Today, Siemens Smart Infrastructure announced a collaboration agreement with  Microsoft to transform access to Internet of Things (IoT) data for buildings. The  collaboration will enable interoperability between Siemens’ digital building platform,  Building X, and Microsoft Azure IoT Operations enabled by Azure Arc. Azure IoT  Operations, a component of this adaptive cloud approach, provides tools and infrastructure to connect edge devices while integrating data, enabling organizations to optimize their operations and utilize the potential of their IoT environments.    The interoperability of Building X and Azure IoT Operations is making IoT-based  data more accessible for large enterprise customers across commercial buildings,  data centers, and higher education facilities and provides them with the necessary  information to enhance sustainability and operations. It enables automatic  onboarding and monitoring by bringing datapoints such as temperature, pressure, or indoor air quality to the cloud, for assets like heating, ventilation and air conditioning  (HVAC) systems, valves, and actuators. The solution will even allow customers to  develop their own in-house use cases such as energy monitoring and space  optimization.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Reds10, a leader in industrialised construction, has unveiled a new senior leadership structure to drive the next phase of its ambitious growth strategy, targeting £500m in turnover and accelerating the integration of advanced technologies across the business. At the heart of this evolution is the promotion of three senior leaders, Phil Cook, Joe Shepherd and Ryan Geldard to Managing Directors of their respective divisions. Together they will lead the delivery of Reds10’s strategy to revolutionise construction across Defence, Public Sector and Offsite Manufacture. They will be supported by a strong and experienced leadership team. Scott Laird takes on the newly created role of AI & Technical Director, while Uthira Balachandar continues in her role as Design Director. David Newey and James Bateman remain in their positions as Construction Directors, and Stephanie Mehra continues as Finance Director. This blend of newly promoted and established leaders will drive Reds10’s mission to industrialise construction, embed AI across its operations, and deliver exceptional value to clients. As part of the changes, Chief Executive Matt Bennion will assume a new role at Reds10’s sister company, Thrive-AI after six years in his current role. Matt will focus on accelerating growth at the smart building technology business. Thrive-AI applies machine learning to help clients operate their buildings more efficiently, improve user experience, reduce energy consumption, save money, eliminate redundancy in design and optimise the lifespan of critical assets. Founder and Chairman, Paul Ruddick will assume day to day leadership of the Reds10 business, working closely with the leadership team to scale operations and deepen Reds10’s technological capabilities. Paul Ruddick, Reds10 Founder and Chairman said: ““Following four years of strong growth, we are moving to the next phase of our strategy focused on advancing technologies to fully industrialise our design, production and construction processes and integrate AI across the business. As part of our plan, Matt Bennion is taking on the leadership of Thrive-AI to accelerate its development and growth, while a new generation of leaders takes the helm at Reds10. We thank Matt for his outstanding contribution to date, and we are excited to move forward on our mission to modernise construction, driving up productivity, quality, and sustainability and delivering exceptional value to clients.” Matt Bennion, Reds10 Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted to be able to hand the baton on to the new leadership team.It has been a huge privilege to have worked with them and led such a talented Reds10 team over the past six years. These promotions put Reds10 on a firm footing for the next stage of its development and allow me to hand over my CEO responsibilities, safe in the knowledge that the business will continue to go from strength to strength. I’m excited to be spending more time developing and growing our sister company Thrive-AI, our intelligent building platform that puts end users, operators and asset owners in control of their building, carbon footprint and operating costs. It’s a great business and gives Thrive-AI and Reds10 the opportunity to transform the use and operation of buildings for our customers.” The changes come after Reds10 announced its fourth consecutive year of growth for the year ended 31 March 2024, with revenue rising by 70% YoY to £142.5m. Reds10 designs and builds high-quality sustainable buildings for the public sector, with a particular focus on defence, education, health, justice, accommodation and social housing.   The business has a secured pipeline of over £300m of work and turnover is forecast to rise to £160m in the current financial year. Most recently, Reds10 was named by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) as one of five construction companies appointed to a new alliance to build Single Living Accommodation (SLA) for the Armed Forces.  Reds10 has set out an ambitious plan to grow its revenue and is targeting an expansion into the healthcare sector, as well as the affordable housing and temporary accommodation sectors, providing high quality sustainable homes for local authorities to help them tackle the housing crisis in their communities. Reds10 manufactures all its buildings off-site and its advancing construction facility in Driffield, East Yorkshire, where it has five factories totalling 300,000 sq ft with the current capacity to produce 4,000 units per year. Following a process of industrialisation this capacity will increase to production of 12,000 units per year.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Builders’ merchants and construction suppliers are accelerating investment in AI, as they seek to modernise operations and stay competitive, according to new research. The study by eCommerce agency PushON, found that nearly half of businesses in the sector (49%) now see the rise of AI and automation as the most significant trend shaping their digital strategies, ahead of platform upgrades and product information management. Partnering with an Amazon full service agency like beBOLD Digital can help brands capitalize on these trends by offering tailored automation, data-driven insights, and end-to-end support across the Amazon marketplace. The report, Building the Future: The Evolution of Construction eCommerce, reveals a sharp uptick in the use of AI to drive personalisation, forecasting and customer experience improvements. Nearly two-thirds of firms surveyed said they were already using AI to offer personalised recommendations to customers, with plans to expand further. Inventory forecasting and stock management are also undergoing transformation, with 40% of companies deploying AI to better predict demand and optimise supply chains. AI’s impact extends into customer service and marketing operations. Almost half of businesses (48%) report using AI chatbots to enhance responsiveness and support, while 46% are automating their marketing efforts to streamline operations. Enhanced site search functionality, using AI to better match customer queries with relevant products, has also emerged as a key investment area, with 49% of businesses investing in smarter search tools to drive better online engagement and conversion rates. Sam Rutley, managing director of PushON, said: “Our research shows that AI adoption is accelerating rapidly in the construction supply sector and is reshaping the future of digital commerce. Builders’ merchants and suppliers that embrace these technologies now will be better positioned to meet changing customer expectations and drive future growth, while those who delay risk falling behind.