Forever Forward Pilot Podcast Series Summaries

14 May 2024

This pilot podcast series co-hosted and curated by our Executive Officer Justin Kirby was kindly supported by Umesh Bhutoria and his team at Xempla – Decision Support System for Enterprise Asset Management as part of their Forever Forward Podcast series. It was kicked started by Justin and Umesh before the formation of the DBC but became part of our initial aims that includes engaging with key stakeholders across the built environment.

We have put together these AI-generated summaries of the interviews including the introductory episode that explains the purpose of the series and introduces the hosts.

The summaries have been created solely from the provided transcripts. Listening to the full episodes is recommended for a complete understanding of the discussions.

Episode 1: What’s Smarter Now? A look at Smart Buildings in 2024 and Beyond

Intro to series by Justin and Umesh:

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ey7Ga7cu
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eGrUw_hp

This summary reviews the main themes and important takeaways from the first episode of the “What’s Smarter Now” podcast series:

Summary

Justin Kirby, an author and market engagement specialist with an academic background in human-centred design, explains his research into market perspectives on smart building technology, highlighting the need for a more holistic understanding of the field. Umesh Bhutoria, a software company founder, shares his company’s focus on providing tools to improve the efficiency and sustainability of building operations and maintenance, emphasising the importance of outcome-driven approaches. They discuss upcoming trends, including the shift towards outcome-based pricing and the increasing importance of FM tech. The conversation also previews a future podcast series featuring various experts in the smart buildings industry:

Main Themes

  • Sanity and Clarity in Outcomes: A shift from overly broad smart building specifications to a focus on clear, achievable outcomes, particularly regarding Net Zero and sustainability targets.
  • Retrofit-Driven Smart Building Adoption: With the majority of buildings already existing, retrofitting will be the primary driver for smart building adoption, driven by Net Zero goals and commercial incentives.
  • FM Evolution: Towards an Asset-Heavy, Technology-Enabled Model: FM companies will take a more asset-heavy approach, investing capital in retrofits to meet Net Zero goals, leading to increased reliance on technology for risk mitigation and differentiation.
  • Rise of Platforms and Outcome-Based Pricing: Consolidation in the FM tech market will see platforms become dominant over niche applications, with a potential shift towards outcome-based pricing models that reward performance and drive honesty.

Key Insights and Facts

  • The industry has historically suffered from an “honesty problem,” with overclaiming and a lack of focus on tangible outcomes. (“…does the industry have an honesty problem…” – Matthew Marson, Smart Buildings Mag)
  • 40% of all emissions come from buildings, highlighting the significant impact of the built environment on sustainability.
  • Existing building stock in developed economies necessitates a focus on retrofits for achieving smart building goals.
  • Technology adoption in FM companies is accelerating, driven by the need for data-driven decision-making and risk management.
  • Non-commercial real estate FM companies are significantly mature in their use of technology for hard services and engineering, exceeding their commercial counterparts.

Notable Quotes

  • “It’s like everyone sort of looks at the Smart building space and broader area of where it meets from their own perspective and therefore that often kind of more holistic view gets lost in there and you know and a sort of lack of common understanding.” – Justin
  • “Stop backwashing instead of greenwashing” – LinkedIn post quoted by Umesh, highlighting the issue of specifications not translating into real-world implementation.
  • “The amazing incentive comes through…the only thing that stands between the Net Zero targets and the ability uh to meet that is capital.” – Umesh, emphasizing the role of capital investment in driving Net Zero adoption.
  • “FM Tech per se Garners a lot of importance in 2024 and Beyond…the language that EFM leaders are talking there were some cxos who never spoke about technology have started to speak about technology” – Umesh, noting the increasing prominence of technology in the FM sector.
  • “You’ve got got to be outcome focused…enough or you’ve enjoyed your 90% gross margins for way too long.” – Umesh, referencing the shift towards outcome-focused software models.
  • “That per square feet concept or per asset or per data point concept I I I don’t think it will survive the test of 2024” – Umesh, predicting the demise of traditional pricing models in favour of outcome-based approaches.

