Hopefully you enjoyed Part 1 of this two part article, but if you haven’t had an opportunity to read it yet, you can find it in this series of blogs – just scroll down. To recap, we have been looking at the tech trends set to be of interest to Facilities Managers in 2017. These are the tech offerings that will assist you in your roles and allow Facilities Management to continue offering strategic advantage. Onwards now to cyber security, internet of things, and big data. 

Cyber Security

The need for cybersecurity is related to the progress of other technologies. Indeed as technology advances, so do the opportunities for cyber criminals to attack the infrastructure. Tech such as the IoT actually provides many potentially vulnerable avenues for unscrupulous criminals to attack. Expect to see new cyber security solutions out there in the market to manage emerging threats created by new technology. 

Motion Sensors

The possibility of tech in offices is still in its infancy, but as the price of the technology decreases we will see sensor technology being used more widely to collect office data. This might be used to aid decisions such as office layout, lighting, and heating. For example, sensors might be used to determine which office areas are under or over utilised.

Internet of Things

In 2016 we spent a lot of time talking about the internet of things. Lots of vendors popped up with a huge range of products and services making use of connecting devices to a network. I expect 2017 to be the year where deployments are taken more seriously and we see roll outs of real systems. We will then know if IoT will deliver on the hype in terms of increasing productivity, reducing labour costs, increasing customer satisfaction, and so on. Expect to see advancements in security and video systems, environmental control such as heating, and elevator systems. The interconnectedness of these systems should improve in the years to come, but for now it is important to consider vendor road maps for those future integration points currently not available.

Big Data

Technology is highly interconnected with advancements in one area often being linked to advancements in another. I already said that cyber security has to become more sophisticated as other technologies do. As technologies such as motion sensors and the internet of things are implemented, the amount of data being collected will also increase. This data is powerful if it can be stored securely and analysed quickly. Big data technologies will develop throughout 2017 to manage increasing loads of data.

Summary

The interesting thing about the predictions for 2017 is that there is nothing brand new. All of the areas we have looked at have been bubbling away for a while, yet many were a little way from being commoditised. 2017 will be the year that vendors will have saleable products and solutions within these areas, as opposed to them simply being on the strategic road map. From a Facilities Management perspective these trends offer large benefits but they must be implemented with caution and avoiding point solutions. Look a few years ahead and ensure you future proof vendor contracts and choose technologies that will integrate with further implementations.

Peter Forshaw – Managing Director, Maxwell Stephens

Keep an eye on our blog for further articles on technology and its advances, as well as other happenings within the market that will help you create services that are more in tune with your customers.