Hybrid work needs more than badge swipes. You need real-time occupancy data and smart systems to create spaces people want to use. Smart building tech brings a 20%+ ROI in five years.

The smart building market will hit over $50 billion by 2028 and is growing at more than 26% per year. That’s fast. Occupancy sensors give you real-time, anonymous data so you can:

• Plan space accurately
• Save energy with automated systems
• Give employees a better experience

Occuspace sensors do all this with privacy-first technology. There’s no need to change your infrastructure, and installation is a breeze.

Why Smart Building Tech Works for Hybrid Work

Hybrid work changed office attendance. It’s less predictable now. 91% of workers say they’d come in if you offer the right benefits. But attendance patterns change daily. Owl Labs says 55% of employees want to meet new people, 51% value mentoring, and 49% prefer team meetings in person. Floorplan Mapper confirms occupancy is all over the map, and badge data doesn’t cut it anymore.

Counting heads isn’t enough. You need to know when spaces actually get used, not just when people badge in. “Coffee badging” (where people swipe but don’t stick around) skews your data. You need something better.

Occupancy sensors fix this. They pick up wireless signals and show you exactly how spaces get used. Now, you can spot empty rooms that were booked, busy collab zones, and see how long people stay - all in real time. Badge systems just can’t do that.

Want flexibility? Ditch fixed desks. Use real-time data to match space to actual demand. Real-time utilization spots underused areas and helps you add capacity where it counts.

Get Started with Occuspace Sensors

Getting occupancy data is simple. Plug Occuspace sensors into wall outlets. They start working right away. No infrastructure changes. No IT headaches. Each sensor can cover up to 4,000 sq ft and uses wireless scanning the moment it’s on.

Sensors track three things:

• Total foot traffic
• Occupancy
• Dwell time

This shows you real use - not just reservations or badges. See the booked rooms that stay empty, collab spaces that fill up, and where people actually spend their time.

You’ll get data on a web dashboard. Spot trends by hour, day, or week. See when spaces are busy or quiet so you can adjust as needed.

Want to match supply to demand? Review what the data says compared to bookings. If a room is booked but empty, you can check and adjust. If an area is packed but not reserve-able, you can pivot and reconfigure.

Each sensor installs quickly, means you can start small. Try sensors in high-traffic spots, then expand once you see the value. It’s easy to pilot before rolling out everywhere.

Automate HVAC, Lighting, and Cleaning

Connect occupancy data to your building systems and you see results fast. HVAC responds to people in real time, not old schedules. Energy drops. Comfort rises.

Here’s what to expect:

• Cut office energy use by 22% with occupancy-based control and automation.
• Use energy analytics platforms to reduce consumption by up to 50%.

Sensors plug into your building management system through APIs. Then your controls get smarter:

• When occupancy drops, HVAC turns down or shifts setpoints.
• When a space fills up, ventilation ramps before people feel it.

These controls deliver significant savings in offices with variable use. Studies report 30-40% energy reductions when occupancy-driven strategies run at scale.

Lighting follows the same playbook. Sensors use presence data - not just motion - to dim or switch off in empty spaces. Lights stay on during brief step-outs, and turn off when an area is truly unused.

Cleaning teams win too. Clean where usage is highest, not just what’s on the schedule. Restrooms, break rooms, and meeting rooms get serviced based on real activity. Spaces stay cleaner, and costs drop.

Privacy-First and Metrics that Matter

Worried about privacy? Don’t be. The Occuspace sensors use wireless signal detection - no cameras, no personal data. We collects zero personally identifiable info. Learn more in the privacy docs here. The system just knows presence, not who’s there.

Sensors are GDPR compliant out of the box. Occuspace offers a 3-5× lower cost than camera-based systems. Data is wiped at the edge - gone within seconds. All you see is aggregated metrics on your dashboard. People can’t be tracked or identified. Privacy stays protected.

Keep an eye on these key metrics:

• Occupancy density (how full spaces get)
• Peak usage times
• Average dwell time
• Total foot traffic

Track these to boost efficiency with zero privacy risks.

When you calculate ROI, count:

• Energy savings
• Better space use
• Operations improvements

Portfolio optimization with sensors delivers big cost savings as you right-size your space. U.S. DOE says smart buildings trim energy costs by up to 30%.

Keep tracking results over time. You’ll see what reconfigurations work, whether energy savings keep employees comfortable, and how cleaning changes affect hygiene.

FAQs

How do you schedule cleaning for restrooms on demand?

Put sensors in restrooms. They track use without tracking people. Cleaning shifts to when demand is high - not just at set times. That means better hygiene and lower cleaning bills.

Can I get space use heatmaps without cameras?

Absolutely. Get usage heatmaps from sensors, not cameras. Your dashboards show where people go, what’s busy, and when. You'll spot underused spots and high-traffic zones - all while keeping privacy locked down.

How do I see metrics like peak, average, and dwell?

Our sensors crunch these numbers for you. The dashboard displays:

• Peak occupancy
• Average occupancy
• Dwell time

Dwell analytics show how people really use your spaces - not just when someone walks by.

What’s the best way to track visitors across multiple buildings?

Go cloud-based. Occupancy platforms bring together sensor data from all your buildings in one view. Managers get their own dashboards, and you keep corporate visibility across your portfolio. Scale starts small but goes as big as you need.

Smart Building Tech Makes Hybrid Work Win

Smart building tech turns hybrid work into an opportunity. Real-time data lets you plan space, save energy, and boost the employee experience. Start with privacy-first sensors for insights you can act on - without the privacy headaches.

Use occupancy-based strategies and you’ll see:

• Better space use
• Lower energy costs
• Smoother operations

The investment pays for itself - fast. Fewer empty rooms, less waste, and smarter, more flexible workplaces.

Ready to level up your workplace? Contact Occuspace and see how easy it is to transform your building. We’ll help design a pilot so you see the impact right away, and set the stage for smarter buildings everywhere.