Looking Forward

The “What’s Smarter Now” series promises to offer further valuable insights into the future of smart buildings. Upcoming episodes will feature experts from rating bodies, FM companies, well-being institutes, design consultancies, and main contractors, providing a diverse range of perspectives on the key trends shaping the industry.

Note: This briefing doc has been created solely from the provided transcript. Listening to the full episode is recommended for a complete understanding of the discussion.

Episode 2: Getting Started with Smart Building Technology

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eHXwDHfd
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ejzUm2RD

Summary

Charlotte and Renata discuss the current state and future direction of the smart building industry. They highlight the increasing importance of sustainability (ESG) as a driver for smart building adoption, but also address challenges such as data integration, cybersecurity risks, and the need for workforce training and collaboration across the industry. The consultants emphasise the value of standardisation and certification schemes in accelerating the adoption of smart building technologies. Finally, they discuss avenues for future collaboration, including data sharing and case study publication to foster industry-wide learning and improvement.

Main Themes:

  • Smart Buildings are becoming Business as Usual: Driven by ESG goals, hybrid working models, and the need for operational efficiency, the integration of smart solutions is no longer a question of “why” but “how”.
  • Key Challenges and Opportunities:Interoperability and Collaboration: Overcoming the challenge of siloed systems and fostering collaboration between competing vendors is crucial for unlocking the full potential of smart buildings.
  • Cybersecurity: With increased connectivity comes increased risk. Robust cybersecurity measures, staff training, and a shift from reactive to proactive approaches are paramount.
  • Workforce Upskilling and Change Management: Educating and empowering facilities management teams to leverage smart technologies effectively is essential to avoid creating “stupid buildings” filled with underutilized tech.
  • Standardization and Certification: Adoption of global standards like WiredScore and SmartScore provide a common language and framework, enabling faster decision-making and facilitating the replication of successful solutions.
  • The Power of Data: Smart buildings generate vast amounts of data that, when properly collected, integrated, and analyzed, can drive:
  • Sustainability: Optimizing energy and water consumption, reducing carbon footprint, and achieving net-zero targets.
  • Operational Efficiency: Automating tasks, improving maintenance, reducing costs, and freeing up staff for higher-value activities.
  • Occupant Experience: Enhancing comfort, well-being, and productivity through personalized climate control, advanced air quality monitoring, and optimized space utilization.
  • Collaboration as the Path Forward: Sharing knowledge, best practices, and even data (where appropriate) through case studies, webinars, industry events, and research committees is vital for accelerating progress and achieving collective goals.

Key Quotes:

  • Renata on the current state of the industry: “I would say that if we look at the innovation curve, the smart buildings are in early majority… no one is leaving this behind anymore… I feel like occupiers are not asking why is this only marketing what do I get they turn into asking how do you deliver it what exactly… It’s becoming business as usual.”
  • Charlotte on the role of sustainability: “We are clear on the need for smart buildings like achieving sustainability goals… there is a big shift between before it was good to have you know smart buildings and now it’s more like must have.”
  • Renata on the importance of AI: “I really hope that AI will help here… AI and Technical Solutions are like how we get there… [AI can] analyze data and be kind of a facility manager between those systems to feed those systems with better information… and no human can do that individually.”
  • Charlotte on cybersecurity risks: “The amount of connected sensors and connected devices it just keeps on growing but the problem is like it brings a lot of risks… the industry should really be aware uh about this cyber security.”
  • Renata on the human factor in cybersecurity: “Often the biggest risk are people… it’s crazy uh how many times I find during audits that security team has like one email and one password… there’s a lot of work around this matter.”
  • Charlotte on the need for workforce upskilling: “We can have all the best Technologies in the world but if the operation team doesn’t know how to leverage them well we just end up with a stupid building… they need to be trained they need to be really brought up to speed on Smart buildings.”
  • Renata on the benefits of standardization: “When we have a global standard… everybody… can Benchmark to that… there is organization that has an R&D team that is actually uh taking care of it… the trust from the investor from developers is huge.”
  • Renata on the role of ESG in fostering collaboration: “ESG is really tying things together it’s really bringing us together because we have the same goals… we need to learn from each other otherwise we’re not going to do it… socially responsible business… such information in my opinion should be shared.”

