Smart Occupancy - the intelligent management of the built environment - aims to minimise the negative impact of building on the environment, but also on public budgets and the economy. At the same time, human activities are to be promoted in order to strengthen innovation. So much for the theory, but how does it work in practice? And how can we make the leap to Smart Occupancy? Here are our ideas.
Anyone who thinks about the future of our cities cannot avoid some facts: On the one hand, more and more people are pushing into the cities, on the other hand, the available space for living, working and leisure is already scarce. The solutions have to do with densification - in building to create new spaces and in utilising existing spaces. Both options have natural limits, but incur different costs. It is therefore obvious that increasing the density of use of the existing spatial potential is the smarter way.
In reality, however, many rooms are only used to a small percentage - this is where enormous potential lies dormant that can be intelligently exploited to meet space requirements. The prerequisite is that the possibilities of multiple use are also recognised. The first step is to consider space not only as a static quantity, but also to include time in the considerations: rooms can offer the necessary space to several groups of people, each with their own intentions, in chronological succession, provided that a stringent organisation is set up. This solution is called successive use.
A distinction must be made between this and the use of space side by side, as is the case in coworking spaces, for example: Large office spaces open up the chance for freelancers or tradespeople to simply rent a workplace - alongside many others. The infrastructure is available to all, which in turn opens up space for conversations and thus a valuable exchange of experience.
Numerous examples prove that multiple use works - not least the social benefit should not be underestimated. In the meantime, internationally operating companies as well as municipalities have also adopted the idea and are looking into the organisation of successive and simultaneous use of their spatial capacities. They have recognised the added value they can gain as property owners. The positive effects are both economic and ecological: multiple use significantly reduces climate-damaging emissions, but in return increases the revenues that can be earned from a property - and this applies to both office buildings and structures used for other purposes.
In the meantime, internationally operating companies as well as municipalities have also adopted the idea and are looking into the organisation of successive and coexisting use of their spatial capacities.
The basis for the success of Smart Occupancy is in any case intelligent management, in the best case a software that optimally maps the entire workflow of room management via the room booking system. It is important that such a solution is suitable for a wide range of resources and opens up uncomplicated and time-flexible access for every potential user.
For example, sports facilities and meeting rooms, but also premises for various events on the one hand and coworking spaces on the other, should be treated separately and be able to be managed jointly by the owner. This is no longer a dream of the future, but can be implemented in an uncomplicated way. The costs incurred for this are easily amortised through the additional income - and above all the time savings.
The responsible staff will quickly feel an enormous relief when they do away with cumbersome Excel spreadsheets and no longer have to manually reconcile occupancy schedules: A software solution such as Locaboo not only allows the necessary booking processes to be controlled individually - and in real time, the staff involved in administration can release all requests both manually and automatically and initiate invoicing at the click of a mouse. Another advantage that should not be underestimated: the recorded data can of course be evaluated.
So if you need a precise overview of the effective occupancy times, this is also provided for, as is analysing the room utilisation according to different user groups. In a word: As a property owner or office manager, you have all the data at your fingertips at any time that enables you to assess the occupancy rate and thus the need for action.
The megatrend of urbanisation collides with resistance when the building density in the relevant areas is already reaching its limit. Last but not least, the necessary land has long since become a serious cost factor. The enormous demand has driven prices ever higher, which negatively affects the cost-benefit calculations of new buildings. Smart occupancy is the sustainable and efficient solution here, as vacancies or the under-utilisation of space resources devours enormous sums of money.
A well-managed increase in the density of use not only takes into account the idea of sustainability, but also improves the balance sheets. Municipalities in particular are called upon to handle taxpayers' money carefully - Smart Occupancy opens up enormous potential here. What is necessary for implementation? Modern software such as Locaboo, which maps the entire workflow of space management. Experience shows that the acquisition costs pay for themselves in no time.
We would be happy to advise you without obligation in a personal meeting about the possibilities of a Smart Occupancy Solution in your context.