IoT: present and future of coworking

The technological transformation driven by IoT, 5G and artificial intelligence requires coworking spaces to adapt as smart, innovative and attractive offices for entrepreneurship and project evolution. But, to what extent will the internet of things affect us?

Coworking is one of the best examples of technological growth in Spain, especially in cities like Barcelona and Madrid. The city of Barcelona has already positioned itself among cities like London or Berlin, among others, attracting investments and new companies that come to stay and opt for coworkings in Barcelona. New technology companies want to establish themselves in Barcelona and that requires infrastructures capable of covering the needs of new companies. Today, coworkings have that capacity to adapt to technological demand. The attraction of talent in these spaces is powerful and a claim for millennials.

How will IoT and 5G be implemented in Coworking?

Here is the Internet of Things. Connectivity with everything and everyone. With IoT we can connect with all kinds of devices on the Internet: automobiles, sports equipment, refrigerators and even shoes. They can store data on the number of steps, calculate routes, how many calories you have burned, etc. Imagine. A key word that is indispensable for this new era is data. Working with data with the aim of providing products that generate benefits for consumers will be key to connecting with our devices, to connecting with our home or our office. Therefore, coworking spaces have to implement and provide technological support, attract new companies, for example those businesses that work remotely.

The digitization of the physical world will connect different devices to different products with each other, in this way all will be connected and will have the peculiarity that this connectivity will exchange information. Therefore, coworking must be digitized, offering coworking spaces in Barcelona for hours will have its technological advantages, will work in remote formats and will be connected with the new ecosystem.

Considering what has been said so far, the real estate market is moving quickly to implement the IoT in buildings and achieve a great experience for the end user. Real Estate has to be a pioneer in technology. We spend a lot of time at home connected and soon we will be connected to the refrigerator, the television, the computer or the washing machine. With 5G we can know what we have inside the refrigerator, what products are close to expiring, the amount of food, etc. Years ago, what we now call the Internet of Things seemed distant and unattainable, however, technology is advancing by leaps and bounds.

IoT in buildings: Real Estate has to be a pioneer in technology. We spend a lot of time at home connected and soon we will be connected to the refrigerator, television, computer or washing machine. With 5G we can know what we have inside the refrigerator, what products are close to expiring, the amount of food, etc.

The possibility of creating alliances with other companies, establishing contacts, and moving in digital environments makes coworking a great option. In addition, more young people and marketing professionals are choosing to work in other places and be in constant motion to open up new opportunities.

Collaborative work with IoT

The corporate real estate sector has updated data that says that 47% of workers under 35 work in third-party spaces or offices. Many of the coworkings in Barcelona offer personalized spaces, with great connection and with the option of establishing working relationships with other companies or freelancers. Collaborative and remote work is gaining strength every day and many companies outsource their work to reduce costs.

Our lives are on the path to automation and the collaborative relationship between devices and humans. IoT technology is implementing these innovations through 5G to provide intelligent spaces and connect people. However, the IoT is not limited to consumer products. A useful case that is already being used in several European cities is the garbage that accumulates in the city's containers through the application of an alert system or urban centers that warn about the amount of garbage there is. With 5G we have live data.

Cybersecurity, the great challenge of IOT and Real Estate

Unfortunately, there is also concern about security, especially with so many connected devices, which makes our lives easier but vulnerable in terms of security. Imagine a hacker who can open the door of your house remotely... It is important that all these devices store large amounts of data about your location and your actions during the day to establish a coherent and familiar relationship.

The Internet of Things is growing rapidly and brings new benefits and challenges to our daily lives, so coworkers offer guarantees in the workplace: professionalism, community, and security. Opportunities for entrepreneurs are multiplying. The combination of coworking and technology makes these workspaces and continuous collaboration vital.

Therefore, the Internet of Things is betting on issues such as home automation or the smart car, solutions that are offered to people; however, IoT can become too invasive. This is where we have the responsibility to choose, and to whom and for what reason I give my data. There is the Data Protection Law, but we decide which applications and what information we provide. For example, Alexa really invades our privacy, so I am the one who decides how much intensity I want. The good thing is that these systems help us in our day to day.

Some security characteristics that could serve as a significant regulatory baseline for all geographies. These characteristics include:

• Device identification; the IoT device can be uniquely identified logically and physically.
• Device configuration, the software and firmware configuration of the IoT device can be changed.
• Data protection, the IoT device can protect the data it stores and transmits from unauthorized access and modification.

In short, the digitalization of things allows connectivity everywhere. Coworkings will be promoters of this digital transformation that will not leave anyone indifferent. These workspaces already allow you to connect information for example through the digital footprint that gives you access to buildings 24 hours a day.

You choose what to connect to and when to connect. Cybersecurity will be a highly demanded job, and security levels must be well prepared for the 5G revolution and Artificial Intelligence. In addition to Big Data, voice search and the information we give to devices will become a crucial process for the correct functioning and interaction with connected devices.

Do you want to experience this IoT revolution with us?

These work ecosystems are within this digital transformation and Aticco is already connected so that people working in coworking spaces in Barcelona can achieve their goals efficiently and intelligently. While the IoT is maturing, offices are preparing for the next revolution. Every day everything is faster, what has been implemented during these years will become obsolete, hence the need for a more advanced and qualified update to provide a state-of-the-art service.