Get Connected

Intelligent building management systems are not a futuristic scenario
anymore. Though not many providers are offering integrated solutions for real
estate they should consider it to get the first mover advantage

The connected real estate (CRE) is a good example of how unified
communications can be leveraged for rendering a completely seamless interaction
platform. Here, devices are not the run of the mill communi-cation products,
instead they are independent building automation devices, which can nonetheless
be brought together to interface with one another.

Most high rises today have a fire alarm system that sends a bugle call when a
fire is detected in a building, signaling that people evacuate the place.
Statistically, more people die due to stampede during evacuation than
fire-related burns.

Imagine a scenario where, the moment a fire is detected in a building, the
elevators and escalators are switched off. All lights are extinguished and the
path to the nearest stairwell is highlighted. A public address system announces
the routes to take to the fastest exit and in a mall the ATM machine interfaces
start showing these routes on that floor. Chances are more that people can be
safely and quickly evacuated resulting in lesser casualties.

This is not a futuristic scenario anymore. Welcome to the world of CRE, where
these and other aspects of intelligent building management systems (BMS) will be
incorporated.

What is also interesting is that CRE solutions will be deployed on a single
IP network, which is a good example of unified communications in a totally
different context.

The backgrounder

BMS took off as a concept in the early 1970s, where there was a bit of
control on various aspects of a building like elevators, utilities, electricity
control, fire, access, safety, etc. But with the technology adoption in all
walks of life, even real estate has gotten with the flow.

In Bangalore, the Mantri Altus apartments have a biometric scanner in lifts
so that only authorized personnel can use it. There is a video interface through
which residents can view their visitors and then permit access.

One may view such luxuries as pandering to the rich or the paranoid. But this
will slowly become a commonplace feature in most buildings, just the way
elevators moved from being a luxury in some buildings to a mainstay in every
residential structure.

Cisco has already taken a lead in this vertical, which is not surprisingly
because the real estate business is estimated to be around $4.7 trillion
worldwide. Apparently what is also interesting is that all utilities like power,
water, gas, etc will soon be riding on the IP network.

What you can look forward to

What Cisco is envisaging is creating an intelligent platform that will help
all the disparate elements of BMS communicate with each other, seamlessly and
immediately. So when a resident enters an apartment, the lights and the air
conditioning is switched on automatically, and his presence is entered into the
building's computerized log. When a guest enters a corporate building, a guest
login is generated to help his access to a secure IP network.

The cost savings for everyone related to real estate will make the adoption
of CRE successful. This includes the builders, real estate and property services
industries or even the tenants including hotel operators, multiplexes, retail
outlets or corporate houses.

Builders need not invest in disparate technology platforms for the different
amenities in the building. They can coordinate with a single solution provider
who will offer all the solutions and ensure their interaction with each other
autonomously. This gives them a unique selling propostion while going to market
with a complete project, increasing their business, while reducing their capital
and operational expenditure.

In CRE, aspects of intelligent building management systems (BMS) will be incorporated

Tenants can also interface with a single solution provider for all their BMS
needs, which gives them the time to focus on their core competencies, increasing
their productivity as well. They can also leverage on the underlying IP network
and customize it for their individual needs. Multiplexes and retail outlets can
provide several IP-related facilities like net access or shop promotions to
their guests and shoppers.

CRE is useful to corporate houses as it enables mobile and remote
collaborative working between employees, partners, suppliers and customers. It
also allows new services such as IP telephony and wireless Internet access to be
deployed quickly and easily. It saves capital expenditure and operational
expenditure through reductions in space requirements and reduced network
complexity.

Where the channel fits in

Currently, there are several IT and non-IT channels involved in the real
estate solutions. There are companies that offer IT equipment, design the
applications for real estate, and there are the integrators. Cisco is trying to
work with all these companies and bring them together to offer an integrated
solution to the customers. Besides this, it is working with the building
engineers and designers to factor in CRE at the design stage of a project. It is
also working with builders to make provisions for CRE in their future layouts,
if it is not possible for the existing projects.

“We are trying to create cross-functional teams with a workshop process to
come up with a complete solution for our real estate clients,” said Para Aurora,
Regional Manager-Channels, and Cisco Systems. “Right now, there is a need to
sell this concept to the realty market. After that, we will see the amalgamation
between building automation partners and pure play IT solution providers,” he
added.

Right now, the networking major has broken its channel engagement program
into three phases. In the first phase, it is trying to create awareness about
CRE among its solution providing community. In the second phase, it plans to
set-up a proof of concept center that will help partners and customers see what
CRE is all about and how it will help them in their individual business'. In the
third phase it will educate the partner about the elaborate implementation
process of CRE.

So why should the solution providing community get excited about this new
trend? For starters, there are not many providers that are offering an
integrated solution for the real estate. Those who get into it quickly, will
have the first mover advantage.

Aslo, there is a continuous revenue stream in this business. After designing
and implementing the solution, they can also focus the maintenance of the
platform and adding new facets to it. For instance, video conferencing can be
deployed on the same IP network for some of the corporate tenants. Other clients
might want biometric based access controls, while some more might want video
streaming over IP. The scope is limitless, but what is key here is to understand
the needs of individual clients and to come up with customized products for
them.

With 40,000 hotel rooms that are estimated to be built in the next two years,
it is clear that this is the best time for solution providers to consider
scaling up, to offer solutions around CRE.

VINITA BHATIA

vinitavs@cybermedia.co.in