Being a fan of technology and the Vikings has taught me patience.  As most kids growing up in Minnesota, I was a loyal Vikings fan who dreamed of seeing them win the Super Bowl.  I can still recall my frustration when my dad would say, rather pessimistically, that the Vikings were not going to win the Super Bowl any time soon. I suppose he was jaded from four previous unsuccessful attempts.

Often times I think the same applies to the latest technology.  Unquestionably there is real reason for excitement, but typically the initial outcomes fall well short of the heightened expectations.  Yet over an extended period of time and full maturation process, the technology does deliver on many of those promises.

I enjoy following new technologies; but like following the Vikings, caution and patience is required. Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the new technologies to offer many exciting promises.  With the continued maturation of devices and middleware software, eventually I see a future of people wearing sensor technologies that communicate with a myriad of building sensors to produce a superior user experience.   We will be able to harvest and analyze an enormous amount of machine and sensor data to dynamically provision the right environment for users in a very efficient manner.

Some may argue Building Automation Systems (BAS) already provides this level of automation, and in part may be correct; but this automation or control is limited to HVAC and mechanical systems.  I would ask what other building infrastructure systems are able to contribute to this intelligent building strategy.  How could systems such as video surveillance, audio/visual, door access, wireless, digital signage, telephony, paging, and a host of other IT & facilities systems be used to impact the ultimate goals and objectives?  Another critical component to success is the right combination of teamwork between IT and facilities.

In the meantime, there is reason for real optimism. In some companies we are beginning to see IT and facilities collaborate on building infrastructure solutions.  Additionally, the same tried and true IT application frameworks used to integrate business applications can be utilized to integrate building system applications.

Anticipating these parallel infrastructure (no pun intended) markets converging, Parallel Technologies recently acquired a building automation and controls company.  This is an important step to integrate our existing IT & Facilities building infrastructure business with HVAC and mechanical systems.  We are moving the ball down the field on integrating traditional facilities systems with IT systems to provide greater safety and security, energy sustainability and operational efficiencies.

Go Vikings!

We are very excited to  be entering this market, and have a team ready to engage with you on idea’s to make your building more efficient.  Please give us a call at 952-278-0360.

Dale Klein

President & CEO

 

Dale has 24 years of experience in technology and business, and 17 years holding executive positions in high-growth technology firms. He has transformed the cabling services company into a high-growth technology company by demonstrating to clients how IT and facility infrastructure solutions can drive strategic value. His passion is to drive a combination of proven and new infrastructure technologies to solve building and data center challenges to achieve superior performance, reduce risk and preserve capital.