With a legacy of more than 20 years in automation & digital systems integration, IAconnects continue to be a trusted guide, embracing innovation and digital transformation, without the constraints of compatibility issues whilst always striving to achieve the most sustainable approach. We talk to Dave Lister, from IAconnects to find out more about what makes them tick.
MF: Can you tell us about IAconnects’ core mission and what sets it apart in the realm of digital transformation and system integration?
DL: Absolutely, our mission is crystal clear yet ambitiously dynamic, we aim to transform business challenges into opportunities through innovative automation solutions. What sets us apart is our commitment to a client-focused, holistic approach. We craft solutions uniquely tailored to each client’s specific needs, leveraging over two decades of experience at the forefront of system integration.
MF: Could you elaborate on the range of services IAconnects offers and how they contribute to enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability?
DL: IAconnects specialises in data-centric intelligent building management systems (BMS) and cutting-edge IoT solutions. Our expertise lies in optimising functionality and efficiency by integrating intelligent automation systems. From proactive fault detection to efficient data utilisation, our services are designed to enhance operational sustainability and drive efficiency across various sectors. Our primary objective is investigating and evaluating existing data sources prior to suggesting additional devices.
MF: Integration is clearly a key aspect of IAconnects’ approach. How do you ensure seamless integration with existing systems, and what benefits does this bring to your clients?
DL: Integration is indeed central to our methodology. We take pride in seamlessly integrating with existing systems, from BMS to Network Access Points, to deliver solutions that surpass expectations. This approach ensures compatibility and scalability while maximising the return on investment for our clients. By leveraging our expertise in system integration, we enable our clients to harness the full potential of their existing infrastructure while incorporating the latest advancements in automation technology. We strive to be technology agnostic and only specify backbone architecture that doesn’t result in either technology or vendor lock in, for example using a Lora or EnOcean system that if required can still be adopted and modified by the client should they wish to expand on their own.
MF: Collaboration appears to be a cornerstone of IAconnects’ strategy. Could you tell us more about how you engage with clients and foster a culture of collective achievement?
DL: Collaboration is fundamental to our approach. We work closely with our clients, dismantling barriers and fostering a culture of collective achievement. By engaging with client teams throughout the process, we ensure that our solutions are aligned with their objectives and tailored to their specific needs. This collaborative approach not only enhances the effectiveness of our solutions but also strengthens our client relationships, driving long-term success.
MF: Could you share a bit about IAconnects’ network of experts and partners, and how they contribute to the delivery of tailored solutions?
DL: Our network includes esteemed experts and trusted partners who play a vital role in delivering tailored solutions to our clients. By collaborating with industry-leading experts and leveraging strategic partnerships, we ensure that every solution we deliver is perfectly aligned with our clients’ business objectives. This network enables us to stay at the forefront of innovation and deliver best-in-class solutions that drive tangible results for our clients.
MF: How has middleware advanced your solutions and customer base?
DL: We believe the middleware processing is more important than the visualisation. The middleware provides the grunt and answers the customer ‘exam’ questions, by automating the reporting these questions are always answered and it reduces the need for prolonged UI engagement that so often fails over time. Our business is very diverse, we range from controlling thousands of lights in UK Airports to pulling thousands of stranded data points off rigs in the North Sea, and everything in between. We even engage proactively with Academia to validate solutions. We throw ourselves at the mercy of independent specialists to ensure what we’re specifying is robust and appropriate.
MF: Have you got any examples of your favourite projects to date you can share with us?
DL: We embarked on a project with a prominent Canadian Public College to integrate advanced people counting solutions across multiple campus locations, spanning lecture rooms, laboratories, staff offices, canteens, and washrooms. Their primary goal was to monitor occupancy levels and footfall per floor and per building, while also obtaining real-time data on waste bin levels campus-wide. The college also wanted to enhance washroom maintenance efficiency by implementing a flexible cleaning schedule, enabling cleaners to efficiently check in and out during service rounds. A crucial aspect of this project was ensuring the seamless integration of all collected data into their existing Thingsboard application via an API.
MF: Did you encounter any problems?
DL: A few! The College was committed to leveraging their cloud-based Thingsboard application but faced challenges integrating camera-based people counters without direct cloud data transmission. Another complexity arose from pre-installed waste bin sensors, which were incompatible with direct data communication to the Thingsboard application. Thus, the solution required a novel approach to gather, process, and transmit data while adhering to the college’s infrastructure constraints.
MF: As a UK based company what has helped you innovate and expand globally?
DL: We’re a strong advocate for both UK Manufactured products and services and promoting the benefits of the UK SME Market. Some of the greatest innovators today reside in SME organisations (like us) and we believe the collaborative approach of the collective then gives us a bigger voice.
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