You’ve All Heard of IOT Yet What about IoTTO?

The Internet of Things, also referred to as IoT and is becoming more relevant to the real estate sector and at inception with new builds. As you may know, these physical objects gather and exchange data over the internet and are equipped with sensors or loggers.

As new ideas emerge, established businesses and niche start-ups compete to develop clever and practical uses for IoT devices within the home; So below we provide an introduction to this and the relevance to SHEDyt. The connected devices we are familiar with include TVs, speakers yet we are now seeing unconventional devices around a property being integrated, including home security systems, energy-monitoring devices, household appliances and door locks.

Tech products previously only seen in sci-fi movies which include home robots, gardening, yoga mats, coffee maker, home voice controllers, air quality controllers, etc.…are being introduced into a home, you get the idea, the number of devices becoming IoT is growing beyond what we are currently familiar with.

So, what are the pros and cons of having such a connected building?

Like any other nascent technological innovation, IOT devices have many benefits, limitations, and security issues. In this article, we explore the benefits and potential downsides of using these smart devices around the home.

Data collection sits at the centre of innovation and it is no surprise that with the Internet of Things, data is king. Businesses that use IoT technology have to collect data to make the best use of their offer and to produce the most insights possible for a user. Data collection on IoT devices can range from simple collections like status, location data, to real-time information such as actionable temperature and time a device is used. However, there is a risk of data breaches and privacy violations due to the volume of data that IoT devices transfer.

Real-time data access made possible by IoT devices can enable faster decision-making and actionable updates or drive future product development. Real-time property management data is one area where SHEDyt's platform can be used to ensure that the occupiers, homeowners and tenants have a better understanding of their building. This real-time data may speed up how quickly building issues are resolved, as all connected parties will have visibility and transparency to this, at all times, instead of having work from previous or outdated information.

Below are some examples of the benefits of IoT devices, which include:

• Insights for decision-making
  

• Remote monitoring to assist resource management
  

• Increased productivity and efficiency
  

• Reduced cost by not having to travel to site, enabling one-visit repairs
  

• Improves safety with AI-powered decision making
  
  

Some of the cons of smart devices may include:

• Potential of data breaches
  

• Increased reliance on permanent power supply
  

• Dependence on internet access at all times
  
  
  

So, what is IoTTO? Internet of This That and Other?

In this article, we touched upon IoTs devices and the opportunities they can bring to more efficient management of homes. Yet, how then can items that are not connectable to the internet, become connected?

What about building plans, electrical diagrams, building measurements, window frame sizes, etc… how can they be connected and be digitised? Though there are other ways of connecting objects through digital storage, the SHEDyt platform presents property developers the opportunity to upload these objects and access them remotely showing their relation to a building. The platform in effect connects the unconnectable therefore they can be accessed anywhere by anyone with the authority to do so. SHEDyt’s mission is about simplifying property management; This could include having access to compliance documents, property images, purchase receipts, serial numbers, warranty details, etc…These items are not normally connected to the internet and this is what is meant by IoTTO in this narrative.

CONCLUSION

Ultimately, easy access to building data and information can go a long way in ensuring the property maintenance schedules are adhered to, faster, more efficient management for the occupiers and genuinely improving their experience for all that are connected to the building.

At SHEDyt we believe in making property management simpler and championing the occupier experience. As the reader, do you believe there is anything else within a building that is relevant to connect to the internet from building contents to documents? If so, please get in touch at SHEDytwith your feedback.

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