Digital transformation has become a paramount goal for companies and commercial properties looking to remain competitive in the marketplace. This strategy enables business innovation by incorporating new technologies into the company’s operations, products, services, and customer interactions to create and monetize digital assets. For example, Netflix has evolved from physical DVD rentals to an online subscription-based entertainment streaming service.
Any conversation regarding digital transformation1 typically includes Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) to improve workplace collaboration, training, and education through data collection and analysis. Since these technologies are typically used together, the umbrella term Extended Reality (XR) has been growing in popularity again. The term can be traced back to the stereoscopes of the 1800s, which allowed users to see images in 3D. Today, XR is a generic term for technologies that allow companies to digitally create and experience things that don’t exist in the real world. The common element to adopting these new technologies is a robust and flexible cabling management system.
During his keynote address at the 2023 AWE USA Conference2, Ori Inbar, CEO of Augmented World Expo (AWE), shared that XR’s revenue has grown from $1 billion in 2014 to $38 billion by the end of 2023. That represents a 30% YoY (Year over Year) growth rate over the last decade, making XR the second-fastest growing technology behind Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms like Chat GPT. With a current user base of 1.2 billion and 606 million active monthly users in the MetaVerse, XR is here to stay.
How XR Impacts Facility Management Services
XR technologies can dramatically improve data collection and analysis, streamlining most facility management services and processes. FM teams that fully adopt XR tech can completely shift from a reactive to a proactive maintenance plan to reduce downtime and emergency repair costs. Here are five examples of how XR technology can improve facility management services
- The collected real-time data to be shared with manufacturer reps and other remote experts for more accurate assessment and diagnostics without the traditional travel costs and scheduling concerns. This efficient collaboration model also promotes teamwork and improves knowledge sharing between on-site personnel, suppliers, and remote specialists.
- Technicians and teams can quickly access warranty information, manufacturer specifications, and maintenance history records to make more informed decisions regarding maintenance tasks and better predict potential failures.
- Efficiently and safely monitor hazardous equipment, detect electrical faults, and detect gas leaks, improving worker safety while reducing risk management.
- Teams can better forecast and predict equipment breakdowns through a network of sensors to avoid sudden disruptions or shutdowns. This proactive approach allows facility teams to improve the effectiveness of their maintenance process and workflows.
- Real-time information allows technicians to access equipment data via tablets or smart glasses as they perform maintenance and repairs to increase productivity. Additionally, this improved visualization of a property’s infrastructure systems can be used for employee training, improving the facility’s operational efficiency and safety.
XR and Emerging Commercial Building Trends
Gensler recently released its Design Forecast for 2024, which discusses substantial changes coming to the design and construction of commercial buildings and workspaces based on a recent survey of industry experts. Three of these changes signal a future in which companies must continue evolving their business models, customer offerings, and workplace environments to remain cost-effective and competitive.
- Virtual office environments will continue to grow in importance as companies opt for more customizable properties over square footage.
- 81% of those surveyed expect mixed reality interfaces (including augmented and virtual reality) will be prevalent for employee training and onboarding in most Fortune 2000 industries.
- Advanced technology will continue to play a prominent role in designing highly competitive workspaces. As a result, more companies increasingly adopt XR technologies to lower maintenance and operational costs.
How to Adopt and Support XR Services for Commercial Properties
Many existing buildings use traditional cabling solutions where the cables are hidden above ceilings, within the walls, or under the concrete slab. As a result, these properties typically experience higher construction costs to perform needed infrastructure upgrades. However, a flexible and adaptable cabling distribution system that provides quick and easy access to data and power cables, like The Gridd® Access Flooring System can reduce future construction costs by moving the data cables to a more accessible location under the finished modular floor covering.
The Gridd Power® option further enhances flexibility by incorporating an integrated 50-amp modular bus system within the access flooring system to replace obsolete power cabling. This unparalleled infrastructure flexibility allows changes or a complete space reconfiguration in weeks instead of months. The steel construction provides the needed strength and durability while improving LEED scores and addressing sustainability concerns.
Gridd Mobile® allows facility managers, technology teams, electricians, and maintenance personnel to quickly access as-built revisions on the go and record further changes to keep facilities records updated with a smartphone or tablet. Gridd Mobile eliminates the guesswork to reduce future labor costs for data cabling maintenance, changes, and upgrades.
The rapid adoption of XR technologies and IoT devices in the built environment and the changing commercial property trends require an adaptive and flexible cabling network for commercial properties to remain competitive. To learn more about the ease of accessibility and cost-savings that Gridd can provide, speak with a FreeAxezAdvisor today.
