FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
In a special preview this week, FMJ visited Mitie’s new Transformation Hub based in its London headquarters in The Shard to see the facilities management provider’s investment in the latest innovations. These aim to help customers embrace five key mega-trends:
- Accelerating the path to net zero by reducing energy use and generating cleaner, greener power
- Designing commute-worthy spaces to support hybrid working and creating great places to work
- Ensuring buildings and equipment are working as efficiently and productively as possible
- Providing clean and sustainable spaces, in the context of a post-pandemic world
- Protecting people and property particularly in response to evolving threats and rising retail crime
Introducing the space, Mitie CEO Phil Bentley said:
“We’re at an interesting stage in looking at how the built environment will evolve which is why we require a facilities transformation not just facilities management. There is a massive job required and the biggest impact will be on refurbishments and refits.”
The Hub includes a range of technology, including AI which presents a multitude of opportunities for the FM industry. For example, the use of technology that is new to the FM industry to reinvent workplace design where, using ‘digital twins’, customers can reimagine and design commute-worthy spaces in virtual reality.
With the security industry facing rising threats of terrorism, cybercrime, and the increasing demand for the protection of private spaces, customers need better risk assurance. By introducing AI-enhanced CCTV that can help detect shoplifting or suspicious items, as well as cutting-edge biometric access control, businesses can reduce crime and create safer spaces.
The Hub also showcased the revolution of FM services in the healthcare sector with an AI location-based task management system. Working on the principle of Right Time, Right Place, Right Person, the system automatically assigns tasks, such as cleaning and portering services, to the nearest available colleague, saving valuable time for clinical staff so they can focus on patient care.
Demonstrating the power of data and analytics to improve the efficiency of customers’ buildings – remote digital maintenance, allows users to track the performance of buildings and their equipment, such as heating and ventilation systems, in near-real time. This enables smarter decision making, with engineers able to pinpoint malfunctions and gain better insight to predict maintenance requirements before major issues arise.
By using software tools that model energy use across an entire estate, Mitie’s team of specialist Energy Managers can also help customers to accelerate towards net zero. Balancing environmental and cost benefits the team can identify priority sites for energy optimisation and build a picture of the best combination of renewable power solutions for each customer.
The robotic revolution includes specialist ‘spill detect’ cameras and robotic cleaning technologies, which supplement the work of expert cleaning operatives. Working alongside people, these ‘co-bots’ perform the more arduous tasks so colleagues can concentrate on more urgent or specialist jobs. The co-bots also come with additional environmental benefits. Over a year, the fleet of robotic cleaners saves the equivalent of almost three Olympic-sized swimming pools of water compared to traditional mopping methods. In addition, Mitie’s intelligent cleaning platform, Merlin Connect, is bringing greater visibility and confidence with demand-led cleaning services.
Cijo Joseph, Chief Technology and Information Officer, Mitie, said:
“This is an exciting time for our industry, the needs of our customers are constantly evolving and so must we. By embracing new technology, we have the opportunity to rethink how we deliver our services, shifting from facilities management to facilities transformation. With our technology-led approach we’re creating safer, cleaner, more sustainable and efficient workspaces for our customers and our colleagues.”
