FEATURE ARTICLES
THE FUTURE OF SMART BUILDINGS: DIGITAL PLANNING TOOLS HOLD THE KEY Ian Richardson Market Development Manager – Energy Distribution, ABB
Today digital planning tools are a competitive advantage. Tomorrow they will be seen as basic necessities. Not long ago, electrical installation planning tools were a piece of paper, a pencil, some catalogs and a calculator. However, these days we have seen a rise in digital planning tools that have made the entire process more effective, more productive and ultimately more rewarding for both the installer and the stakeholders of the installation. The practical benefits of digital planning for smart buildings To demonstrate how, it helps to look at an example. Imagine a hospital project where the stakeholders are looking for a consultation to learn more about what products are on the market to provide a cutting edge design. Digital planning tools can help bring the project to life on-screen while achieving the following benefits: • Insight: You can easily capture important project scope details such as size, purpose, and required functionalities,
46
helping you focus recommendations to only the systems and hardware that make the cut. For the stakeholders, you would be able to learn about their priorities, such as aesthetics and functionalities, and only show the options that meet their requirements. • Cost-effectiveness: Many solutions come with a wide range of options. A digital planning tool can help you determine in minutes if the project budget will cover the functionality and design desired and, if not, where you might be able to effectively cut costs. • Innovation: At the speed that technology changes, you can’t be expected to know about every single new thing every system can do. A digital planning tool incorporates the latest functionality of whatever system or products you’re looking at so that you can take its latest features
