Sensor technology and new technologies provide important information for making building operations more efficient and sustainable. In this interview, Roger Gygli, Head of Digital Transformation at ISS Switzerland, explains ISS’s key priorities for digitalisation in Switzerland.
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In which areas is ISS driving digital transformation?
ISS is actively embracing digitalization in all key areas of facility management. These include energy optimization, real-time monitoring of building systems, automated cleaning management solutions, energy-efficient space optimization, and digital tools for employee communication. Our goal is to use state-of-the-art technology to increase internal efficiency, enhance the user experience, and boost customer satisfaction, thereby generating real added value.
What role does data play?
Data is the backbone of our digitalization initiatives. It provides important information for understanding how people use buildings, identifying patterns, and optimizing processes. By collecting and analyzing building data, we can improve our services, identify potential risks, and proactively plan and implement courses of action.
How do we turn data into digital solutions that deliver added value?
By using advanced analytical tools and algorithms, we transform data into “actionable insights.” From these, we derive data-driven solutions. One example is “predictive maintenance.” This allows us to determine preventive maintenance needs and reduce the risk of technical system failures. Another example is managing space utilization. Using sensors, we track where people are located to optimize the use and management of space. Data-driven decisions offer the advantage that concrete facts underpin the strategic and tactical measures taken - both for us as a company and for our customers.
Speaking of the IoT platform: How does it work, and what is its potential in FM?
Our IoT platform enables the real-time integration of data from sensors, building equipment, and systems. To create a unified database, the values from the various sources are consolidated, harmonized, and structured for interpretation and visualization. The aggregated data also forms the basis for a holistic view of FM across the entire life cycle of a property. From this perspective, IoT offers enormous potential for development, as it not only leads to increased efficiency but also to long-term, sustainable building operations.
Sensors enable automated people counting and the tracking of occupied workstations. The collected data is used to determine building occupancy, optimize space utilization, and enhance sustainability.
What are the biggest challenges?
These include integrating new digital solutions into legacy systems, data protection, and ensuring consistent cybersecurity. Another important issue concerns cultural change within the company. Employees play a crucial role in this transformation process, and it’s worthwhile to raise their awareness of the changes early on and actively support them throughout the process. “Digital adoption” across all areas takes time and requires significant commitment at every level of management.
Artificial intelligence is on the rise in the workplace. And in facility management?
Although this topic has already been discussed ad nauseam, it remains fascinating, and the intense public discourse highlights the importance of AI in all areas of life. Naturally, artificial intelligence is also playing an increasingly significant role in facility management. The volume of available data from the sources mentioned above can be efficiently analyzed using AI and utilized to support operational activities. Interpreting the data and understanding the interdependencies between them provides a new perspective on the condition of buildings and the events taking place within them. In initial tests at the Living LAB at ISS headquarters in Zurich-Altstetten, we have already identified promising approaches that we plan to launch as products for our customers in the coming year.
How important is collaboration with PropTech startups?
Collaborations with PropTech startups are of strategic importance to ISS. Startups bring innovative solutions and fresh perspectives to the industry. Through partnerships, we can benefit from these innovations while contributing our extensive expertise in facility management to jointly develop solutions that transform the market. This underscores our ambition to be the market leader and trendsetter in the digital transformation of our industry.
ISS LIVING LAB
At the Living LAB at ISS headquarters in Zurich Altstetten, ISS continuously tests and develops new technologies with the goal of deriving marketable services and business models for facility management.