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Could the Internet of Things save the day ?
As industries across the board have been hit hard by vacancies and absences , everyone is feeling the strain . Although there is no magic cure , Dan Teare , sector director at software company mpro5 , asks whether the Internet of Things ( IoT ) and real-time data could help fill the gaps …
“ Ultimately , whether due to the pandemic or shifts in the global economic and employment landscape , businesses have had to try and continue operating as best they can while severely understaffed for a long time – and this has impacted morale , stress levels , and results . Although no technology can immediately cure such endemic , infrastructural problems , it is vital that companies digitise to help work more efficiently .
‘ Smart buildings ’, for example , powered by the IoT and sensor technologies , and all supported by adaptive , real-time software , enable businesses to work smarter , not harder ; and ultimately be more efficient with fewer people .
And by using an IoT-driven workflow management platform , companies can easily harvest and unify the data around them , viewing patterns and creating tasks from a centralised platform – with all the knowledge at their fingertips . Teams can instantly view and act upon this data , so they can do what it is needed to be done , rather than act upon fixed and out-ofdate schedules .
For example , if a sensor on a toilet door has been opened 100 times , cleaning staff may well need to check it is still functional and clean . Inversely , if they go to clean as their schedule insists , and no-one has been in that toilet or even on that floor , it is simply a waste of their time .
Viewing these patterns form over time gives you the power to predict demand more accurately – so your future-facing schedules can be more dynamic , and peoples ’ time used more efficiently .
Businesses , no matter the sector or industry they work in , can have the power to prioritise jobs and the right people to do them , thanks to new insight into existing data . Teams can spend less time worrying about covering for missing staff , and instead can trust that all tasks are being accounted for and covered , improving overall operational effectiveness while leaving no gaps .
Ultimately , it is about doing the more with less – and as these issues in the labour market don ’ t seem to be going anywhere fast , this will be essential for businesses looking to continue operating .” S
12 Executive PA | Winter Issue 2022