by Greg Hoogerland

Introducing technology into a building or portfolio doesn’t have to be difficult. Systems and processes can often be complex, with interconnected elements, but complexity doesn’t necessarily mean they have to be challenging. In technology, “complex” often refers to components that introduce unnecessary confusion, making clarity of results harder to achieve—implying that complexities are things you can’t easily control.

In the realm of commercial building technology, simplification is not about overlooking the specifics; it’s about effectively managing them.  When we make decisions about achieving desired outcomes, details can sometimes overwhelm us, turning complexity into a roadblock and causing paralysis or inaction.

This is where strategy comes in. Strategy is about focusing your efforts to achieve your goals and defining a clear path from where you are now to where you want to be. In commercial real estate (CRE), the strategy should focus on identifying how you want your buildings to perform—whether it’s achieving efficient building systems, ensuring safe operational technology (OT) systems that mitigate cyber risks, creating unique occupant experiences, or reducing operational costs by driving standards and consistency across your portfolio.

While achieving these outcomes may seem challenging at first, eliminating unnecessary complexity is a great place to start. Begin by clearly defining your goals, then decide on the processes and actions needed to achieve them. Additionally, taking stock of what you can leverage that you already own and understanding what needs updating are important parts of the process that shouldn’t be overlooked. If specific knowledge or expertise is required, don’t hesitate to seek help.

At Intelligent Buildings (IB), we are a team of CRE technology experts who help clients focus on their objectives, achieve their strategy or goals, and provide 24/7 managed service support to maintain results. Technology may be complex, but it only becomes a liability when you don’t deploy the right resources and automation to manage it.

Connect with IB today to start your journey toward better real estate outcomes. CRE technology doesn’t have to be complex when you have the right team.