Monitoring using smart sensors
How many people live in the house? Which meeting rooms are occupied? How do temperature, humidity and CO2 change in the rooms? And how much energy do printers and coffee machines use? The smart sensors of the Internet of Things (IoT) platform of our portfolio company Hyrde provide PCH with a wealth of information.
IoT platform
How can we improve user-friendliness, optimise business processes and save energy? Together with PCH, Hyrde developed a platform to collect and analyse data. “PCH stands for People Create Hospitality,” explains facility manager Friso van den Berg. “A facilities company, operating in parking management and the management and operation of buildings. Total facility management, with services such as catering, reception, handymen, security and cleaning.”
Real-time data
From any desired location, Friso keeps a close eye on his dashboard to monitor the parameters of an office building in Amersfoort. “At the moment, there are 98 people in the building. Three meeting rooms are occupied – real-time data. In the end, that’s what you want.” In addition to the meeting rooms, a number of workspaces, the restaurant, the void, coffee machines, water machines and printers have all been fitted with smart sensors and edges (distribution stations). The platform monitors the occupancy, energy consumption and/or indoor climate in each room or property. After a few months, it’s still too early to draw firm conclusions. “It really is pioneering,” says Friso. “We're mainly collecting data now. The analysis will follow later. But I expect the first findings in the next quarter.'
Efficient facility management
What can we do with the data later? “For example, modify the air conditioning systems if measurements show that the indoor climate is not optimal. Choose another meeting room if a large group of people appears to have a negative effect on the indoor climate, or adjust the cleaning schedule to suit the use of rooms. Or perhaps the coffee machine is in the wrong place. Data makes it possible to anticipate. This means more efficient facility management, plus energy and cost savings. The data makes it clear to us whether we are meeting the preconditions for satisfied users and clients. What’s more, we can better advise them on the use of space.”