Microsoft has streamlined the integration of IoT devices across its global smart campuses, enhancing the workplace experience for its employees. The tech giant’s recent developments in IoT device integration facilitate a variety of employee-centric services, from hot desking and pathfinding to locating available conference rooms, through its extensive network of IoT devices.
This integration supports productivity and offers a range of benefits in Microsoft’s smart buildings, despite the challenges posed by the lack of standardisation among device suppliers.
Emmanuel Daniel, Director of Digital Transformation and Smart Buildings at Microsoft, emphasised the goal for a unified platform that ensures universal experiences within the company’s facilities. Microsoft Digital, in collaboration with Global Workplace Services, has developed the Digital Integration Platform, an innovative solution that simplifies IoT device integration by providing a consistent interface for IoT insights.
This platform, supported by Microsoft Azure technologies such as Digital Twins, Maps, IoT Edge, and Time Series Insights, enables real-time capture of IoT signals. This integration enhances various employee experiences, including wayfinding and hotdesking, across Microsoft’s offices in 110 countries and regions.
The initiative to create smarter building experiences leverages IoT devices to connect sensor data with real-world applications, aiming to address employee needs gracefully. Sonaly Choudary, Senior Program Manager with Microsoft Digital’s SmartBuilding Services team, highlighted the use of sensor data to assist employees in finding vacant conference rooms as a key example of the initiative’s application.
Integrating IoT devices across Microsoft’s campuses has previously faced challenges due to the diverse methods suppliers use to expose and integrate information. Rohun Patel, a Program Manager on the Microsoft Digital Device Management team, explained that the new architecture allows for consistent experiences by accommodating various data communication methods from different IoT devices.
The Digital Integration Platform not only standardises IoT data integration but also adapts experiences to suit regional expectations and privacy concerns. This approach ensures that all employees, regardless of location, benefit from tailored and respectful experiences within Microsoft’s smart buildings.
As Microsoft continues to expand its global real estate portfolio, the collaboration between Microsoft Digital and Global Workplace Services is crucial for scaling and refining smart building experiences. The partnership focuses on automation and creating self-serve systems that enhance collaboration and productivity for Microsoft employees and visitors worldwide.
This effort towards standardisation and automation in IoT device integration showcases Microsoft’s commitment to pioneering in the digital workspace. By adopting common data standards like the RealEstateCore Digital Twins Definition Language, Microsoft is not only improving its own operations but also contributing to broader IoT adoption and innovation.
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