Proptech Connect 2024 Takeaways

Europe’s largest PropTech event

In just two days, this year’s Proptech Connect delivered over 100 hours of discussion and debate. From keynote speakers on the main stage to the event’s roundtable discussions, workshops, side events and 300+ meetings, a myriad of topics were covered. For anyone concerned with real estate technology, it's an unmissable event. 

For NuXform, represented by director Kevin Brownell and SMaRT consultants Stuart Russell and Aleksandra Dasala, it was a chance to meet partners from across the sector, listen and participate. We share some of our takeaways from the event below. 

Kevin took part in the panel discussion ‘Navigating Building Security Challenges in an Ever-Changing World’ with Brian Coogan of Ethos Engineering, James Thomson of Hammerson and David Smith of Brivo. And co-hosted a workshop with Justin Kirby, fellow executive officer of the Digital Buildings Council. They launched the DBC’s Working Groups and accompanying Best Practice Guides as a prompt for discussion about the challenges they aim to address. You can read more about these on the DBC website here. 

Access Control: The Future

The benefits offered by mobile credentials for access control are driving its continued growth; think user experience and security, along with expectation to some degree with phone use now widespread everyday behaviour. ‘Street to seat’ is the new buzzword. 

The panel discussion by British Land, HID, Swift Connect and Equiem provided some interesting insights on this topic. Details surrounding client direct agreements with Apple Wallet were discussed, noting the agreement from Apple cannot be adjusted. It’s expected Apple is going to be able to offer the visitor pass very soon (for an additional charge). Meanwhile Google Wallet’s offering is seen to be lagging and not as refined. 

Swift Connect now provides the capability to combine landlord and tenants’ systems so that users benefit from one pass to access main entrances and their own floors.

AI is Advancing 

We were interested to learn how some SMaRT platform providers are focusing on the use of AI natural language to enable clients to request and run their own data reports. Leaving us pondering whether this could eliminate the need for a dashboard in the future. 

Proptech Reflections

There was a general consensus that a common language is urgently required. End users aren’t necessarily technical. Three letter acronyms aren’t necessarily helpful. Let’s break down messages into easily digestible formats. 

It was also interesting to follow discussion on the need to map different stakeholders when delivering SMaRT.  This is an area of particular experience for NuXform. So it was good to see recognition of the critical role this plays in all types of delivery.  

ROI and SMaRT

The panel talk on ‘A Holistic Approach to Maximising ROI in SMaRT Building Tech’ moderated by Justin Kirby, executive director of the Digital Buildings Council (DBC), swiftly covered a multitude of topics surrounding ROI. Not least, that demonstrating ROI for the implementation of SMaRT technology remains a challenge in multiple sectors. 

There's a growing requirement from clients to understand the value of implementing certain technologies early on in the project phase, something NuXform are working on for a University at the moment.  

And with success metrics differing between building users and building owners, value isn’t always easy to quantify. This is particularly true when it comes to ‘soft’ savings such as user experience, productivity, health and wellbeing. Whilst they tend to yield bigger long-term returns than hard savings such as energy usage, they are more challenging to quantify. 

Sustainability: Regulation for Traction?

Nabers in Australia (National Australian Building Environment Rating System) requires building owners to provide actual building data, year on year. It is driving adoption and understanding of actual ROI and is a regulation that is currently lacking in the UK. Something we will no doubt be discussing with our fellow board members of the Digital Building Council. For more information visit Nabers.gov.au 

Construction Sector Comment

Sustainability cropped up in several conversations about construction throughout the event. It is an area that appears to be somewhat isolated within the sector. We also noted several comments about construction budgets being unrealistic for the delivery of SMaRT buildings. Furthermore, that construction companies and associated specialists are often appointed too late, and that there should be more open and earlier communication between parties.

At NuXform we have found that a dedicated and experienced pair of hands at the conceptual stages of SMaRT is key to navigating an effective and efficient path through the journey. Our role is to act as the guardian of the vision whilst ensuring that the success metrics are delivered through a fully coordinated approach. 

What Does Good Look Like?

This is a recurring question when it comes to SMaRT, and one that’s commonplace within the NHS. There’s a cry for consistency too, and we followed discussion about how the NHS might look to other industries to see how they deliver on the above and what can be learned.  A reminder that we should be generous when it comes to knowledge sharing across the sector.

On the theme of sharing, we thought John Brough, director of European Operations at Delta Controls was spot on as he talked about how we should "Help the industry reframe what value means".

Final takeaway? The MSI role is key in the delivery of SMaRT. And so too is the role of the SMaRT Consultant.