ISS has inaugurated a "Future of Work Innovation Lab" in the Portuguese city of Porto dedicated to developing software solutions that meet new workplace demands on employers and employees.
As office buildings around the world are increasingly equipped with technology including sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to support a more productive and seamless workday for employees, more emphasis is being placed on facility managers to develop digital solutions for the global workplace to cater to the growing demand from customers seeking to reap the benefits of the new technologies.
The new laboratory which has been named 'The Plate' employs 43 dedicated technology and software specialists and is expected to increase this number to 65 employees by the end of 2023.
We intend to use the Future of Work Innovation Lab to develop solutions that will enhance the workplace experience of the future – in close collaboration with our customers and partners,” explains Markus Sontheimer, Group Chief Information & Digital Officer.
The lab in Porto is equipped with IoT sensors that capture a wide range of metrics, such as employee movement, temperature, and humidity.
By consolidating the development and exploration of workplace technology in one location, we are taking a significant step towards becoming a technology leader in our industry.
“We will use our location in Porto as a test office for new technology and assess how it would influence future office designs.
Understanding and managing comfort metrics, such as air quality, is crucial because they have an impact on people and energy consumption.
By leveraging our own smart tech ecosystem, we can provide our customers with a 360-degree view of their buildings and how this impacts employee well-being.
By doing so, we can showcase the benefits that technology has on people, workplaces, and the planet,” says Stella Alamil, Managing Director, ISS Tech Centre Porto.
ISS says one of the aims of the new lab will be to develop 'differentiating', scalable digital solutions for its own enterprise use and for customers worldwide.
