Verdantix Buyer’s Guide For Smart Office Software: Four Key Takeaways

Verdantix Buyer’s Guide For Smart Office Software: Four Key Takeaways

The 2021 Verdantix Buyer’s Guide on space and workplace management solutions has been released, following a six-month research process. The Buyer’s Guide covered 21 specialist vendors and their solutions, outlining the key product updates in the last 12 months. The research process included software demonstrations and strategy briefings taken from vendors. What are the key takeaways for customers looking to invest in a smart office solution for their businesses?

Firstly, buyers looking for tools to deal with COVID-19 safety and return to work initiatives have myriad options to choose from. Many vendors have launched new capacity management and shift planning tools, such as Locatee, Mapiq, Siemen’s Comfy app, SpaceIQ’s Serraview solution, Spaceti and Thing Technologies. These solutions range from COVID-19 tracking dashboards, shift registries and contact tracing capabilities. Moreover, people counting sensors from Density and VergeSense can now directly measure how effectively occupants are observing social distancing rules within enclosed spaces.

Secondly, many vendors have updated their employee mobile app offerings to support return to work requirements. Vendors including IBI Group (Nspace), OfficeSpace Software, and Freespace now offer self-assessment questionnaires that pop-up when employees try to book spaces. This is so they can self-declare their state of health before entering a site. Schneider Electric’s Engage Enterprise App now offers touchless building access through a Bluetooth integration. Spica Technologies have made its mobile app information labelling options more flexible, and extended the app’s booking rights to cover any type of asset, such as lockers or showers, rather than just desks or rooms.

Thirdly, vendors have launched more sophisticated space monitoring and planning tools. Lone Rooftop has made its Wi-Fi monitoring capabilities more scalable through a partnership with Cisco. SpaceIQ’s SiQ has expanded the number of factors that its restacking tools can account for in the workplace scenarios it can create. Rapal now integrates with people counting sensors to offer more accurate, real-time occupancy monitoring options in its Optimaze solution.

Finally, multiple vendors have launched new APIs so their software can more easily integrate into the broader smart office ecosystem. Accruent has integrated its resource scheduling solution EMS Software with Microsoft Teams and Slack. Four Wind Interactive has integrated its digital signage capabilities with the workplace management platform of its subsidiary SmartSpace Global. This will enable building users to view who has booked a room and for how long on mounted screens, for instance.

To learn more about the advances and trends that have taken place in the smart office space in the last year, see Verdantix’s new Buyer’s Guide: Space And Workplace Management Software (2021).