Smart Technologies Reshaping India’s Building Operations

As the nation strides towards becoming an economic powerhouse, the focus is shifting towards sustainable practices that can ensure long-term growth without depleting resources. At the heart of this transformation, says Pawan Koyal, Chief Executive Officer at Denali Management Services, lies the integration of smart technology in facility management — a movement that promises to reshape how India’s office buildings operate.

In the bustling metropolises of India where office buildings hum with activity, a silent revolution is underway. There is a growing demand for advancing sustainable facility management in India’s office buildings through smart technology.

Smart technology encompasses devices or systems that employ digital technology, connectivity, and frequently, artificial intelligence to function interactively and autonomously. These devices can learn from user inputs and environmental data to optimize operations and make decisions.

Despite available technology, very few effective implementations have existed in India for over two decades. Common challenges in Indian office buildings include high dependence on ground staff, increasing minimum wages, skill gaps, high attrition rates, limited innovation, hiring challenges and resistance to technology in FM teams.

As businesses and policymakers increasingly recognize the economic and environmental benefits of smart technology, the future of facility management in India promises to be both innovative and sustainable, paving the way for smarter, greener cities that thrive harmoniously with their environment. 

Pawan Koyal

Smart technology can address daily FM challenges by automating tasks, improving management information systems (MIS) reporting, enhancing data analytics, enabling algorithm-based decision-making, and improving emergency response. IoT sensors monitoring energy consumption in real time enabling energy savings and carbon footprint reduction, algorithms that anticipate equipment failures as part of predictive maintenance thus reducing energy waste and maintenance costs and advanced access control and surveillance systems to enhance security and safety are some smart technologies that can be implemented.

There are sensors providing insights into space utilization, optimizing spending and decision-making too. Technological advancements have made it possible to monitor and control building systems remotely, decreasing the reliance on on-site support personnel.

Implementation has its own set of challenges which include inadequate grasp of the advantages, resulting in missed opportunities and lack of consideration of cost, scalability, and interoperability due to not addressing initial investment and engaging stakeholders effectively. However, some successful case studies that could be cited as examples include the IoT-based energy management systems at the Wipro campus in Bengaluru, the building automation and renewable energy utilization at the Infosys campus in Pune, the smart transportation systems promoting eco-friendly commuting at the IT Parks in Hyderabad and the sensor-based waste management system at DLF Cyber City, Gurugram.

Future possibilities include AI-powered predictive analytics for proactive management and cost savings, real-time insights from edge computing to improve operational efficiency and occupant comfort, virtual replicas (digital twins) of buildings to enable optimization and predictive modelling and integrated platforms to streamline management of diverse building systems.

There would also be enhanced indoor environments to promote health, comfort, and productivity, block technology to enhance transparency and security in building management processes, Augmented Reality (AR) for remote maintenance and training and renewable energy integration and microgrids which will optimize energy generation and distribution for self-sufficient, sustainable buildings.

The future trends in smart building technologies hold the potential to transform building management, driving improvements in efficiency, sustainability and occupant satisfaction. There needs to be focus on upskilling staff to reduce numbers and increase productivity, converting e-waste into art installations, using atmospheric water generators to reduce dependence on treated water, utilizing plastic roads for sustainable paving, installing central vacuum systems for quieter operation and embracing biophilic design to integrate nature into workspaces.

Integrating cutting-edge technologies that align with global sustainability goals addresses the unique challenges faced by India’s rapidly growing urban centers.