ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Leading facilities services provider ISS officially inaugurated its new Future of Work Innovation Lab in the Portuguese city of Porto earlier this month.

This is a dedicated software development centre where the company will explore and devise digital solutions for the global workplace.

Office buildings around the world are increasingly equipped with technology, such as sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, to support a more productive and seamless workday for employees. ISS is acknowledging that growing demand from its clients through the inauguration of the new Porto facility, called 'The Place'.

There are currently 43 technology and software specialists working there - by the end of the year that will have increased to 65."We intend to use the Future of Work Innovation Lab to develop solutions that will enhance the workplace experience of the future - in close collaboration with our customers and partners," says Markus Sontheimer, group chief information & digital officer.

The new lab in Porto is fostering a data-driven culture within ISS as it is fully equipped with IoT sensors that capture a wide range of metrics, such as employee movement, temperature, and humidity.

"We will use our location in Porto as a test office for new technology and assess how it would influence future office designs. Understanding and managing comfort metrics, such as air quality, is crucial because they have an impact on people and energy consumption, explained Stella Alamil, managing director, ISS Tech Centre Porto.

"By leveraging our own smart tech ecosystem, we can provide our customers with a 360-degree view of their buildings and how this impacts employee well-being. By doing so, we can showcase the benefits that technology has on people, workplaces, and the planet."