Johnson Controls strives to promote its broad portfolio at GSX 2021

The mantra at Johnson Controls these days is how do we create a world that’s “safe, comfortable, and sustainable?” In a current world of pandemics and social conflict, the JCI vision is steeped in a multitude of innovative security products and services that focus on solutions that will make its clients, their facilities and their assets safer. This week at GSX 2021 in Orlando, it is this integration-friendly portfolio of building security solutions that JCI will have on display that transcend its basic access control and video surveillance technologies.

According to Greg Parker, senior director of product management and business development for JCI, the emphasis at GSX 2021 is all about how Johnson Controls is able to transform an organization’s business environment – both inside buildings and beyond, by applying data intelligence to help manage operations and security systemically. Through its OpenBlue and Cloudvue platforms, business and security operations become a seamless and proactive solution that improves organizational efficiency.

“There are going to be some things there that traditionally you might not have seen from Johnson Controls before, so we are really excited to be showing some of our leading-edge technology as well as our global product efforts with Tyco,” says Parker, noting that the OpenBlue suite and the intelligent Cloudvue tool mirror JCI’s commitment to smart, efficient and sustainable building solutions.

The Pandemic Game-Changer

Parker admits that he considers security and safety as building operations priorities, however, over the last 20 months, they have become even more intertwined. He and his team understand that the dynamics of what being safe means are ever-evolving.

“From your traditional security perspective, you may ask, do we have video surveillance? Do we have access control? Do we have those more traditional alarm-type systems and such? But the dynamics of how they all work, and report continue to evolve and change. We must continue to consider the health and the comfort of the user as we map out new security solutions,” urges Parker, adding that the landscape is different now than it might have been this time in 2019. “The needs have progressed a bit faster than if you go back before the previous 20 months. Not only the virus and the health aspects but the cyber aspect of it as well. The bad guys didn't go on pause. And I think that it opened up the door for them to say, ‘how can we exploit the fact that there are health and security opportunities for us to expose.’ When we think of that, and some of the other factors like the work from home scenario, that have dramatically changed things.”

He adds that building and facility managers and their security partners began to think differently about access control. Instead of simple access control functionality, it was now necessary to understand what was happening in the building. Where were the people in the building and were they properly spaced? Do I know how many people have left the building as opposed to just the number of people that entered in the case of a mustering emergency? And while the migration to home offices created security concerns as well, it also offered harried security staff to ramp up to the eventual return to normalcy.

How Can AI Help?

“When you start thinking about location management and people tracking, then you begin to open your mind to some new things that would be mitigation solutions if something bad happens. You need to have sequencing of operations, which is a key element. If something were to happen, you want these technologies integrated in such a way to where we can provide the fastest response and protect people -- whether that's from a health concern or physical security concern, or whatever it may be. If it's from a health concern, can we identify where those locations are so that we can minimize exposure? If it is a (physical) security threat, how can we ensure a quick and proper response? Users need a cohesive approach across the spectrum,” Parker says.

The OpenBlue suite that JCI will be showcasing at GSX is a solution that addresses these issues. It features a suite of tailored, AI-powered service solutions such as remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance, compliance monitoring, advanced risk assessments, among other functionality that can serve many different industries: workplaces, hospitals, schools, campuses, stadiums, enterprises and smaller facilities. OpenBlue is also a platform that may help ease the complexities of reopening facilities as the COVID-19 challenges continue to manifest. In addition, it champions the JCI mandate for sustainable solutions as the OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings initiative can provide a realistic path to achieve decarbonization and renewable energy goals while optimizing building performance.

Security as a Service

While creating a smarter, more efficient facility has been a traditional JCI strongpoint, coordinating its growing array of managed security services with building intelligence is a win-win for both end-users and systems integrators. From managed access control and video surveillance to mobile security management and unified communications, JCI has advanced its cloud-based platform to help decrease the cost and complexity of video surveillance systems and increase the security and convenience of its cloud-based access control.