The âMaximize Guideâ outlines WeMaintainâs IoT-based solutions for optimizing building operations, offering predictive maintenance, real-time alerts, and energy-saving strategies for equipment like lifts and escalators. It showcases how machine learning and data insights enhance reliability, reduce downtime, and improve efficiency.
Independent maintenance companies vs. Original Equipment Manufacturers
Since our inception in the UK WeMaintain has always had aspirations to become a company with true national coverage to be able to support our customers wherever they may operate. Through the referral of one of our most important customers in London we have been given the opportunity to extend our working relationship with them to Manchester and therefore greatly increase our operational footprint. â We were excited about making Manchester our second home for a number of reasons. â Firstly, given that we are operating initially within the lift and escalator space we saw the cityâs booming real estate high rise construction as a sign that the potential market was growing rapidly. Manchesterâs claim to being the UKâs second city is well founded and borne out by the evidence. We believe that a modern skyline with modern buildings require smart technology to operate effectively and we can provide this to any building regardless of age. â Secondly, Manchester has aspirations to accelerate their push toward being a zero carbon city by embracing smart technology. Having recently announced their new Digital Strategy and Vision, Manchester City Council is keen to leverage digital skills, jobs and solutions to economic challenges. Manchester City Councilâs Deputy Leader, Councillor Nigel Murphy says, âThe Digital Strategy and Vision aims to ensure that we can find new and innovative solutions that everyone can benefit from.â New and innovative solutions are exactly what WeMaintain has built.
â Our technology answers the challenges of building operations meaning we are aligned with this vision and believe we can assist in the transition to make Manchester a truly smart city. â In addition to pushing the digital transformation of Manchester the city council have made public their aim of leading the fundamental change required to become zero carbon. âOur mission is to make Manchester a healthy, green, socially just city where everyone can thrive. Our target is to become a zero carbon city by 2038 at the latest, 12 years ahead of the Governmentâs target for the UK of 2050.â - Manchester City Council To be able to achieve this it will require a cost effective way of retrofitting existing spaces with smart technology to manage energy consumption in a more efficient way. This fits neatly with our philosophy and we believe that synergy will only serve to accelerate our growth in the city now we are established. Find out more If you want to know more about how our technology can help optimise your building, contact our UK Head of Sales at cheryl@wemaintain.com.
From Outsider to Insider: What I've Learned at MIPIM
Back then, Proptech (the combination of âPropertyâ and âTechnologyâ words) was a new trend and the number of startups was quite limited. Technology was mostly seen as a cost and convincing real estate corporates was challenging. To be honest sometimes we felt a bit lonely among all the blue and grey suits talking about investing million and billion to change the city and not really interested into technology đ. 5 years on and things have changed. Tech is now a key topic at each MIPIM edition.
In a post Covid world, technology and data offered by Proptech startups has been considered as one of the main solutions to better monitor buildings, anticipate costs and improve business efficiency. Real estate assets owners and managers have realized that in order to move fast and adapt, they could collaborate with startups, organizations which have a totally different DNA than the real estate corporates.
More recently ESG constraints have turned into a reality. Investors, regulations, increasing energyâs price and interest rates have forced the industry to pause and really think about its future. I canât name all the initiatives and discussions being launched but the most daunting challenge facing the real estate industry today and over the long term remains climate change. No doubt about it. The industry has answered positively to the challenge and accepted the role its plays and the responsibilities it carries. The global real estate market is worth $362trn but is responsible for 40% of the worldâs carbon emissions. For this reason it stands front and centre in the adaption to climate change.
PropTech can play a vital role in supporting and helping the industry achieving its targets. What I have observed over the last 5 years đ PropTech is large enough to cover all the aspects of the real estate industry : from transaction, operations, constructions, energy optimization and so on VC funds have strengthened their expertise in PropTech with dedicated vehicles, partners and larger amounts to be deployed in the ecosystem More women are entering the PropTech scene Tamara from Mokki, Eliane from Witco, Tara from Commune, Saskia from Virgil Less Proofs of Concept and more sustainable business is offered to PropTech by corporates Less Head of Innovation being appointed and more decentralised decision-making and open-to-innovation processes. What I predict Real estate is really complex and too many PropTech startups only address a very small portion of the value chain. Despite the quality of their technical solutions, they sometimes add a layer of complexity. Such companies may disappear. PropTech startups need to address international portfolioâs challenges. It is the way real estate is structured : massive investors with multi-local portfolios. A lot of of M&A to come in this area. The number of PropTech firms has been booming over the last 4-5 years yet a lot of them are too small to survive. Assets owners and managers start getting a bit tired of dashboards and data, they want to see real transformation on their buildings. Theyâll be ready to pay for it. Weâre all looking forward to seeing this transformation to happen. I believe thatâs why ongoing conversations must happen among corporates, startups and users. At MIPIM or anywhere else. Canât wait for MIPIM 2024. â