Why accurate infrastructure measurements benefit SMEs
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Buildings, roads, bridges, utilities, networks, transportation, and logistics are all infrastructure elements that support our way of living. Due to their presence and good maintenance, you can run a small delivery business from home or open a pizza shop in the city centre.
Infrastructure makes life more convenient in cities or rural areas. Thanks to high-speed telecommunications, paved roads, and power lines, we can all enjoy a comfortable evening with the family 20 miles from our place of business and be back at work on time in the morning.
However, from a business perspective, infrastructure is also a wonderful source of data. When you decide on a location (for instance), you need accurate data on foot traffic in the area, safety, and capacity for scalability. All this data is available through measurements.
In short, infrastructure measurements offer quantifiable metrics that allow you to assess the performance, capacity, and condition of an area or a building.
Types of infrastructure measurements that impact your business
Data produced by infrastructure comes from these four main types of infrastructure:
- Physical (buildings, utilities, power grids, water supply facilities)
- IT (servers, data centres, public networks, power and cooling systems)
- Transportation and logistics (road, rail, air, warehouses, fulfilment centres)
- Environmental & smart city (waste management, recycling facilities, air and water monitoring networks)
All these elements must be kept under constant observation and measured to assess performance, ensure reliability, and optimize operations. For this, authorities use a combination of advanced hardware, software, and data analytics, from smart sensors to drones to Big Data analytics.
Based on the data they collect, authorities know when to make repairs or invest in new elements. Businesses benefit as well. Anyone, from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large corporations, can use this data to optimize their operations and adjust to on-site reality.
In fact, SMEs are the ones that benefit the most.
How to use infrastructure measurements to your advantage
Data is a powerful tool nowadays if you know how to use it. In the case of infrastructure measurements, small businesses have a lot to gain.
First and foremost, reliable infrastructure ensures your business runs smoothly, which is always a win. Additionally, the data generated by these measurements can help you optimize sales and transport routes almost in real time.
A data-driven strategy allows you to keep competitive prices and gain a better market margin, even when your competitors are major brands with better budgets.
If you still can’t envision yourself using infrastructure measurements to your business’s benefit, here are a few scenarios that may clear the fog:
A new brick-and-mortar retail store
As a small business, you do not have the budget to invest in a detailed analysis of footfall and accessibility in the area where you plan to open a brick-and-mortar retail store. Luckily, you can tap into the infrastructure measurements database and save yourself a hefty expense.
Once your store is up and running, use the data from local energy consumption monitoring to identify inefficiencies in electricity, water, and HVAC usage. This helps you save on energy bills, which are usually a business’s biggest expense after rent.
A roofing company
SMEs also can use these measurements to make their job easier.
Let’s take a roofing company as an example. Even though their specialists know how to measure the size of a gutter, they still need additional information to estimate materials and costs.
This is where they can use satellite imaging and existing infrastructure measurements (like street length, the distance between energy poles, or humidity/rain statistics in the area) to get an idea of the project’s entire structure and requirements.
A sustainable and eco-friendly business
Customers like to support brands that care about the environment, so it’s a great way to start a new endeavour. However, you want to make sure you have enough reliable green energy in the area to run operations at full capacity.
It’s also a good idea to check the efficiency of the waste management system and whether there are any recycling centres nearby.
All this data and more should be readily available from infrastructure measurements. A quick peak will give you a pretty good idea of the authorities’ commitment to implementing sustainable energies and green practices in the area.
In summary
Infrastructure measurements help SMBs improve efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure safety by providing accurate data on assets, performance, and risks. They support better decision-making, predictive maintenance, and compliance with regulations.