation
systems to streamline the room booking process. This solution area also includes the
use of autonomous robots for table and room delivery, and digital signage systems.
• Building Automation & Control Systems, including user interfaces to adjust the
control settings, view system status, and detect any potential issues related to a
building’s system performance. It also includes the use of smart windows to help
building operators manage the flow of heat and lighting via dynamic tinting of windows
based on multiple data points.
• Smart In-Building Transportation, includes the use of transportation systems in
commercial buildings such as smart elevators, escalators, and travelators. Smart
elevators and escalators that are equipped with advanced technologies to ensure
better energy efficiency and effective crowd management.
• Water Monitoring, includes the use of water leak detectors and water flow
monitoring devices to allow operators of buildings gain visibility and mitigate water
spillage issues and to ensure healthy supplies.
Collectively, the activities listed above will bring significant changes to the Smart Buildings industry.
This report focusses on digital transformation in smart buildings as enabled by the key
technology groups that are the focus of Transforma Insights’ research. These technology
groups include:
▪ 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing
▪ Artificial Intelligence
▪ Autonomous Robotic Systems
▪ Data Sharing
▪ Distributed Ledger
▪ Edge Computing
▪ Future Technologies
▪ Human Machine Interface
▪ Hyperconnectivity
▪ Internet of Things (IoT)
▪ Product Lifecycle Management
▪ Robotic Process Automation
Accordingly, the aim of this document is not to chart the future direction of smart buildings,
but to highlight the key areas of change, enabled by new and emerging technologies. The
bulk of this report (Section 4) discusses these key areas of change and includes an overview
of each area, together with the analysis of business impact associated with each area. We
also identify key enabling technologies for each area (from the list above) and provide
summary details of illustrative case studies that are available in Transforma Insights’ Best Practice & Vendor Selection Database.
If you have any questions about the content of this report or would like to speak with the author or any other analysts on any topic, you can make use of our Analyst Enquiries service by emailing enquiries@transforminsights.com.
