Self-Monitoring and Reporting Technology

S.M.A.R.T. Technology, homes and even cities have entered the mainstream in enterprise networking. These ideas are based on the concept of convergence broadly defined as the integration of systems and services into a single network.

S.M.A.R.T. Technology contain a high level of electronic microprocessor based control systems that operate a wide range of services such as lighting, heat, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), power, vertical transportation, fire and life safety, and security. Along with these automation systems, there are sophisticated telecommunications systems for voice, data, and video transmission.
Traditionally, these systems have been an integral part of most buildings. However, recently these individual systems have become increasingly more intelligent and now can be also integrated to share information and communicate between themselves. When this happens, you truly have a S.M.A.R.T. building.

But it goes beyond this, since convergence can have a significant impact on how business is conducted both internally and externally, with partners and customers. Whether you are a local business, a large multi-national corporation, or a regional public institution, there are benefits to be achieved in lower total cost of ownership, increased employee productivity, and stronger customer engagement. The key to business success in moving to a converged network is to approach the process as an evolution of your existing network capabilities, to initially identify a very specific first phase that delivers real business benefit, and to execute it before taking on additional convergence initiatives.

The MEDCOMM Difference
What you’ll find in MEDCOMM’s approach is a pragmatic view of the real-world business, operational, and technical issues you will want to consider and address as you move forward with your plans for convergence. Our methodology ensures you’re making the best decision at each stage of the process. As you review the needed steps for business success, you may be on a path to deploying converged applications or you may be looking to converge your network infrastructure to support those applications—perhaps both. Depending on the degree to which your network is “convergence-ready,” MEDCOMM will help and assist you in all aspects of convergence including the justified financial approach and evaluating your ROI before you take any step towards solidifying your applications and network.

MEDCOMM as Part of the Building Team
Like all high technology areas, the rate of change of available products, systems and solutions on offer for S.M.A.R.T. building solutions is massive. How do developers, builder and architects find out more about how to include the relevant technology in their project to ensure their client’s short and long term S.M.A.R.T. building needs are satisfied?
The answer is to team up with technology specialists like MEDCOMM. Planning to integrate technology into a building requires the assistance of systems integrators, professionals who are experienced in designing and implementing S.M.A.R.T. building solutions. The burden of those tasks associated with the building or refurbishment of an environment can be considerably lightened with one company looking after the complexities of the system’s installation and integration.
MEDCOMM does not only design a blue print. We work alongside builders, architects and building users to develop a S.M.A.R.T. building for their specific project. We identify the client's needs and expectations, and any limitations and problems, analyze building and wiring schematics, establish the brief and plan the detailed S.M.A.R.T. building solution and recommend equipment.

Is "S.M.A.R.T." Right for You?
Each property or project has a different audience, tenants and business model. A Hospital for example, is far from the same topology or business construct than a multi-tenant complex. A hotel is different in service structure than that of a high-rise building. The consulting process defines the service structure, the functional requirements and foremost the business case for such a change before technicians start laying out the switching layer or suggesting IP telephony.
Potential benefits include:

1. Cost Reduction

For many enterprise customers, the situation today is that they’re supporting multiple networks and incurring large expenses each month for inter-site PSTN minutes, remote user calling cards, 1-800 dial-up remote network access calling, and employee service moves, additions, and changes (MACs). Convergence helps lower these costs.
Commercial buildings account for between 30 and 40 percent of national energy use. The current direction of utilization will make Kuwait in serious lack of energy production by year 2008. Energy management systems deal with the automation of specific aspect of a building's services, such as lighting, heating and cooling. By controlling these areas with S.M.A.R.T. automated systems, the building is not only more functional, it is also much more energy efficient.

2. Improving Productivity

A converged network improves productivity for important user segments: e.g., IT, executives, sales, internal mobile users (via WLANs), telecommuters or road warriors, and distributed teams. Many enterprise customers are using traditional tools, including wired and wireless phones, wireless/e-mail enabled personal digital assistant (PDA) devices, voice mail, and e-mail and voice conferencing. A converged network makes it possible to provide users with access to all available means of communication on the network, using the devices that are most convenient for them.

3. Competitive Differentiation