How to avoid the puzzle pitfall with workplace sensors

Workplace sensors—installed at work desks, meeting rooms, or doors—are transforming offices. They give companies an understanding of how facilities are used. They can also help employees find available spaces in real time. But why are so many companies having challenges with them? One reason stands out.

The most common error with workplace sensors

Many organizations that try office occupancy sensors feel disappointed in the performance. They feel like they still can’t answer key office space questions. They don’t know what to make of the data. Why? The most common reason is that they have puzzled together a collection of sensors and software products from different vendors, without considering how they all work together. But technology that is designed to work together isn’t just a bonus. It’s essential.

Inconsistent office occupancy monitoring is a problem

Why is having different technology vendors an issue? It has to do with how many ways there are to collect and process data. One vendor may offer sensors that collect data with a fixed 5-minute upload frequency. Another might not be able to offer more than a 15-minute upload frequency. And on top of differences in upload frequency, some vendors may also choose to add processing and filtering to the raw sensor data before making it available to clients. The result? You get different answers from each technology!

The data lags and extra processing steps make your occupancy data much less precise than it could be. And that is a risk if you want to maximize your workplace analytics about your space usage, or support employees with real-time space availability.

Why every office needs an end-to-end solution

A blurry idea of space usage is what you already have with your naked eye. The reason you’re getting occupancy sensing technology is to gain objective metrics that give you confidence in your workplace strategies. So, ask yourself: does your company have in-house technical skills or the time to ensure the technology in your occupancy sensing system is aligned (in terms of upload frequency, processing, data formats, etc.)?

An end-to-end solution removes this trap. When all the occupancy sensors, room booking system, and analytics software are designed to work together, you simplify your life. But much more importantly than that, these streamlined systems make your data as dependable as it can be. For instance, an end-to-end solution makes sub-second space utilization data possible. In other words, you have data you know you can trust. And when sub-second occupancy data is applied to room booking technology, you get seamless office experiences too.