Do you know anyone who owns a smartwatch? How about a Fitbit? The chances are you know several, or at least a few, folks who are among the millions of American consumers using wearable technology. About 21 percent of Americans say they own a smartwatch or fitness tracker, according to a Pew Research Center survey, and wearable tech shipments grew by 24 percent amid the pandemic in 2020. It seems everyone is jumping on the wearable tech bandwagon nowadays, including industries like construction, health care, and, yes, facilities and building management.
The practical applications of wearable tech for building owners and facility managers are broader than you may think. From safety to building access to assisting maintenance workers with repairs, wearable tech like smartwatches, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) wristbands, and even ‘smart boots’ are beginning to gain ground in the workplace. Wearable tech is already becoming ubiquitous in our personal lives, so it may only be a matter of time before FMs and building owners use these devices more.
