Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2019 | Page 43

However, strict definitions of various real estate may soon be a thing of the past, as the lines between living, working, and enter- taining become increasingly blurred. What this means is that concepts such as the activ- ity-based office and user-centric design are transforming our environments. “People are more demanding and tech- nologically aware and they expect far more from the spaces where they live and work. For example, in the residential sector, people expect their building to provide integrated solutions that make their everyday lives eas- ier. Building owners that do not anticipate these demands will see their bottom line take a big hit,” argues Voutilainen. Engage & Excel Streamlining Business Evolution of the Office While KONE Residential Flow focused on one segment, KONE People Flow Planning and Consulting applies more to the corporate segment. Voutilainen explains that the ser- vice has been designed to support custom- ers with people flow challenges in various scenarios including when planning a new building, or when the population changes, or when the site needs to be used for differ- ent purposes. “The service is aimed at customers who, for instance, have people flow chal- lenges to solve – such as vertical or hori- zontal flows, bottlenecks or guidance issues – or they are perhaps dealing with changes in building usage or business conditions,” Voutilainen says. Depending on the project in question, customers benefit from a variety of improve- ments, such as reduced waiting and jour- ney times, better utilization of valuable floor space, and improved planning and budget- ing. Voutilainen points out that workplaces have undergone significant changes in recent years. “We have seen a shift from cubicle- based office layouts towards open-plan lay- outs in order to accommodate more people while simultaneously facilitating increased collaboration and interaction,” he says. At the same time, the increased use of video conferencing and the need for quiet working spaces has increased the demand for meeting room space as well as “quiet room” spaces. Furthermore, the shift in focus towards employee well-being and developing communication technologies has increased the demand for new innovative ways to improve and enhance the workplace. The New Services and Solutions team is focused on developing and commercializing end-user centric solutions which improve the people flow in and around buildings. “This involves engaging partners, cus- tomers and users to co-create the solutions together,” Voutilainen explains. A big part of the team’s work is turning challenges into opportunities. Voutilainen notes that when you’re seeking to address the current and future needs of developers and building owners in the residential and office sectors, it is “critically important” to take a measured, iterative approach when bringing new solutions to the market. There is no place for blanket assumptions here. “Jumping to conclusions or simply assuming you know what the market wants will almost certainly be doomed to failure, with solutions that neither address the real needs of customers and tenants, nor add value to your offering.” l Stay Flexible Property developers have to ensure that their assets remain competitive and attractive, balancing the needs of constantly chang- ing building requirements as tenants come and go. “Flexible solutions for things like info screens, access control, and elevator traffic control that can adapt to changes in build- ing dynamics, will go a long way to solving these issues,” Voutilainen believes. “Property developers can reap the rewards of technology that can be adapted to the changing needs of the building and its tenants while also helping their building stand out from the crowd as an attractive prospect for potential new tenants.” Nordicum 43