The Future Of Smart Buildings

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Executive Summary

The design and expected performance of non-domestic buildings has been evolving throughout history. What will smart buildings deliver in 2025? This report brings together the latest Verdantix research and a unique mix of insight from our interviews with over 25 senior executives across real estate, software, facilities management and building technology sectors, to provide a comprehensive view into the different visions for future smart buildings. The analysis finds that smart buildings in 2025 and beyond will prioritize the experience of building users, deliver more sophisticated energy management and provide high rates of space utilization. There are many competing visions on how building technology will be organized in the future, particularly whether smart buildings will be integrated through a single internet-of-things platform. Real estate investors, developers, facilities managers, product manufacturers and technology vendors should use this analysis to help them visualize the future scenarios for smart building development. 

Table of contents

The Future Of Smart Buildings
Defining Smart Buildings
Today’s Smart Buildings Leverage Technology To Improve Energy Efficiency And Deliver Enhanced Environment Credentials 
Key Questions For The Future Of Smart Buildings 

Smart Buildings Of The Future Will Become More User-Focused
Innovations In Advanced Analytics, Edge Computing And Systems Integration Will Permeate Smart Buildings
More Building Management Services Will Be Delivered Remotely In The Future 
Future Smart Buildings Must Consider Cyber Security And Maintaining Privacy For Building Users

Two Main Visions Emerge For The Future Organization Of Technology In Buildings
Highly Integrated Smart Buildings Will Have A Single Cloud-Based IoT Platform
Smart Building Technology Will Also Be Organized Through Multiple Asset-Specific IoT Platforms 
Three Stumbling Blocks Will Cause A Market Shakeout

Five Promising Avenues For Technologies To Smarten Up Existing Buildings

Table of figures

Figure 1. Multiple Definitions Of Smart Building Are Used Across The Market
Figure 2. Smart Buildings Have Been Developed Under A Range Of Visions
Figure 3. Vision 1: Highly Integrated Smart Buildings Will Have A Single Cloud-Based IoT Platform
Figure 4. Vision 2: Smart Buildings Will Be Integrated Through Multiple IoT Integration Platforms

About the author

Susan Clarke

Research Director

Susan leads the Verdantix Smart Buildings practice. Her current research agenda focuses on software solutions for real estate management including integrated workplace management systems and IoT platforms for buildings. Her research expertise also includes a broad range of energy management technologies and energy services. Susan has eight years of experience in technology research. She holds a MSc from the University of London in Sustainable Development.

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