The Leader - January/February 2009 - (Page 26)

MeASURIng tHe SPACe yoU ACtUAlly USe: HeWlett PACkARD FInDS A RelIAble MetHoD WItH HeRMAn MIlleR WINNER in how it uses that data to inform transformational thinking about workplace strategy. Once installed and running, the system requires no human intervention. Its true value, however, lies in the granularity of data collected. The system measures occupancy at any level – entire buildings, team areas, conference rooms, touchdown spaces, even individual workstations… whatever the client desires. With accurate, reliable insight into when their work environments are occupied, clients can make informed decisions about how best to align their workspace with their needs. typically takes place in the evening so as not to disrupt the workday. First, installers place the gateway and plug it into power and LAN lines. Next, they set up and plug in the receivers in locations recommended by Herman Miller. Finally, they attach a mote (sensor) to the underside of each chair or work surface that’s part of the study. Installers must scan a barcode on each mote to assign it to a location. Herman Miller provides the scanner, which plugs into any laptop. There’s no need for clients to install any special software. It takes less than a minute to install and scan each mote. Typically, about 80 motes can be installed per hour. If a company anticipates employee concerns about being monitored, it may not be necessary to track occupancy to individual workstations. The study can be set up using zones to monitor trends by work function, business unit, or location. This will eliminate the concern of individual data being studied, but still allows business managers to see the occupancy data and make group-level decisions about overall workplace needs. After a study concludes, clients are asked to repack the equipment in the same shipping container and send it back to Herman Miller for reuse in subsequent studies at other client sites. The report goes a step further, too, not simply presenting the data, but also translating it into an action plan. Herman Miller draws on its expertise in workplace trends and best practices to develop specific recommendations for reducing occupancy costs and improving productivity. With the report and recommendations in hand, corporate real estate and facilities pros can present a compelling case for implementing workplace change by pointing to hard data that supports their plans. Ideal Candidates The Space Utilization Service makes sense for any organization that wants to reduce real estate costs. Herman Miller and HP expect it to prove especially valuable in the following circumstances:  Organizations planning to move, consolidate, or renovate their facilities can benefit from getting a firm grasp on how they use their current space before making allocation decisions for their new space.  Organizations planning a merger or acquisition can identify cost-saving strategies for realigning their real estate portfolio without jeopardizing employee productivity.  Organizations with a high ratio of leased space can make informed decisions about whether and how they can meet their business objectives with less space.  Organizations that anticipate growth but don’t have the flexibility to expand their real estate portfolio can identify strategies for getting more value from the same amount of space. How the Space Utilization Service Works Herman Miller’s Space Utilization Service combines remote sensing technology and proprietary database software. It employs three types of equipment that work together to track occupancy patterns:  "Motes" are unobtrusive wireless sensors that temporarily attach to the underside of each chair or work surface included in a study. Smaller than a deck of cards, motes sense the slightest movement, indicating when a chair or workstation is occupied  Receivers collect a continuous stream of data from the motes. Receivers are distributed throughout a study site – typically one for every 30-50 motes  A gateway server collects data from the receivers and forwards it to a secure database at Herman Miller for analysis. Each study site requires only one gateway Reporting Results, Recommending Action After evaluating the data, Herman Miller prepares a report detailing occupancy status from just about every perspective. The report compiles data revealing the overall occupancy rate, as well as breakdowns by business unit, day of the week, and space type. In short, clients see exactly which spaces are being used, how often, and when. Herman Miller and HP worked together to refine the standard reports, with HP providing a client perspective on which data would be most useful and how best to package it into a compelling presentation, capable of precipitating breakthrough thinking on workplace strategy. Designed for Self-Installation Herman Miller has developed the Space Utilization Service technology to be simple enough for client IT departments to install themselves. All necessary equipment is shipped to the study site, along with detailed installation instructions. Before it arrives, Herman Miller completes preparatory work to identify installation locations and to address issues related to network compatibility and employee communication. Installation requires just two people and Hewlett-Packard: A Space Utilization Case Study Having inspired the development of Herman Miller’s Space Utilization Service, it was only fitting for Hewlett-Packard to serve as a test site. The site in question: HP’s Houston campus, where a pair of engineering work groups had recently moved into a new space that had been designed largely based on feedback from those who would be using it. 2 0 0 9 tH e le ADe R 26 JAnUARy / FebRUARy

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Leader - January/February 2009

The Leader - January/February 2009 Contents Leadership Message from the CEO Real Estate in the News Mergers and Aquisitions Assessing Green Building Performance Measuring Space You Actually Use Global Trends in Sustainable Real Estate Whirlpool’s Lee Utke Northmarq’s Kevin Farrell Plastics: Hoping for Resiliency in Resins Regional Profile: Heartland Holding Strong Industry Profile: Ascendas Brings New Age Business Space to Asia-Pac Industry Tracker From the Applied Research Center Discovery Forum Findings Capital Corner Career Development Young Leader Economic Development in the News Learning Spotlight Connect With CoreNet Global Index of Advertisers A Look Ahead In our Next Issue Calendar of Seminars

The Leader - January/February 2009

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