Technology

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A Touchless Transformation?

May 20, 2021 | By Linda K. Monroe

Since the moment the COVID-19 pandemic first put the world in lockdown last year, building owners and property managers have been planning and preparing for the day tenants would return to the office and brick-and-mortar businesses would reopen. Enter: touchless technologies.

Close-up on Technology Pavilion Exhibitors

July 16, 2021 | By BOMA International

The Technology Pavilion at the 2021 BOMA International Conference & Expo will showcase the building technologies, systems, data management solutions and business tools property professionals need to create and sustain high-performing assets. Click here to see the companies that will be exhibiting in the Technology Pavilion.

2020 Vision: Predicting the Future of PropTech Investment

January 6, 2020 | By Jim Young

It’s easy to spot something new, but it’s not always easy to identify the beginning of a real trend. This past decade saw huge advancements in PropTech innovation; 2020 promises even more changes. Look out for these 15 trends to impact the built environment over the next year-and beyond.

They Come in Peace: How Robots and Other Technologies are Changing the Role of the Property Manager

March 24, 2019 | By Revathi Greenwood, With Contributions from Marcio Dacosta and Kathleen Cahill

Raise your hand if you’ve ever considered the following: "Could a robot do my job better than I can?" Maybe it was the latest security installation or upgrade at your building, or perhaps you read about the hotel in Japan that’s staffed by robots. Regardless of the source, the reality of robots wandering a commercial property and performing basic management tasks is still many years away from being implemented broadly, and study after study still indicates that when it comes to customer service and experiences, people prefer interacting with a person. In fact, half of the robots in that aforementioned Japanese hotel were eliminated for that very reason.

Reaching New Heights

September 12, 2018 | By Michael Cesaz

Once thought impossible, the era of ropeless, sideways-moving elevators is finally here. We have come a long way since the 138-foot Home Insurance building opened in Chicago in 1884 as the world’s first skyscraper. Not only did it herald the start of rapid urban population growth, but it also signaled the beginning of elevators moving people and goods vertically over long distances. As structures evolved from masonry foundations to steel construction, elevators evolved from geared to gearless and machine room to machine room-less traction systems. All of these advancements allowed elevators to go longer distances while moving passengers at greater speeds.

A Case Study in High-Tech Customer Service: JBG SMITH’s Tenant Service Center

July 12, 2018 | By Patrick J. Tyrrell

At first glance, you’d be forgiven for mistaking JBG SMITH’s Tenant Service Center (TSC) for a NASA control room. More than a dozen screens line the walls, allowing engineers to monitor real-time data and oversee building systems remotely.

Blockchain: How Can Commercial Real Estate Take Control?

November 19, 2017 | By Jessica Bates

The real estate industry is “ripe for the juggernaut blockchain revolution,” says real estate lawyer John Danahy. The only question is who will have a founding stake in the future landscape.

Technology Can Build Tenant Confidence

December 17, 2020 | By Liz Wolf

People are slowly returning to their offices. Property managers can ease the transition by choosing the right technology tools to ensure tenant safety, comfort and confidence.

Next Tech Steps: Smart Integration Is Coming To A City Near You

August 13, 2019 | By Caroline Pomilla

Over the years, the term "smart city" has made its way into the commercial real estate vernacular, but a clear definition remains elusive. With many property professionals still working to implement the latest smart trends, most of which are tech-based, in their own buildings, a potential citywide application raises an entirely new set of implications for the industry to consider.

Can You Hack It? Protecting Connected Buildings

October 6, 2018 | By Jessica Bates

A decade ago, the idea of a building being hacked may have seemed like science fiction. But, as technology has allowed commercial properties to operate more smoothly and efficiently, it also has left them vulnerable to cyberattacks—attacks that can cause physical damage.

Almost Like Magic: How to Make CRE Technology Work for You

August 7, 2018 | By Jessica Bates

Science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke famously wrote: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." When we see what is possible—directions to anywhere we want to go at any time, instant data transfer to anywhere in the world, printers that create three-dimensional objects, virtual reality headsets that can show us places we’ve never been—we feel the truth of this statement. We can give orders to our phones, and physical objects arrive in the mail shortly thereafter. It’s easy to take these benefits for granted.

Are We There Yet? Preparing for The Autonomous Vehicle Revolution

February 3, 2018 | By Jessica Bates

A decade from now, many of us could be commuting to work in cars that drive themselves. For some, this sounds like science fiction; others can’t imagine willingly handing over the wheel to a computer. Nonetheless, driverless cars are almost certainly coming to a road near you, and they are likely to transform how we work and live in more ways than we can predict.

Augmented and Virtual Reality: Transforming Commercial Real Estate

March 17, 2017 | By Leah Grout Garris

When it comes to designing, marketing, leasing and maintaining commercial buildings, photos and 2D videos may soon be replaced by virtual and augmented reality. Virtual reality (VR) offers real-life, interactive experiences to anyone who has the right equipment. Augmented reality (AR) places computer-generated objects into existing real-world environments. Because of their benefits, both technologies are set to transform commercial real estate by helping sell prospective tenants, support occupants and reduce building system downtime.

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