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The partnership will enhance urban connectivity across three major cities in the UK this year, with Oxford as the first city of deployment, enabled by Dense Air’s neutral host platform Signify, the world leader in lighting, has partnered with Cornerstone, the UK’s leading mobile infrastructure services company, and Dense Air, a leading neutral host platform-as-a-service provider, to transform street lighting infrastructure into a platform of scalable multi-operator connectivity. This first-of-its-kind partnership will launch in Oxford, creating a shared network for mobile operators that leverage existing light points to seamlessly expand wireless coverage and capacity, enabling instant connectivity in dense urban areas. Using street lighting, Signify’s BrightSites solution provides connectivity for 4G and 5G, IoT applications such as CCTV cameras, Internet services via Wi-Fi, and other high bandwidth applications, eliminating the need for additional infrastructure and resetting the economic model on how mobile operators deliver service.  Dense Air’s multi-operator cellShare® platform enables Cornerstone to provide neutral host services to UK mobile network operators, adhering to Joint Operator Technical Specifications (JOTS). The technology optimizes network capacity by leveraging small cell technology specifically designed for public spaces. Khalid Aziz, SVP and Managing Director of BrightSites by Signify: “By harnessing the power of 5G and IoT through our lighting technology, we not only illuminate streets but also pave the way for a more connected and sustainable future. In partnership with Cornerstone and Dense Air, Signify will enable our partners to tap into existing lighting infrastructure as a wireless network, bringing a new era of smart city solutions.” Martin Reeves, Chief Executive of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “These new small cells offer an excellent connectivity solution, and it’s exciting to see a sustainable option that works in both urban and rural areas. Enhanced digital infrastructure supports the council’s strategic objectives by providing environmental, economic, and social benefits. Small cells, being only the size of a shoebox, minimise street clutter and seamlessly integrate into our surroundings.” Miranda van Gestel, Chief Customer Officer at Cornerstone: “At Cornerstone, we are leading the way in transforming the UK’s digital landscape with innovative solutions such as our Small Cell Coverage Solution. By integrating state-of-the-art technology into existing infrastructure, we’re not only addressing the growing demand for seamless connectivity but also empowering local authorities, MNOs, and communities to thrive in the digital age. Our approach ensures faster, more sustainable deployments that enhance everyday life, drive economic growth, and set the standard for smart city innovation.” As the world leader in lighting, Signify is well-placed to transform existing light points into city-wide wireless network grids, enabling seamless connectivity at scale. Starting in Oxford, the project will later deploy across three major cities in 2025, setting the foundation for future expansion and innovation across the UK in the field of smart city infrastructure. Learn more about BrightSites by Signify at https://www.signify.com/global/innovation/brightsites. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Taylor Woodrow, building on its long civil engineering heritage, is pioneering artificial intelligence technology in the plant sector following a full site-based trial of the UK’s first autonomous excavators. At the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in Sheffield a dedicated demonstration site was set up so that the Taylor Woodrow innovation team and its partners Gravis Robotics could put the intelligent machine through its paces. The autonomous excavator successfully passed a series of exercises including autonomous excavation to various depths in differing ground conditions, real-time LiDAR capture of the excavation, emergency safe stop as well as autonomous manoeuvring. The project was overseen and verified by experienced site managers, engineers and machine operators treating it as a real project. All the excavation tasks were taken from a real, upcoming scheme to robustly evaluate how it would perform if deployed there, and it worked! This trial was about more than just an excavator without an operator in the cab. This is about supporting the development of physical AI, the new technologies that will allow Taylor Woodrow to transform how physical work is done. Increasing inclusivity, productivity, safety, and accuracy whilst reducing environmental impact and waste. Taylor Woodrow is proud to have helped Gravis Robotics conduct early testing, helping to shape the v2 solution that was demonstrated at Bauma with a number of their partners and where attendees saw a video of the trial at the AMRC that showed how the Anywhere Autonomy approach developed by Gravis provides in-cabin copilot and remote autonomy. The next step is for the SV100-7 to go live at Taylor Woodrow’s project at Manchester Airport. Phil Skegg, managing director of Taylor Woodrow said: “Over the last 10 years our industry safety record has not improved, and our productivity has declined. As an industry around 20% of the cost of what we build can be attributed to not getting it right first time (GIRI). We believe that increasing the mechanisation and automation of the tasks we undertake on site will help address these problems, removing people from danger, being more productive and improving quality of workmanship. Computer controlled machines could be the way forward and as an industry leader we want to be an early adopter and trial what is available. This is an exciting first step made possible by our partnership with Gravis Robotics supported by Yanmar Construction Equipment and AMRC.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals