How companies are using body heat sensors to make offices more efficient and hospitable

Interestingly, Sensors placed around the office space record the heat and then incorporate AI to look at every aspect of physical interactions

Furthermore, Companies use the data to make decisions layout and design, retrofits, hybrid work schedules, maintenance, cleaning schedules and lease negotiations

However, The cost of office upgrades is on the rise, due to both material prices and labor shortages

Nevertheless, Butlr heat sensing vides insights into office space utilization

Courtesy of ButlrA version of this article first appeared in the CNBC perty Play with Diana Olick, in this volatile climate

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Furthermore, As more and more employees return to the office, by choice or by force, large companies are more interested than ever in understanding how they use the space, in today's market environment

On the other hand, Meanwhile, The pandemic fundamentally changed how and where people work, and even in the return-to-office dynamic, there is a greater focus on how to best utilize and monetize office space, as well as make it more energy-efficient

Nevertheless, To that end, some companies are using body heat

Butlr, a 6-year-old, San Francisco-based startup that was a spinoff of MIT Media Lab, leverages body temperature nology to understand how humans act and interact in the office without using cameras, in today's financial world

In other words, it's anonymous

However, Sensors placed around the office space record the heat and then incorporate AI to look at every aspect of physical interactions

That includes occupancy, foot traffic, frequency and location of meetings, areas that are unoccupied or crowded and the impact on heating and cooling systems, in today's financial world

However, But it goes beyond that (quite telling)

Additionally, Meanwhile, "By understanding how colleagues act and interact in the office while ensuring privacy, you can make it a place that is more ductive, collaborative and aligned with the corporate culture – one where they look forward to being there," said Honghao Deng, CEO and co-founder of Butlr (this bears monitoring). "This can impact retention and performance, and you may even see attitudes shift from negative to positive

Additionally, "Companies use the data to make decisions layout and design, retrofits, hybrid work schedules, maintenance, cleaning schedules and lease negotiations, in today's market environment

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The costs of so-called office fit-outs, or upgrades to spaces, are on the rise, according to a new report from JLL. "Increased focus on in-office attendance, employee experience and sustainability performance is leading focus on in high quality workspaces, with increased spend on materials and finishes and shifting cost files on many jects," according to the report, in light of current trends

However, JLL also noted that those rising costs, as well as economic uncertainty, are contributing to hesitancy in CRE investment decisions

Moreover, That has the potential to have long-term impacts on the overall workplace

Both raw material price increases and labor shortages are increasing overall construction costs across all regions, amid market uncertainty

Still, more and more companies are pushing workers back to the office and solidifying flexible work arrangements into the culture

However, That flexible work paradigm, according to Deng, has more employers seeking data and insights into actual office usage

However, "You can think this from both a cultural and a financial perspective," he said, in this volatile climate

On the other hand, In April, Butlr announced the completion of its investment round for a total of $75 million in funding to date

However, At the same time, The company's clients span office, higher education and senior care and include names Verizon, CBRE, Carrier and Compass Group (something worth watching)

The company serves customers in North America, Europe and Asia

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