Review Corporate Data Strategy and Goals

With today’s interest in incorporating data analytics into almost every business process, it is not uncommon to find that most businesses and institutions have a plan in place or are in the process of developing an overall strategy around their data. Our engagements typically begin with gaining an understanding of where in the process the client is and how new ideas will fit into their overall Data Governance program.

Where does the data come from, who owns the data, who has access to it and how, who owns the data created from the original source data, etc., are all questions to consider. In most cases, solutions will involve multiple stakeholders in various internal and external departments or workgroups.

Once an engagement is underway, the process is to establish managerial goals, determine the technical needs and implements and validate technical solutions. After the platform and visualizations are functioning, workflow processes are modified to incorporate the new tools and insights.

Align Managerial Requirements and Goals

Various stakeholders often have various needs from the same data sources. It is important to explore the ways the data needs to be interpreted by all the users. While a manager may want to know how many deficiencies are occurring in a month, a building engineer may want to know when deficiencies are occurring to be able to respond to problems before they become issues for occupants.

The performance goals, financial objectives and early Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are developed from a needs analysis which occurs early with stakeholders and sets the framework for determining the best technical solutions going forward, all of which contribute to the organizational strategy.

Survey Building System for Technical Readiness

Once the needs are established, a survey of the building systems and data sources is performed to determine feasibility. We start by trying to find ways to implement the technical solutions to deliver the goals with the existing equipment, sensors and controllers. If needed, other IoT devices or system modifications are explored to determine how best to deliver the solutions needed to match the managerial objectives.

Building systems evaluated typically include the HVAC, Lighting, Meters, , Elevators, Parking Security, IoT sensors and systems as well as any external data sources like weather and traffic.

Develop the Technical Requirements

The marketplace for analytical platforms and innovative solutions is expanding rapidly with claims that often seem to good to be true. We lay out the technical requirements to ensure that each possible solution is evaluated considering our client’s overall organizational strategy.

Solicit and Review Technical Solutions (Internal and External)

Responses to a request for solutions are evaluated to identify the benefits and compromises the offered solutions may have. Whether the solution consists of one or several third-party platforms or internally developed solutions, it is important to understand how the systems are implemented, integrated into existing processes and maintained long term. Recommendations will be provided, and a final plan will be developed and approved.

Implement Technical Solutions

The chosen technical solution(s) is/are implemented by the vendor, integrator, developer or other. DB Technologies does not provide this service but helps ensure the plan is executed as part of our approach and proposed solution(s) that we present to our clients.

Validate Platform Scope and Function

Our team provides the initial evaluation of the installed solution and validates it has been implemented as promised and commissioned to meet the technical requirements. Data quality and connectivity, historization, taxonomy, alarms, alerts, rules and visualizations meet the specifications outlined in the technical requirements and contracts.

System Analysis I (Broad)

Using tools developed from years of experience observing thousands of systems in hundreds of millions of square feet of existing buildings, our team evaluates the various building systems to identify opportunities for improvement. We validate the problem and detail the probable solution, prioritizing it with other opportunities to direct the site activity with the building staff and any necessary contractors or third-party suppliers.

This work is typically executed in the client’s environment using “off the shelf” solutions like SQL, Power BI and Tableau visualizations, Python and R. The intent is to provide tools and solutions in the client’s environment for their long-term adoption and maintenance.

Workflow Process Modifications

With new data, tools and insights comes new ways to operate buildings. It is critical to adjust existing workflows to take advantage of the new tools and information available to the operations team. Before diving into deeper analysis and identifying more issues to address, this is a time to collaborate with the operations staff and management to implement the processes needed for improvements.

Activities may include additional system training, improved documentation or adjusting long held beliefs about why things work the way they do. Our team understands these changes can be difficult and only through mutual respect and collaboration can the ideas we present get properly implemented. When the operations staff Is fully engaged, it is possible to take more advanced steps.

System Analysis II (Detailed)

Using tools for analysis including scoring strategies and Machine Learning techniques, more detailed and specific issues are identified, and solutions are discovered, reviewed and presented. Tracking tools and program management oversight and support are provided to ensure the platform continues to drive opportunities for improvement and ongoing performance measurement.

Verify, Adjust and Maintain

As the collective team continues to grow with the new insights and as new technologies and strategies come on the market, it is important to continue to expand the impact of the data strategy for additional building operational improvement. DB Technologies will continue to work with industry leaders to vet new technologies and cultivate the best solutions to make sure our clients are at the forefront globally and that they are aware of the technology with the greatest ability to help them achieve their organizational strategy.