COVID-19 Aftermath: The Importance of Integrating Smart Tech with Commercial Real Estate

COVID-19 Aftermath: The Importance of Integrating Smart Tech with Commercial Real Estate

The global coronavirus crisis, or COVID-19, has had a heavy impact on commercial real estate around the world. Every non-essential business transitioned to remote working, eliminating the need to access their usual office building on a daily basis. Retail establishments remained closed for almost two months, and patrons could only shop online to get the products they needed. Essentially, commercial buildings have had little to no physical activity in order to keep in line with safety protocols and government mandates. Now, some states are beginning to reopen, allowing commercial buildings to welcome individuals back to a new, safer way of life.

As commercial property owners await the inevitable reopening of communities, they are planning to integrate features and amenities that will help patrons feel safe and healthy at all times. More specifically, ‘smart’ technology will be at the helm of COVID-19 reopening efforts.

What is ‘smart’ technology?

A ‘smart’ building, or a building that operates with ‘intelligent’ features, uses integrated digital systems throughout the structure to optimize building performance. Smart buildings function properly based on a streamlined communication of data between each intelligent feature. Smart features, also known as smart tech, can include security and access control, fire detection and alarms, HVAC maintenance services, lighting control, smoke control, water management, environmental control, or indoor air quality services. When this technology works harmoniously together to perform tasks, they can provide numerous benefits to both commercial property owners and patrons.

What are the benefits of a smart building today?

Today, commercial property owners are seeking more ways to keep tenants and patrons. Now that comfort and efficiency are key benefits individuals crave due to the effects of COVID-19, property owners are willing to upgrade building amenities. A perfectly functioning smart building is self-sufficient, and it eradicates any unnecessary human interference. Smart technology allows commercial building operators to better utilize staff members for urgent tasks that cater to tenants and patrons. For commercial property owners, smart technology is a solid investment due to the flexibility and security it can provide. When streamlined building automation operates correctly, it eliminates wasteful energy usage that can be costly to commercial real estate owners.

How can commercial property owners ensure smart technology functions properly?

Smart technology needs a clear connection. A smart building’s Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity are key to maintaining its high-functioning ecosystem. Smart technology is managed through mobile devices; therefore, refining connectivity within the building and for mobile users will optimize overall system communication. A commercial real estate building must have the right infrastructure to make reliable 3G, 4G, and eventually 5G coverage a possibility.

Commercial building owners and IT managers must take the lead in buying and deploying in-building wireless solutions in order to support smart technology. Critical components to fulfill a smart building’s needs include IoT (The Internet of Things), GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Networks), optimized Wi-Fi capabilities, public safety DAS, digital signage, etc. In order to achieve these connectivity benchmarks, building operators can partner with an experienced In-Building Wireless solution provider.

RF Freqs can implement streamlined connectivity throughout your smart building. The company provides turn-key In-Building Wireless DAS Distributed Antenna System services. Contact RF Freqs to ensure your commercial building’s infrastructure is flawlessly executed and supportive of the smart technology your patrons need.