From innovation to use: how smart buildings improve our daily lives

The main benefits of building innovations

Workspace uses are constantly evolving, and with them, associated services must adapt. Between new ways of organizing work and user expectations, it is becoming essential to anticipate short- and medium-term needs to offer work environments that are more scalable and comfortable. Today, the simple act of going to the office must offer a real advantage over remote working, whether in terms of comfort, services, or flexibility. Innovation is the key to meeting these new demands.

Thanks to technological advances, we can guarantee an environment with optimal conditions. Air quality, temperature, brightness, and acoustics—all these parameters can be adjusted in real time for greater well-being at work. Applications also allow occupants to personalize their space, notably by adjusting the lighting or temperature according to their preferences.

Connected services are growing rapidly: room reservations, space occupancy optimization, and information on the schedule of internal activities. The goal is to make the office a more attractive place, adapted to new lifestyles. Beyond physical comfort, we seek to enrich the user experience with additional services. Some buildings already offer modular spaces that evolve throughout the day: a dining area can easily be transformed into an event venue in the evening. Almost anything is now technically possible.

The main constraints to overcome

Building innovation is a daily challenge, particularly because we work on existing infrastructures, which are often heterogeneous and complex. Each site has its own technical specificities linked to its history, with equipment from different generations. The geography of the premises must also be taken into account. A building with several basement levels often means connectivity constraints, with a lack of mobile network. Another key issue is data management and updating. Tools like BIM (Building Information Modeling) allow all of a building's technical information to be digitized and centralized to improve maintenance, but this data must also remain up-to-date. This is a real challenge because a building is constantly evolving: new equipment, space redesign, technical interventions, etc. A BIM model can quickly become obsolete and lose its appeal.

Finally, the question of sustainability is central. Innovation is good, but the solutions deployed must also enhance energy efficiency and provide a real return on investment, both for the building manager and for regular or temporary occupants. A balance must be struck between technological and economic performance, favoring innovations that provide real value.

Beyond these factors, the final obstacle to innovation remains cultural. Any profound transformation obviously encounters resistance because users expect significant added value.

Future trends and perspectives

The integration of automation, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence will accelerate the transformation of our businesses. By collecting and using data in real time, we can understand space occupancy and should even be able to anticipate it with predictive models. In addition to energy performance, this mastery allows us to optimize all equipment and facilities to extend their lifespan. New technologies bring very concrete benefits. Augmented reality, for example, facilitates a technician's intervention by displaying a 3D model of a building in their glasses. This allows them to identify the source of a leak in record time and repair it very quickly to avoid any inconvenience. It is also possible to automate certain tasks, such as maintenance or routine checks. In concrete terms, occupants benefit from a quality environment with ultra-rapid detection of technical or cleanliness issues, which enhances the level of service and comfort. Made possible by technological innovations, these solutions nevertheless rely on the know-how of field teams, trained to allow the full potential of these tools to be expressed for the benefit of users.

Another key trend is adapting to new hybrid work methods. With remote working, it's becoming increasingly difficult to predict space and service needs. Some companies are already testing dynamic management solutions, asking employees to indicate their work days in advance to adapt office occupancy and the management of services such as cleaning, maintenance, and catering. This can lead to significant savings and a highly effective fight against waste.

Finally, regulations play a key role. The Tertiary Decree and the BACS (Building Automation & Control Systems) Decree impose a performance obligation. They encourage professionals to implement intelligent control systems and modernize infrastructure. Ultimately, this will profoundly transform the way we design and operate buildings, with a particular focus on energy efficiency and user well-being.

Tribune by Céline Auguin, Innovation and BIM Operations Manager at Equans Services Bâtiments & Infrastructures (LinkedIn).