March 2021 |
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Concerns, Interesting and Chuckles One of the many new normal adjustments resulting from the pandemic is the increased use of hybrid models whether it be where we work, how we work, or when we work. |
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One of the many new
normal adjustments resulting from the pandemic is the increased use of hybrid
models whether it be where we work, how we work, or when we work. Additional
adjustments like new connectivity options and the increased use of “the edge” individually or in conjunction with
the cloud.
For this month’s
submission, I decided to take a hybrid approach and change it up a bit.
Instead of an article based on a particular subject, I thought I would share
some things that I found of concern,
things I found interesting and things
that made me chuckle recently.
Concerns
One concern that
has risen to the top for me is the talk around computer chip and semiconductor shortages.
The shortage began as consumers stocked up on
personal computers and other electronics resulting from COVID-19, along with
shifting business models in the semiconductor world and the increasing demand
of connected devices and IoT. This combination now threatens industries who
rely on them from automotive, to appliances, and building automation.
For
more details about what is behind these shortages, please click on the links
below:
·
Global Computer Chip Shortage
·
Automakers Forced to Cut Production Amid Global Shortage of Computer
Chips
White
House Says Biden Planning Order on Semiconductor Shortage
In
a letter, the Semiconductor Industry Association urged Biden to include
incentives for building-up domestic microchip production. Read more here.
Interesting
While our
industry never suffers from a shortage of interesting things, here are a few
that caught my attention:
·
Connectivity
(From an Industry Analyst)
ü Overall connectivity penetration rates
across building systems are at only around 16%.
ü 40-60% of connected
devices can not realize their total economic value because of interoperability
and interconnectivity challenges.
·
Digital Transformation
79% of CIOs agree the COVID-19 pandemic will
push them to digitally transform faster than planned.
·
Job
Opportunities
The chart below is the weekly average # of open BAS (Building Automation Systems) jobs compiled by the Association of Controls Professionals (ACP). The average since the summer has remained at roughly 21,000/week since. It has been estimated the demand for BAS technical roles (technician, engineering, programming) will increase 55% over the next 10-years.
The transformation
of education and skills development to attract the right kind of talent needed now
to deliver technology/solutions to maintain smart buildings is high within our
industry. The challenges for smart buildings are continued energy efficiency,
sustainability, and now healthy and safe work environments.
Keeping these
challenges in mind, the reskilling of displaced workers from other industries
is paramount. With thousands of job opportunities immediately open across the
board within our industry and the prediction of many more, how can we play a
better part in reskilling these folks?
·
Retail
With the
pandemic, most of what we have seen and heard related to retail has been
negative: severe loss in sales, store closures,
and Chapter 11 filings. As with any
situation, however, there also are positives. Here are a few within retail:
·
Five Below to open 170 to 180 stores in
2021. Read more here.
·
Yesway opens first store in its
accelerated real estate and remodel push. Read
more here.
·
On-demand workspaces in
malls. Read more here.
Chuckles
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