The New Digitization Agenda For Smart Buildings During COVID-19

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Executive Summary

This report provides smart building technology vendors with an analysis of how real estate and facilities executives are adjusting their technology investment plans following COVID-19 and the economic recession. According to interviews from the Verdantix 2020 global corporate survey of 250 executives, while the COVID-19 outbreak has caused 24% of organizations to slow down their digitization, 47% are planning to make new investments in workplace safety technology. Through to 2021, the hotspots for investment will include thermal imaging technology, mobile workplace apps and space monitoring analytics. At the same time, executives are reducing planned software expenditure across portfolio management and building operational management. To help smart building technology vendors plan further ahead, this report includes a planning matrix that sets out four future scenarios under different homeworking trends and speeds of economic recovery.

Table of contents

How Will Smart Building Technology Investments Reorientate In 2021?
Facilities Executives Remain Focused On Crisis Management And Worker Safety In The Immediate Term
The Smart Building Agenda Will Align With Building Resiliency And Agility In The Next Three Years

Smart Building Technology Vendors Face Opportunities And Risks In the COVID-19 Era
Corporate Executives Are Reprioritizing Their Digitization Agenda To Meet Urgent Workplace Safety Needs
COVID-19 Use Cases Will Drive Adoption Of Smart Workplace And Infection Control Technology In 2021
Occupiers Are Delaying Software Spending Across Portfolio And Building Operational Management Through To 2021

Long-Term Opportunity Analysis Requires Vendors To Consider Different Future Scenarios

Table of figures

Figure 1. Real Estate Strategic Objectives Over The Next Three Years  
Figure 2. Impact Of COVID-19 On The Digitization Of Corporate Real Estate And Facilities Management
Figure 3. Smart Building Technology Investments Being Driven By COVID-19 
Figure 4. Change In Software Purchase Intentions From 2019 To 2020 Across 15 Areas 
Figure 5. Four Future Scenarios Based On Homeworking Trends And The Economic Recovery
Figure 6. Smart Building Technology Winners And Losers Following COVID-19 

About the authors

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.

Ben Hext

Industry Analyst

Ben is an Industry Analyst in the Verdantix Smart Buildings practice. His current agenda covers hardware and software solutions for energy management, on-site power generation, and COVID-19 mitigation management. He holds an M.Eng in Mechanical Engineering from Durham University,

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