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Intelligent building technology seeks to find the balance between reducing energy consumption and providing the ideal environment for occupants. However, numerous studies from around the world have found that by simply equipping occupants with greater knowledge on their energy use, significant energy savings can be made from behavioral change alone. This kind of ‘occupant development’ represents a paradigm shift in the way smart buildings could be designed and implemented. Rather than viewing occupants as a passive recipient of comfort and experience, or just a source of data collection, our future smart buildings should integrate the dynamic nature of user behavior as an intelligent building system that is capable of learning, improvement, and optimization. Energy-Saving Behavior in an Intelligent Building A 2023 study on user behavior in the workplace in Greece considered the topic from two different perspectives: personal vs. collective energy-saving actions. It found that an employee’s profile significantly affects their willingness to alter their […]

This Research Note examines the recent HubStar announcement that it has acquired Relogix, a Canadian occupancy analytics firm. We assess the portfolio and acquisitions of Hubstar Group, the rationale for the Relogix transaction and our forecast for the occupancy analytics market in 2024 and beyond. Our recent review of workplace technology acquisitions in the commercial smart buildings space over the last 12 months highlighted significant M&A transactions in integrated workplace management systems (IWMS), workplace experience apps, occupancy analytics, visitor management software and associated workplace hardware. We are seeing established players augment their software and technology offerings while startups are partnering and merging to gain critical mass. HubStar HubStar is a workplace technology company with headquarters in Marlborough, Mass and London, UK. The company provides a hybrid working platform to drive productivity, collaboration and workplace experience while reducing real estate costs. The HubStar Group was established in 2018 and now comprises of several workplace technology firms; […]

Here is the recording and presentation from our live stream with Mike Hook from LMG discussing a blueprint for the future of smart building retrofits. Mike puts forward his view that retrofits with a light touch are the best solution to keep costs down and enable rapid deployment. And by prioritizing flexibility in a phased […]

This Research Note reviews workplace technology acquisitions in the commercial smart buildings space over the last 12 months. We highlight significant M&A transactions in integrated workplace management systems (IWMS), workplace experience apps, occupancy analytics, visitor management software and associated workplace hardware. 2023 saw 2 major consolidations in the workplace management sector led by US HVAC equipment firms, reflecting their desire to augment their respective portfolios with software-as-a-service businesses. 10 Notable Workplace Technology Acquisitions 2023 Johnson Controls / FM:Systems Our Research Note examined what’s behind Johnson Controls’ acquisition of FM:Systems, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based digital workplace management and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider for facilities and real estate professionals, in July 2023. Trane Technologies / Nuvolo Our Research Note examined what’s behind the bolt-on acquisition of Nuvolo, the workplace management software company announced in October 2023 by Trane Technologies, the US HVAC equipment firm. Jooxter/ Wx Solutions Our Research Note examined Jooxter, a French occupancy […]