Johnson Controls commissioned Sapio Research to conduct an online survey to uncover how smart buildings helped the UK & Ireland through the COVID-19 pandemic and how smart technology would be used to help organizations and the country reach its goals in the future. The results of the survey were published on July 5, 2021. About 100 building decision-makers across the UK & Ireland covering central government, large-scale healthcare, pharmaceutical, higher education, and wider commercial real estate, such as retail and banking with500+ employees were interviewed. 99% of respondents saw the advantages of smart buildings. Smart buildings can help senior leaders in operational efficiency, sustainability, and occupant experience. However, as the research reveals, there is still some way to go with getting senior leaders on board for the journey. Therefore, it is incumbent on technology providers to both educate the market on the future of what can be achieved by smart buildings and demonstrate the tangible benefits their budget investment can yield along the way.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Retrofits, Construction/New Buildings, Employee Productivity, Energy Efficiency/Management, Healthy Buildings, Intelligent Building, Internet of Things (IoT), Post-COVID-19, Property Management, Environmental, Social, Governance, ESG