Colorado Real Estate Journal - January 2016
Modern office space has evolved to accommodate changing requirements in technology. Companies of any size and in all industries are using this technology to grow revenue and improve efficiency. Whether they use digital signage to drive employee engagement, cloud computing to adapt to new trends or state-of-the-art unified communications to better serve their customers, companies are looking at buildings that have the right infrastructure to serve their customers. Property managers need to understand what their tenants want, why they want it and how managers can help meet the tech requirements. When it comes to Internet speed, faster is better. With the growth of Internet traffic, including voice over Internet Protocol and cloud computing, demand for bandwidth is increasing exponentially every year. It is important for the property manager to know the available provider’s Internet speeds and the difference between digital subscriber line, coaxial, wireless and fiber. Following are eight questions every property manager should know how to answer.
Does the building already have fiber connectivity? Fiber connectivity provides almost unlimited bandwidth potential for customers. Knowing that a building is equipped with fiber will appeal to the majority of clients and is a requirement for those who currently use the Internet to drive their company’s growth. Does the building have redundant and diverse carrier entry? Today, most businesses depend on disaster recovery and business continuity to operate 24/7. For new and prospective clients, the ability to stay operational if a line is cut can mean the difference between renting a space and going elsewhere. Property managers should know where the fiber entrance is and if there is a conduit to bring in a second carrier, preferably on the building’s opposite side. What providers are available in the building? Customers want options. With multiple provider options - CenturyLink, Comcast, AT&T, MHO and Zayo, for example, tenants will have access to choose the best price and bandwidth available. For most buildings, a minimum of two providers is essential and at least four is recommended. Understand what providers are available and which services they offer. In some cases, many providers will even pay a fee to provide service to your building. Does the building allow new providers? When moving locations, companies sometimes are still under contract with a provider and are required to move the service to avoid cancellation fees. Prospective tenants will want to know beforehand if the building will allow new providers or will continue only with existing vendors. Does the building have a standard entrance agreement? When allowing new providers into the building, prepare a standard entrance agreement. This can reduce or eliminate delays and allow early client access to a space when bringing new providers into a building. Who manages the riser system in the building? The riser system distributes the provider services from the main demarcation room to the rest of the building. There are advantages and disadvantages to using a riser management company versus managing it yourself. Understand that the riser system is the backbone to the technology of your building and a clean, organized riser and demarcation room shows tenants that property managers understand technology needs and are equipped for the future. Is the space equipped with wireless access points? Many businesses prefer buildings with strong Wi-Fi capability; the better to serve their customers. Wi-Fi access throughout buildings has become a strong customer preference for many tenants. If your building does not have dedicated Wi-Fi access points throughout the building, consider adding them in the main lobby of each floor to allow customers of tenants to stay connected, providing a better overall experience. Does the building use distributed antenna systems? End users grow frustrated quickly with poor cell phone coverage and properties without strong cell coverage may discourage customers from returning. A DAS boosts coverage and is an important option for many clients. You can work with a DAS provider to keep your tenants connected and happy. In order to achieve and understand all of these requests, it is wise to partner with a technology adviser. Understanding your building and the technology available will help ensure prospective and present tenant satisfaction. However, poor or mistaken information can lead to broken leases and lawsuits. By partnering with a trusted technology adviser, you avoid related legal problems, position your property to showcase its high-tech advantages and meet your client’s business needs.