How Internet of Things Is Helping Facility Management

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How Internet of Things Is Helping Facility
Management
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Today more and more companies are progressively
considering the use of IoT in Facility management
to reduce costs, enhance value-added services,
and expand the scope of services. Facility
managers have the responsibility to ensure the
maintenance and security of work facilities.
Ensuring maintenance of basic features like
heaters and water, supervising the work of
personnel, and managing efficiency of energy
usage are some of the day-to-day tasks of
facility managers.
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Though these may seem like totally human-driven
roles, the Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged
as the most important innovation in FM (Facility
Management). IoT devices collect data in
real-time, which helps facility managers gain
insights into the workplaces requirements. For
instance, sensors can monitor the flow of water.
When water flow is disrupted, the sensors can
instantly notify managers to take action. Thus,
exploiting IoT for FM has the power to maintain
hardware, monitor usage, and enhance worker
productivity. Benefits IoT devices like embedded
beacons, cameras, sensors, etc. make the tiresome
FM tasks more efficient and help relieve the
burden on managers. Reduced wastage of
energy Energy is an important element in running
a facility, and wastage of energy can cause much
loss. IoT devices can monitor energy usage. For
instance, sensors in ACs can help auto-switch off
when the temperature reaches a set level. Thus,
managers can switch off all energy-consuming
equipment when they are not needed. Data-driven
decision-making Constructing automation systems
creates much amount of data. When such data is
accessed and scrutinized, managers can make
smarter decisions. For instance, property
managers can monitor goings-on in their buildings
and take evidence-based decisions. IoT management
solutions help to make better decisions. Improve
workforce productivity IoT technology can help
maximize worker comfort and satisfaction, which
translates into greater productivity. Advanced
infrastructure making use of technology for asset
tracking with data in real-time can help better
manage HVAC systems to ensure the comfort of
workers.
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Optimal usage of workspace All organizations face
a shortage of workspace at some point in time.
Facility managers often get complaints of
congestion in the workspace. Empowering workspace
using IoT sensors may help gain opportunities for
optimal use of workspace. For example, they can
monitor periods of busy hours or lax hours of
workspace usage. Such data can help managers make
decisions on shifts of workers to reduce pressure
in peak hours.
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Efficiency in inventory management Devices
powered by IoT can use RFID (Radio-Frequency
Identification) to keep track of stocks and their
usage for efficient inventory management.
Additionally, data collected by IoT can help in
the predictive analysis regarding inventory. For
instance, change in weather may increase or
decrease air-conditioning needs, which can be
predicted by IoT devices. Mitigation of
risk Buildings equipped with IoT can
substantially reduce risks of unauthorized entry,
which might compromise the buildings security.
Cameras and sensors can detect suspicious
behavior of those entering the building. The AI
system can send alerts to Facility managers so
they can take suitable action. Preventive
maintenance Proper functioning of equipment,
machinery, and hardware is critical for a
facility. For smooth interaction between the
company and its customers, it is important to
detect faults in such tools, early enough. Any
equipment failure can spell disaster for the
business. Facility managers can use IoT devices
to implement preventive maintenance of equipment
in place of pro-active maintenance. In sum, the
use of IoT devices has become inevitable in
modern firms. Facility managers must seek modes
to exploit this technology for day to day tasks.
Data generated by these devices must be used to
gain actionable insights.