Key Takeaways:

The smart building industry is at a tipping point, with widespread adoption driven by sustainability goals and a growing understanding of the potential benefits. Overcoming challenges related to interoperability, cybersecurity, and workforce readiness is crucial for realizing this potential. Collaboration, standardization, and a focus on data-driven decision-making will pave the way for a smarter, more efficient, and sustainable built environment.


Episode 3: Powering and Smart Transition to Net Zero Carbon Building:

Spotify Link: https://lnkd.in/eRyNSsCE
YouTube Link: https://lnkd.in/esVn7bQS

Summary

This discussion between two sustainability experts and a podcast host about the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to net-zero carbon buildings. Key themes include the need for better data collection and usage to inform design and operational decisions, the importance of early stakeholder engagement, and the role of technology in achieving energy efficiency improvements. The speakers highlight the complexities of existing standards and the potential benefits of a more unified approach, while emphasizing the significance of retrofit projects in the overall decarbonisation effort. The conversation also touches upon the evolving roles of building professionals and the need for a holistic, data-driven strategy. Ultimately, the discussion promotes a collaborative and proactive approach to achieving net-zero targets in the built environment.

Main Themes:

  • Urgency of Decarbonisation: The built environment sector needs to accelerate its decarbonisation efforts significantly to achieve Net Zero by 2050 and avoid exceeding the 1.5-degree warming threshold.
  • Data as a Key Enabler: Understanding building usage patterns and collecting relevant data are crucial for making informed decisions about energy optimisation, design, and retrofitting strategies.
  • Early Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging all stakeholders, including Facilities Management, from the outset is essential for successful implementation and avoiding costly retrofitting later.
  • Challenges with Standardisation: While standards like those from UKGBC are helpful, the complexity of buildings, stakeholders, and ESG goals necessitates bespoke approaches and a balance between standardisation and flexibility.
  • Technology as a Tool: Technology is not a silver bullet but a crucial tool for achieving Net Zero at the necessary scale and speed. Interoperability and a strategic approach to technology adoption are crucial.

Key Ideas/Facts:

  • 80% of building stock in use today will still be in use in 2050, highlighting the importance of retrofitting existing buildings.
  • There is no universally accepted definition for “Net Zero Building” or “Smart Building”, creating ambiguity and hindering progress.
  • UKGBC is expected to release a Net Zero Carbon Building standard in spring 2024, aiming to provide a unified methodology.
  • A key challenge is collecting relevant data and avoiding the “data overload” trap where data is collected but not effectively utilized.
  • The “better buildings partnership” framework provides a helpful approach to systematically understanding building performance and identifying retrofitting opportunities.
  • Bespoke ESG frameworks are increasingly being adopted by companies, reflecting their specific needs and goals beyond broad rating systems.

Quotes:

  • Data Collection: “We all talk about [data] a lot but equally it’s because we haven’t got our hands around it fully yet…it’s still really difficult to get access to the data that we need across the variety of stakeholders.” – Katie Whip
  • Building Usage Data: “A really simple thing…everyone could do a lot better… is to get a better handle around how people are using buildings.” – Anna Foden
  • Technology’s Role: “We can get to Net Zero without technology, but we won’t get there fast enough… without it.” – Katie Whip
  • Early Engagement: “One of the common denominators is they all say everyone needs to get together and start this process very early… You can’t bolt on some of this stuff…it’s just not appropriate.” – Anna Foden
  • Bespoke Frameworks: “People are coming up with their own bespoke frameworks of KPIs around what success in this space means specifically to their company.” – Anna Foden

Recommendations for Action:

  • Focus on collecting meaningful data about building usage patterns.
  • Engage all stakeholders early in the design and retrofitting process.
  • Embrace the new Net Zero Building standard from UKGBC when available.
  • Utilise frameworks like the “better buildings partnership” to guide decision-making.
  • Consider developing a bespoke ESG framework aligned with company goals.
  • Adopt a strategic approach to technology implementation, focusing on interoperability and impact.

