Every person counts: How IoT occupancy counting can support your facility
09 April 2025
The news is littered with stories of big-name employers U-turning on remote work, from JPMorgan to Manchester United. It’s one thing mandating a return to the office, but unless businesses understand how their buildings are being used, they risk high operational costs and noncompliance with capacity regulations. Here, Claire Robinson, Sales Director at IAconnects, explains how occupancy tracking can help.
Last year, many large companies announced strict return-to-office policies, and we’ll likely see more firms ending their remote and hybrid working arrangements in 2025. For example, a KPMG survey found 83 percent of CEOs expect a full return to office in the next three years.
While some organisations have already adopted strict in-office policies, others are experimenting with hybrid models. Regardless of approach, one common challenge remains – ensuring office spaces are utilised efficiently, safely and cost-effectively.
One solution is occupancy and people counting. This involves measuring the number of individuals entering and exiting a specific area using advanced sensors and analytics. This technology provides accurate, real-time data on foot traffic and occupancy levels in facilities ranging from retail stores to offices and public buildings.
Out with the old
Traditionally, occupancy tracking was manual. We all have vivid images of the dreaded clock-in cards, sign-in sheets and headcounts. These are all prone to human error, relying on outdated data and often lacking real-time visibility. What’s more, the technology that did exist was highly flawed. For example, legacy motion sensors struggled to differentiate between multiple people in the same area or detect stationary individuals.
Today, more solutions include IoT sensors that use thermal, passive infrared (PIR), ultrasonic and LiDAR radar to detect movement and count people. Other options include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth tracking, which uses mobile devices to detect occupancy trends without requiring manual check-ins, and turnstiles and badge systems for access-restricted areas.
The benefits of monitoring
Often, businesses treat occupancy tracking as an afterthought when it should be central to their strategic planning. Effective monitoring can help them optimise space utilisation, reduce costs and enhance the overall employee experience. By tracking how office spaces are used, businesses can ensure that workstations, meeting rooms and common areas are allocated efficiently. This prevents overcrowding while avoiding waste in utilised areas — heating, air conditioning and the like.
Understandably, some staff may feel that monitoring is over-policing. Therefore, it’s important to reassure staff of the technology’s purpose and privacy-protecting measures, such as collecting data anonymously and not capturing personal details.
With many companies reconsidering their office footprints, monitoring provides the data needed to make informed decisions. Those actively tracking occupancy trends can adapt to changing workforce patterns, ensuring they provide the right mix of collaborative and individual workspaces.
Real estate and operational costs are among the largest expenses for businesses, and organisations that track occupancy levels can make strategic decisions about lease renewals, energy consumption and facility management. Meeting rooms can be booked more efficiently, and lighting and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems can be adjusted to reduce waste.
Improving indoor air quality
Workplace monitoring is key for maintaining high indoor air quality (IAQ), which directly impacts employee health and productivity. By tracking real-time occupancy levels, businesses can adjust ventilation rates to ensure fresh air is supplied where and when it is needed most.
By integrating monitoring systems with HVAC control, businesses can optimise air quality while reducing energy waste. When occupancy is low, ventilation can be scaled back to conserve energy, while peak usage times trigger increased airflow to maintain optimal conditions. This balance not only enhances employee well-being but also contributes to sustainability efforts by reducing carbon emissions.
Case study
A UK University required a system to monitor people traffic across two campuses, integrating this data with their Power BI platform. The focus was on identifying high and low-usage areas for efficient space management, including bathroom cleaning schedules. This need became more pronounced with the inclusion of CO2 and air quality monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Problem
The University’s Facilities Management (FM) team lacked a mechanism to track people flow and air quality in common areas, causing issues in space management and regularity of bathroom cleaning.
The pandemic escalated the need for precise monitoring of CO2 levels and reduced people traffic to keep the facilities operational and safe.
Software and hardware
• IA-SEE IoT Edge Gateway: Central component for local data processing, providing a secure and efficient way to handle data from sensors
• EnOcean Connector: Facilitates seamless integration of wireless sensors with the IoT gateway
• IA-SEE Cloud: Cloud-based platform for data aggregation and advanced analysis
• PoE People Counters: Used to count individuals in common areas, vital for understanding space utilisation
• Wi-Fi Indoor Air Quality Monitors: Monitors air quality parameters including CO2 levels, essential during the pandemic
• 2.2” Smart Display Screens: Provides real-time information on space availability and cleaning schedules
• EnOcean Magnetic Door Contacts: Tracks usage of accessible bathrooms, improving facility management
• Power BI Platform: For visualisation, in-depth analysis, and reporting of the collected data, aiding in strategic decision-making
Solution
IAconnects developed a comprehensive solution comprising PoE people counters, smart display screens for bathrooms, and indoor air quality monitors. This multi-protocol approach, integrated with the university’s Power BI platform via IAconnects software, facilitated real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making.
The solution empowered the university with real-time insights into people traffic and air quality. This led to efficient space utilisation, timely cleaning schedules, and enhanced safety during the pandemic. Continuous data processing and analysis via Power BI supported strategic facilities management.
In summary
2024 was the year of the return to the office, and this will likely continue into 2025. For those who are returning, it’s important to consider occupancy and make this part of their strategic planning.
Businesses now have a wide range of technologies and solutions that can support the implementation of return-to-office policies and ensure the best use of office space for their employees.