Schneider Electric, the leader of digital transformation of energy management and automation, tackled digitisation and energy management challenges in the building industry in its 2021 Shaping Buildings of the Future panel discussion. The virtual event brought together key voices in the industry with long-standing credentials for a discourse on the evolution within the building landscape due to the acceleration of digitisation in the market today. The discussion was also focused on game-changing technologies and addressed sustainability trends in the market.
Key industries are fast evolving to recover and sustain from the impact of the global health crisis. Industry leaders are pivoting to digital strategies that will push transformation into overdrive to meet the demands of the changing landscape. Digitisation empowers and enables the building industry to remain efficient, at the same time productive throughout the pandemic, as also highlighted in Malaysia’s Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) agenda. Developers, owners, and operators are encouraged to start subscribing to the ‘New Electric World’ idea that sees the convergence of digital and electric at scale in achieving sustainable, resilient, hyper-efficient and people-centric buildings.
The panel discussion shed light on the digitisation landscape within the building industry on recovering and sustaining in the new era of normal. The panellists were Ir. Yau Chau Fong, Vice President of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Ir. Kok Yen Kwan, Vice President of the Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia (TEEAM) and Soo Pow Leong, Digital Energy Vice President, East Asia Japan of Schneider Electric.
Denver Ng, Business Vice President of Digital Energy for Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei of Schneider Electric kickstarted the discussion with an overview of the company’s Buildings of the Future vision. “The Malaysian government is championing digitisation as seen in the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP), highlighting the enhancement of energy sustainability and the deployment of 5G nationwide. This in turn empowers the acceleration of the nation’s digital transformation and allows buildings to seamlessly incorporate smart solutions. The four key pillars of the buildings of the future - sustainable, resilient, hyper-efficient and people-centric - will serve as the guide for industry players to embark on their digital transformation journey,” said Denver.
During the panel discussion, Ir. Yau Chau Fong of IEM highlighted that as our nation transitions from a pandemic to an endemic phase, key players are looking for a more health-conscious approach when it comes to building management. He foresees a higher adoption of smart systems with key technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to ensure the safety, efficiency, and resiliency of buildings during the recovery period. IEM hopes to continue partnering with local industry players and play a role in digitising the local building landscape.
Ir. Kok Yen Kwan of TEEAM addressed that the challenges faced by the building industry 10 years ago has not only remained today but is amplified further by the pandemic. Buildings are not the only thing that has to change, but the mindsets of developers, owners, and operators as well, he added. He called for industry leaders to consider the 3R’s - React, Reliable and Resilient that requires them to react quickly in ensuring reliable and resilient operations. This pivot accelerates the need for digitisation as a tool that can offer key players actionable insights for data-driven decision making among others.
Soo Pow Leong also echoed this sentiment, “When it comes to building operations, we are observing key players moving towards remote building management through the adoption of machine learning with predictive analytics. This digital solution is especially useful now that health and safety is the number one concern among building tenants. With digital integration, building managers can have better control with smart buildings wherein optimising space utilisation, improving tenant experience, enhancing productivity levels, or reducing operational costs.”
He added, “The best way to understand and appreciate the importance of the smart building concept is to view buildings as active partners and not just passive spaces. If we enhance our buildings with end-to-end digital technologies, they begin to work with us to solve problems. Digital technologies enable buildings to understand where people are, what they need, and what they don’t need.”
As an industry digital partner, Schneider Electric aims to play an important role in accelerating digital transformation of buildings in Malaysia. The local building industry is changing. It is now time for key players to tap into the power of an all-digital, all-electric infrastructure for more sustainable, resilient, hyper-efficient and people-centric buildings.
For more updates on other Schneider Electric’s initiatives, please visit https://www.se.com/my/