This briefing doc highlights the key takeaways from the podcast, emphasizing the need for a data-driven, collaborative, and technologically enabled approach to achieving Net Zero in the built environment. By focusing on understanding building needs, engaging all stakeholders, and embracing standards and bespoke solutions, the industry can accelerate its journey towards a more sustainable future.

Episode 4: Navigating the Landscape of Smart Building Certification:

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e83qsyYc
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eCjf5y3z

Summary

The two co-founders of the Smart Building Collective explain their certification processn and approach, emphasising its focus on continuous improvement and the unique needs of each building, rather than a simple checklist. They highlight the importance of human factors and data-driven decision-making, contrasting their approach with a purely technology-focused one. The discussion also covers the challenges of defining “smart” and the evolving roles of different stakeholders in the process, including tenants, owners, and facility managers. Finally, they address the financial aspects of smart building implementation and the increasing influence of legislation and regulation in this field.

Main Themes:

  • The Need for Smart Building Certification: Certification validates work, provides benchmarking, and communicates value to the market.
  • Defining “Smart”: A common definition remains elusive due to diverse stakeholder needs and building applications. Smartness is ultimately defined by the problems it solves for specific stakeholders.
  • Human-Centric Approach: Technology alone doesn’t make a building smart. The focus should be on how people use technology to improve the built environment, emphasizing human performance, health, and wellbeing.
  • The Right Level of Smart: The ideal level depends on the building’s purpose, the organization’s maturity, and the ability to manage new technology and data effectively.
  • Cost and Value: Demonstrating ROI is crucial. Value accrues to various stakeholders, and cost allocation models are still evolving.
  • Change Management: Successful smart building implementation requires a robust change management process to engage stakeholders and ensure adoption.
  • The Role of Regulation: Legislation is increasingly driving smart building adoption, particularly in areas like sustainability and energy management.
  • Open Dialogue and Collaboration: The industry needs more transparency, vulnerability, and willingness to share lessons learned, both successes and failures.

Key Ideas and Facts:

  • The Smart Building Certification Process: Focuses on functionality, integrative design, maturity of smart, and value, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data. Includes a peer review process with independent assessors.
  • Recertification: Now on-demand to align with the dynamic nature of the industry and the need to re-evaluate value and benchmark progress.
  • Value Creation: Smart buildings create value for tenants, owners, facility managers, and the broader ecosystem. Understanding where and how this value is generated is essential.
  • The Future of Smart Buildings: The next decade will see increased focus on holistic design, AI integration, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Challenges: Lack of skilled tradespeople, aligning technology with business processes, demonstrating ROI, and managing digital transformation.

Important Quotes:

  • “The best buildings we’ve seen have the most curious people that we’ve ever met. These are people who would never say they’re a smart building expert, they say I’m on a journey.” – Elizabeth Nelson
  • “If you set out to build a smart building you’re going to struggle. It’s going to be a challenge. What we did is we built the best possible building we could and then we looked back at that building and we said wow I think this is pretty smart. How do we validate it?” – Building owner interviewed by Nicholas White.
  • “The right level of smart is very much dependent on the need and the goal. We need to move away from from just putting in tech for the sake of tech.” – Nicholas White
  • “What I don’t think we’re talking about is most of it. I think we need to have real conversations. I think we need to get to the crux of the problems that we’re solving together. I think we need to make commitments to… to make things better faster and to do it in a way that can involve everyone to to bring everybody on on board where everybody can play a part in making making things better.” – Elizabeth Nelson

Call to Action:

  • Visit smartbuildingcollective.com to learn more about the Smart Building Certification and engage with the community.
  • Attend industry events like Provada, Euro FM, and PropTech Connect to network and learn from industry leaders.
  • Engage in open dialogue about the challenges and opportunities of smart buildings, sharing both successes and failures to foster industry-wide learning and progress.

