Background
One of the largest workspace management companies, known for their laptop cases, backpacks, docking stations, and tech accessories, has been empowering mobile workers for over 40 years. With a presence in major markets worldwide, they focus on providing innovative solutions for both individual consumers and businesses. They reached out to Wisilica with a vision to enhance their docking stations by integrating smart monitoring and management features. They aimed to create a system that would provide comprehensive insights and control over workspace environments, thus improving efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Objectives
They wanted a Smart Workspace Management system to allow IT and Floor Admins to remotely monitor and control office workspaces. Their goals included:
- Real-time Monitoring: Keeping track of connected devices to ensure authorized usage and improve security.
- Power Management: Advanced features to monitor and control power consumption, reducing energy costs.
- Workspace Optimization: Tools to manage and optimize workspace environments, especially for hot desking scenarios.
- Remote Management: Allowing IT teams to control and schedule device usage for efficient workspace operations.
Challenges
Implementing this smart system came with several challenges. Meeting project deadlines was crucial, and managing collaboration with various component suppliers added more complexity. Additionally, their product teams were spread across different locations, making coordination a significant hurdle. They needed to ensure effective monitoring of device usage to identify unauthorized USB connections, manage power consumption efficiently to reduce energy costs, and enhance workspace management, particularly for hot desking scenarios post-pandemic.
Solutions
Wisilica proposed a comprehensive solution to meet their objectives:
- Dock Station: An enhanced dock station equipped with:
- Single Board Computer: Integrated to make the dock station smart, connecting via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
- Power Management Device: Communicates power consumption details.
- PIR Sensor: Monitors workspace occupancy and other environmental factors like temperature and humidity.
- Retrofit Adapter: Enables remote on/off functionality for existing dock stations.
- Smart Connectivity: The Dock Station connects to the premises’ Wi-Fi network and cloud servers, allowing remote monitoring and control.
- Access Control and Monitoring: Uses NFC for access control and sensors for user activity monitoring.
Result
The Workspace Management IoT Platform brought transformative benefits to the company. Continuous real-time monitoring of connected devices and their power consumption became possible, significantly enhancing oversight and control. The ability to turn devices on and off remotely helped in reducing unnecessary power usage. Workspace management was significantly improved, allowing for more efficient hot desking. Automated scheduling further optimized power usage by ensuring devices were only on when needed. Overall, the platform enabled the company to create a more efficient, secure, and sustainable workspace management solution, enhancing productivity and operational efficiency for their business customers.