Apartment Trends Magazine January 2020 | Page 45

TECHNOLOGY By Jon Simpson The New Smart Space IoT Trends And Tech In Commercial Real Estate B ack during the turn of the 21st-century, businesses and commercial real estate professionals alike speculated about the concept of a “smart space,” one that was fueled by innovative technology — now, it has become a reality. Offices and other workspaces are rapidly being upgraded by smart technology that helps increase the efficiency of functions, boost the productivity of employees, and minimize costs. This is made possible through Internet of Things — a computing concept that connects physical objects with the Internet and allows networks to be formed where devices communicate with each other. The applications of IoT technologies for business-focused properties are substantial and consequently, are deeply impacting commercial real estate. Below we explore the top IoT trends that are affecting commercial real estate and new tech hitting the market to keep on your watch-list: Increased Energy Efficiency A top trend in IoT for commercial real estate is the focus on increasing the energy efficiency of utilities in properties. IoT is completely revolutionizing energy consumption in workspaces and becoming a popular implementation with utility companies who also reap the benefits of this change. By 2020 the size of IoT in the utility market is predicted to reach $12 billion. www.aamdhq.org JANUARY 2020 TRENDS | 43