Once upon a time, offices had large reception desks to accommodate switchboards and every private office had a group of dedicated secretaries that supported each executive. Things have certainly changed. In the modern world of corporate real estate, new technology changes the way that buildings are leased, how they operate and how they get occupied. Here are some technologies that are growing quickly and how they will change everything:
Solar Power
Solar power feels like it's been the "next big thing" for decades now, but the technology is gradually becoming better and better. Coal-based power plants are becoming less attractive because renewable energy is more cost-effective, and advances in solar technologies make them cheaper to implement.
More and more companies with large areas of open land or roof space are looking at solar as a way to boost environmental performance and reduce utility costs. Generous incentives are also making it possible to achieve payback periods that seriously impress CFOs.
Robots and Drones
Aerial footage produced by a drone is quickly becoming an effective way to market buildings. The technology can produce shots of a building that normal camera angles from the ground can’t reproduce. Drones can also be used to provide live footage of traffic so that you can confirm your own car counts.
Beyond marketing, technology that moves itself is finding its way into the corporate real estate world. Warehouses are using robots to assist in picking, pulling and fulfilling orders, just as health care organizations are using them for drug delivery. New videoconferencing robots are allowing telecommuters to virtually roam the halls from around the corner, or across the globe.
The Cloud
Cloud technology may have already arrived, but its long-term future is certain. Depending on whom you ask, the cloud will either eliminate your office's server room or balloon your company's data center. Regardless, the technology is often the best and safest way to store and save files that are important to your company. The biggest impact cloud technology has on individual locations is that sites without extremely robust connectivity will become obsolete.
Wirelessly Powered Offices
The advent of the laptop computer allowed employees to move around and work anywhere that they could find a network connection and a power outlet. Wireless networking has partially eliminated the need for proximity to an Ethernet connection, and the new Wireless-AC technology that is coming into use potentially offers enough bandwidth to completely replace gigabit-speed Ethernet connections.
The next step is coming, and it's wireless power. The ability to charge devices without having a physical outlet allows designers to rethink the nature of the workplace, since there is no longer a need for walls and furniture to hold power outlets. As companies understand how to leverage this change, completely new floor plans for corporate real estate will start to emerge.
Bluetooth Beacons
Starting with Apple's iBeacon functionality built into iOS 7, a new type of beacon is coming onto the market. Bluetooth beacon devices can beam information into nearby compatible devices. This could revolutionize the process of touring spaces as beacons placed inside of it provide information to prospective tenants. Once the space is occupied, beacons could sense when someone enters a room to turn on the lights or when a projector powers up so that they can close the shades, dim the lights and drop the screen.
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