Episode 5: Building Smart, Efficient & Healthy Worlplaces for people:

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ekkAji5U

Summary

This podcast discussion features Giovanna Jagger from the International Well Building Institute (IWBI) and Sandra Gritti from Leesman, a company measuring employee workplace experience. They explore the challenges and opportunities in creating effective and sustainable workplaces, focusing on the often-conflicting priorities of building owners and tenants. Key themes include the interplay between technology, occupant well-being, and data-driven decision-making in achieving a positive return on investment (ROI). The conversation highlights the need for collaboration and data integration across stakeholders to improve workplace experience and achieve sustainability goals. A “minimum viable office” approach is discussed as a strategy for optimising workplace design based on purpose and user experience.

Main Themes

  • Collaboration between Landlords and Tenants: The discussion highlights the increasing need for collaboration in the real estate sector, moving beyond traditional landlord-tenant dichotomies. This is driven by factors such as ESG frameworks, data transparency, and the focus on occupant experience.
  • Effective vs. Efficient Buildings: The emphasis shifts from purely efficient buildings (focused on metrics like energy consumption) to effective buildings that prioritize occupant health, wellbeing, and experience. Unoccupied, efficient buildings are ultimately neither sustainable nor profitable.
  • The Minimum Viable Office: This concept, presented by Leesman, stresses the importance of a clear purpose for office spaces in a post-pandemic world. The office must offer a distinct value proposition that surpasses the home office experience. This purpose then informs the design, functionality, and technology integration.
  • Evolving Roles and Data Literacy: The lines between traditional real estate roles are blurring as occupant experience, technology, and sustainability become intertwined. This necessitates a broader understanding of data and its applications across various stakeholders.
  • ROI Beyond Traditional Metrics: The conversation explores the need to expand ROI considerations beyond financial metrics to include occupant experience, workplace impact, and the broader value proposition of effective buildings.

Key Ideas and Facts:

  • Symbiotic Relationship: IWBI (Well Building Standard) and Leesman Index provide complementary frameworks and data to support healthy, effective buildings. Well focuses on building features and operational policies, while Leesman measures employee experience through data collection and analysis.
  • Blurring of Silos: Data from technologies like occupancy sensors can be valuable for both landlords (energy efficiency) and tenants (space utilization). This highlights the need for integrated data strategies and breaking down traditional data silos.
  • Experiential Benchmark: Employees increasingly benchmark their office experience against their home office setup, raising the bar for office design and amenities.
  • Data-Driven Iteration: Both the Well Building Standard and the Leesman Index emphasize continuous measurement and improvement. Real estate is shifting from a project-based to a process-oriented approach, informed by data and evolving needs.

Key Quotes:

  • Giovanna Jagger: “An empty building is as costly as a building that needs to be built from scratch.”
  • Sandra Gritti: “We need to start measuring what’s happening during the operation.”
  • Giovanna Jagger: “All roads lead to collaboration if you want to succeed at this game.”
  • Sandra Gritti: “The future is less about worrying about data ownership but more about activating that data to create first case studies, insights that we can build upon to then get more people on board.”

Next Steps:

  • Continue facilitating conversations and knowledge sharing between key stakeholders.
  • Explore crosswalks and alignments between existing rating systems and digital/experiential considerations.
  • Develop resources and case studies demonstrating the ROI of effective buildings and positive occupant experiences.
  • Promote data literacy and integrated data strategies across the real estate sector.

Update

We hope to reboot this podcast series in 2025 as part of outreach connected to our initial Working Groups and Accompanying Best Practice Guides. In the meantime, please stay connected by following the DBC on LinkedIn for the latest updates, events and insights from the founding members and reach out to learn how to join our community and contribute to our mission.

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