The connected building is truly intelligent

The significance of intelligent buildings has become especially clear in the post-pandemic era. As companies adjust to new workplace realities, connected systems and the IoT applications built on them become indispensable.

• Intelligent buildings help progress on the sustainability agenda- according to the UK Green Business Council (UKGBC), the building sector has the greatest potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 25% of UK greenhouse gas emissions in the UK come from buildings and infrastructure. Also, UKGBC states that newly constructed buildings are more energy-efficient, but 80% of buildings in 2050 have already been built, so a major priority is decarbonising our existing stock. 
• Intelligent buildings support greater flexibility, ensure employee safety and wellbeing- today's employees expect healthier, more responsive workplaces. To attract and retain top talent, businesses must invest in intelligent infrastructure that supports hybrid work models, encourages productivity, and responds in real time-to occupant needs.
• They also help businesses operate more efficiently, while enabling a differentiation in a highly competitive environment. The pandemic didn't invalidate pre-existing workplace trends—it accelerated them.

Central to the rise of intelligent buildings is the digitalisation of the physical environment. Digital technologies allow buildings to operate as platforms that deliver various services, from predictive maintenance to real-time energy analytics. These "value services" are made possible by integrating connected systems and cloud-based data processing. By embedding sensors into lighting, HVAC, and security systems, buildings can gather continuous data about usage, occupancy, environmental conditions, and system performance. That data is then processed in the cloud, where it is analysed and visualised to inform better decisions. The result is an environment that evolves in real-time, optimising itself to serve the needs of both people and the organisation.

A smart first step is to swap out the old inefficient legacy warehouse lighting, where it still exists, for new efficient LED lighting. LED lighting can be up to 80% more efficient than traditional lighting, and as LED lighting can last up to 25 times longer than conventional sources, so you also get the benefit of reduced maintenance costs, which due to the ceiling heights in warehouses can be a very costly exercise. 

But the possibilities get even brighter, so to speak. When organisations make the switch to LED lighting, a layer of lighting controls can also be added to enable further savings. The lighting levels can be automatically adjusted depending on the activities taking place. These additional energy savings can come from daylight-sensing, scene/task setting and presence/occupancy detection, all of which will help to further reduce the energy consumption of the lighting. 

Among all building systems, connected lighting presents a unique opportunity to act as a foundation for intelligent capabilities. Lighting is already present in every building area and can be upgraded with little disruption. When equipped with connected LED technology, lighting becomes far more than a utility—it becomes a strategic part of the infrastructure.

Connected lighting can play a significant role in enabling a building to become even more energy efficient, operationally efficient and sustainable.

One such system is our Interact “connected lighting” system. Intelligent drivers and sensors are embedded into the light fixtures to create either a wired or wireless infrastructure allowing for full remote control and management of the lighting. 

A remote cloud-based system can also be used to allow for multiple sites to be connected to one common platform/dashboard. It then becomes much easier to take complete control of all the lighting across multisite and countries, from anywhere, at any time.

The Interact system offers an intuitive dashboard that gives insight into lighting usage and allows users to optimise lighting operations remotely. Interact offers a flexible, cost-efficient, scalable system that meets unique needs and is easy to understand and operate. It is easy to take advantage of IoT technology to suit the needs of every facility. But this is just the beginning.

The full potential of intelligent buildings is unlocked when these systems are integrated into a larger IoT-enabled ecosystem. With the continuous data streams that are collected and stored in a centralised data lake through cloud-connected sensors, facility managers gain real-time insights into how space is used and where the lighting is used the most (or least) enabling them to make evidence-based decisions about layout, staffing, and maintenance. Automated systems can adjust lighting, or temperature based on real-time conditions without human intervention.

In industrial settings, the use of connected lighting in a smart building can transform traditional manufacturing into smart factories. These environments use connected infrastructure to boost productivity, reduce energy consumption, and improve safety. Intelligent lighting systems, for example, can provide high-intensity illumination in areas where precision work is being done and automatically dim in unoccupied spaces to conserve energy.

In the workspace, connected lighting can encourage the shift to smart offices. As more organisations embrace hybrid and flexible work arrangements, office environments must adapt. Intelligent systems allow for dynamic space management, where desks, meeting rooms, and other facilities can be reserved or allocated based on occupancy and demand. Environmental controls such as lighting can be tailored to individual preferences, enhancing comfort and productivity, for example.

Ultimately, the rise of intelligent buildings reflects a broader shift in how we view space. Buildings are no longer seen as fixed structures—they are evolving, data-driven systems that serve a strategic role in business and society. By investing in connected lighting and the platforms that manage them, companies are creating flexible, efficient, and sustainable environments. These buildings do more than house people and operations—they actively support them, adapt to them, and help them thrive.

As we look to the future, it's clear that the most successful environments will not be the largest or the newest but the smartest. Intelligent buildings set the standard for how we live, work, and grow in a world that demands more from our spaces. They are not just changing buildings but redefining what buildings can be.