Are you ready for the dawn of smart building systems? Imagine working at an office outfitted with hundreds or thousands of nondescript sensors. These devices monitor everything from employee density and movement to carbon dioxide emissions. They also help make utility use more energy-efficient by automatically adjusting room temperatures depending on the number of people inside.
This may seem like a glimpse into the future, but the technologies behind intelligent offices are nothing new. For example, smart elevators have been around since the 1990s. But over the years, more and more technologies (especially the green kind) have come together to create smart building systems.
Key Factors to Successful Smart Building Management
With the proliferation of monitors, trackers, and other smart devices to perform data recording and collection, building administrators will need a reliable device manager. This device management platform can ensure that all connected devices run smoothly during their lifespan.
But using just any device manager goes against the grain of efficiency. This is especially true when building admins defer to bundled device management software that still uses legacy connections for devices.
To make the most of predominantly Internet of Things (IoT) devices, you need a contemporary device management platform. Here’s why:
1. Better Device Management
Each device in the building system requires a strong and secure connection. The best bet for smart building systems is to use cloud-capable networks that feature enhanced encryption and end-to-end security like Amazon Web Services (AWS).
In addition, cloud connectivity means that files and tools reside in cloud libraries instead of local servers. This makes them easier to access and download when needed.
Modern device management also lets admins assign specific user levels to specific stakeholders. This restricts access to certain areas of each device, including sensitive system settings or important private data.
2. Better Device Maintenance
Newer device management platforms bring improved ways to perform critical software and firmware updates. Modern software’s multitasking capabilities allow it to connect to and update a single device, a select group, or the entire fleet at once.
This means that administrators will have an easier time applying low-level management updates via remote methods. At the same time, it eliminates the need for IT teams to make rounds to update each connected device manually.
3. Better Device Security
Using remote connectivity, IT administrators can enforce security protocols in case outside threats attempt to infiltrate or vandalize devices. Admins can shut down or freeze devices displaying unusual behavior. More importantly, they can wipe data off a compromised device to prevent data theft.
Optimizing Efficiency in Smart Building Systems
The key to successful smart building systems is their ability to monitor, report, and react. To transform a regular building into a smart one, operators will need to deploy sensors and other instruments to track everything from temperature to worker density.
Aside from continually monitoring their environments, the devices should seamlessly transmit collected data to receivers. Based on the information and the generated insights, the central control system can then implement automated responses that correct the imbalance or alert the concerned departments.
For this, utilizing IoT devices should make collecting and transmitting actionable data easier and more efficient. Meanwhile, the receiving device should incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to develop automated and timely responses to every foreseen scenario.
Another key factor is connectivity. Allowing IoT devices to maintain a remote connection allows them to keep transmitting data continuously. This is why providing wireless network connectivity—cloud-based, specifically—can lead to more responsive smart building systems. Besides, what’s the point of deploying IoT and other digital technology if we don’t have wireless remote access?
Integrating Smart Building Solutions Through Device Management
Each component of every smart building system deals with improving efficiencies. For instance:
- Smart elevators reduce energy consumption by giving users the shortest routes.
- Climate control features automatically adjust the room temperature depending on the number of people inside.
- The system automatically deploys blinds and covers to reduce heat from sunlight.
- Sensors can adjust a room’s brightness to ensure optimal lighting conditions throughout the day.
Smart building systems also feature certain monitors that help with the safety and well-being of workers. Monitors track air quality as well as carbon dioxide and radon emissions to make sure employees can safely work long hours within the building. The system can also measure and track individual body temperatures to detect workers who might have a fever or infection.
Similarly, intelligent security measures track people’s movements inside the buildings. This ensures that each person can only access the floors and rooms where they have authorization.
Scaling Through Smart Building Device Management
While buildings usually come with a fixed height and width, the number of things to monitor inside them varies. As a building becomes occupied, the smart building system will require more devices to cover a large occupied area.
Getting the right system in place ensures proper scalability. Otherwise, the act of adding more and more devices might overload the system and render it useless.
In addition, building owners can often achieve scale from consistently good practice. When potential tenants hear about the success of your smart building, they’ll be more than willing to sign their next lease agreement with you and your partners. And every additional new tenant means more space to cover.
Smart Building Systems Need Reliable Device Managers
If connected devices are key to successful smart building systems, then a reliable device management platform can sustain this victory. The right device manager can help administrators manage, maintain, and secure each connected device in their fleet.
Additionally, device management software lets you integrate devices that carry a different brand name or operating system (OS). Agnostic platforms should have no problems monitoring all devices, servicing connected users, and removing unwanted connections.
Don’t settle for default bundled software; instead, research your options. You’ll learn that when it comes to modern smart building systems, you need stability, reliability, and flexibility to keep the entire network humming.
