Tech-driven partnership to bring AI & Internet of Things to facility management

Cloudfm and the University of Essex have formed a technology-driven partnership to bring state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities to some of the world’s most recognisable brands.

Cloudfm is a leading disruptive facilities management (FM) company that claims to be innovating the future of the industry. Having experienced the conventional and traditional approaches to FM, the company founders have sought to find new strategies to tackle the big FM issues suffered by big corporations and universities.

This partnership with the University of Essex is a perfect example of that innovative thinking. The duo recently received a £195,000 award from the UK government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, to form a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).

The company will work alongside the university’s leading AI academics to research and build advanced monitoring, control and prediction solutions, to implement across complex estate assets.

Two full-time KTP Associates will also be recruited, to be based at Cloudfm’s offices, with a mandate to research cutting-edge AI and Internet of Things technologies in facility management, working with Cloudfm’s technical teams to develop novel algorithms and pioneering intellectual property to the ultimate benefit of Cloudfm’s clients.

According to Cloudfm the wider FM industry is generally accepted to be 20 years behind state-of-the-art technology, they hope to change that soon.

“Our project with Cloudfm will not only disrupt facilities management, but also have positive ramifications for other outdated sectors including logistics and traditional manufacturing, and it perfectly aligns to our research strands across disciplines such as drone technology, AI and manufacturing 4.0,” said Head of Business Engagement at Essex, Robert Walker, in a statement.

Monitoring and streamlining their facility management is in line with the university’s sustainability plan. The KTP will work to minimise any waste and streamline the process, cutting excessive expenditure where possible.

Cloudfm makes it its mission to tackle the common systemic problems in the industry of facility management with Internet of Things and AI capabilities. It was founded specifically to fix the systemic problems in the industry – inadequate processes, poorly-applied technology and unreliable data, which all lead to inflated cost and unacceptable waste. Turning these expertise to universities, one of the biggest polluters in the UK, is a logical step.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with the University of Essex,” said CIO of Cloudfm, Steve Corbett.

“Environmental sustainability is at the heart of our innovation programme; delivering a solution that enables our clients to run smarter, more energy efficient buildings. Through intelligent, connected devices our clients can reduce waste, improve financial sustainability and minimise their carbon footprint.”