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In this Research Note, we examine Zoom Video Communications Inc., a $4.5 billion video conferencing company based in San Jose, California, and its entry into the workplace management and employee engagement sector. Based on their Q1 and Q2 FY2025 earnings presentations, this analysis covers the recently launched Workplace software suite combining meeting management for hybrid working, resource scheduling, visitor management, and digital signage as well as the acquisition and development of the Workvivo employee engagement app. Zoom Workplace Q1 FY 2025 Earnings Presentation, 20 May 2024 In March 2024, the company announced Zoom Workplace, an AI-powered collaboration platform designed to help customers streamline communications, improve productivity, increase employee engagement, and optimize in-person time. The platform includes a well-known range of video conferencing solutions such as Meetings, Chat, Phone, Mail, and Calendar. Upgraded or new applications for workplace management in the Spaces software suite include: Rooms: A dedicated hybrid and in-person meeting management solution similar to […]

Last week, tech giant Google announced the open-sourcing of two digital smart building resources; the TensorFlow Smart Buildings Simulator and an accompanying smart building data set. This announcement adds to a growing body of open-source smart building resources. Open sourcing is already fundamental to the software development process, for smart buildings and across the technology landscape. This is emphasized by “Census II of Free and Open Source Software – Application Libraries” —a March 2022 study by The Linux Foundation, in partnership with the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard (LISH), which estimated that free and open source software constitutes 70-90% of any given piece of modern software. “Open-source software is the foundation of 99% of the world’s software,” said Martin Woodward, VP of developer relations at GitHub. “There are a number of benefits to open source, from providing an environment to work fast and flexibly, to enabling collaboration from developers around the world. No single […]

In this Research Note, we examine the building automation business of ICONICS Inc., a group company of Mitsubishi Electric, based on their latest acquisition, smart buildings portfolio, and Microsoft partnership. ICONICS Inc Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Foxborough, Massachusetts USA, ICONICS Inc. is a global software developer focused on SCADA, IoT, mobile, analytics, and cloud software products. With installations running in over 100 countries worldwide and over 70% of Global 500 companies, their software is recommended for automating, monitoring, and optimizing a customer’s most critical assets. The company provides advanced, web-enabled and OPC UA-certified HMI/SCADA, analytics, and IoT software solutions for energy, manufacturing, industrial, and building automation applications. According to LinkedIn, the company has 230 employees. Mitsubishi Electric Ownership ICONICS Inc. was acquired by Mitsubishi Electric in May 2019. At that time, Mitsubishi Electric aimed to enhance its software product lineup to realize e-F@ctory, including edge computing, by combining their software-developing capabilities and Mitsubishi […]

This research note examines Schneider Electric’s emerging strategic priorities in the smart building space. We have mapped acquisitions, divestments, strategic partnerships, and investment activity to ascertain the growth ambitions of the group, by categorizing the various business relationships by technology and investment type. This article is intended as a non-exhaustive indicator of Schneider Electric’s strategic direction between January 2023 and August 2024, updating our December 2022 analysis, Part 1 and Part 2, and our February 2024 Examined article. Strategy Mapping of Schneider Electric’s Smart Buildings Business Energy Efficiency, Decarbonization, Distributed Energy In December 2023, Schneider Electric announced an agreement to divest AutoGrid, a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) provider, based in Redwood City, California, to Uplight. The deal closed in February 2024.Schneider Electric is now the largest strategic investor in Uplight. In November 2023, Schneider Electric announced that it had finalized the acquisition of EcoAct SAS, an international leader […]

AI assistants are becoming pervasive across many software applications. It’s easy to forget that the ChatGPT chatbot developed by OpenAI only launched less than two years ago (November 30th 2022). Since then, numerous iterations, developers, and applications have emerged, reimagining how we can interact with information systems. All of a sudden, the popular “Single Pain of Glass” approach to data visualization is starting to feel a bit dated! In this research note, we explore the smart building startups looking to capitalize on the rise of AI assistant and LLM technology. And to see how they are using it with commercial building data and consider future trends as the technology develops. AI Assistant: Brainbox AI Montreal-based Brainbox AI launched its Artificial Responsive Intelligent Assistant (ARIA) in March 2024. ARIA allows building operators to have a conversation with their building. For example, they could ask, “Can you compile a report showing the latest carbon emission data from […]

This Research Note examines Akila, an Asian provider of a digital twin data platform that centralizes and visualizes data from one site up to an entire building portfolio for property management and optimization. A Startup Backed by Aden Group Launched in 2021 in Singapore, Akila is backed and incubated by Aden Group, an Asia-based facility-management company with 26,000 employees and a 25-country presence. A $10 million funding round was completed in December 2021. In July 2024, Akila reported a team of 150+ people across Asia, Europe, and North America, with in-house engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and R&D teams. The Akila Platform While the digital twin is the core of their platform, there are 5 different software modules known as Suites: Energy Suite: provides centralized, real-time energy reporting and optimization. It allows transparency into energy use with data, paving the way for more cost-effective energy reduction strategies and consolidated reporting. Maintenance Suite: Reduces the total cost of […]