DALLAS—When it comes to the modern workplace, flexibility and versatility are at the forefront of office must-haves. Long gone are the days of businesses being bound by individualized workspaces that stifle creativity and productivity.
For example, with the increase in collaboratively designed offices, the use of desk phones and wired computers has drastically tapered off. Today's workforce prefers using personal devices over methods that keep them tethered to a desk. In the first of a two-part exclusive, Scott Willis, CEO and president of Dallas-based Zinwave, recently discussed how the demand for connectivity in the workplace impacts commercial real estate.
GlobeS.com: What is a DAS and why is it important when it comes to the commercial real estate industry? Why is DAS the best way to solve for wireless connectivity?
Willis: DAS stands for Distributed Antenna System. DAS is a wireless connectivity platform that enables reliable cellular and public safety service indoors. Most people experience spotty or inconsistent coverage indoors, but a DAS extends the coverage and gives users the ability to make calls, text and access applications. This is important for the commercial real estate industry because with our increasing dependency on connectivity, both personally and professionally, the CRE sector needs to attract and retain tenants by offering reliable connectivity in buildings. In many cases, cellular connectivity is thought to be the fourth utility. The deployment of a DAS solution is the most effective way to provide for consistently reliable, secure wireless connectivity indoors.
GlobeSt.com: Why should the CRE industry consider connectivity improvements and what impact does it have on its success?
Willis: Wireless connectivity is a crucial aspect of daily tasks within the workplace and has become a major consideration for leasing decision makers at companies across the country. This is due in part to the bring your own device/BYOD movement whereby employees use personal devices and carriers of their own choosing in the workplace. Zinwave recently conducted a study that found 41% of workers said poor indoor cell signals contributed to their stress levels, and as we know, stress kills productivity. In addition, 74% of workers said they frequently or sometimes experience poor coverage at work. Considering this, maintaining wireless connectivity is absolutely necessary for successful leasing rates and a DAS is the best way to achieve that.
GlobeSt.com: Why does the responsibility of providing a connectivity solution often fall on the building owner or manager as opposed to the carrier?
Willis: The market is pivoting to an enterprise-led in-building network investment model rather than a carrier-led investment model for commercial cellular and public safety connectivity. Now, building owners understand the need for cellular and public safety connectivity, so they are leading the charge implementing solutions. With newly available funding options like Zinwave's Cellular-as-a-Solution that takes the spend from a cap-ex model to an op-ex model, it has simplified the enterprise's and CRE's ability to implement a solution.
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Lisa Brown
Lisa Brown is an editor for the south and west regions of GlobeSt.com. She has 25-plus years of real estate experience, with a regional PR role at Grubb & Ellis and a national communications position at MMI. Brown also spent 10 years as executive director at NAIOP San Francisco Bay Area chapter, where she led the organization to achieving its first national award honors and recognition on Capitol Hill. She has written extensively on commercial real estate topics and edited numerous pieces on the subject.
