A recent Zip Assist trial at the Facility Management Association (FMA) of Australia’s new headquarters in Docklands, Melbourne, has revealed the opportunities and possibilities of this highly advanced maintenance management system.

The FMA’s new kitchen needed instant boiling, chilled and filtered water and was selected to trial the use of Zip Assist. This WiFi connected cloud-based maintenance management system is the first of its kind, running the full range of Zip HydroTaps available, using Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

Zip’s collaborative process of co-creation, engaging with various external stakeholders, including facility managers (FMs), throughout the research and development (R&D) process, ensured it delivered a solution that was useful and solved real problems faced by its customers.

Zip’s R&D and electronics engineering is all done in-house in Australia and the technology is particularly applicable in a country like Australia where the tyranny of distance adds challenges to FMs’ jobs. Zip Assist allows FMs to meet and exceed energy efficiency and wellness standards remotely in multiple sites. In fact, connecting a HydroTap to Zip Assist allows owners and facility managers to easily and securely monitor the health and performance of single or multiple HydroTap units across multiple building or sites from any device anywhere in the world.

Performance data is collected and messages are sent to and from the HydroTap(s) via user-adjusted periodic updates to the cloud database. A user can log in (via a secure SSL link) to a cloud-based server via a web browser to check data and change settings.

The technology, housed on one easy-to-manage platform according to a hierarchy of group, building name, level, location, serial number and model number, is optimised for desktop, tablet and mobile. The technology also eliminates the need for data cables and software, thereby reducing infrastructure costs.

For the FMA trial, the HydroTap was programmed to cycle on at 7am and off at 6pm, and to be turned off over the weekends. This resulted in minimising the energy consumption required to provide boiling and chilled drinking water to employees.

Looking at a typical day’s data from FMA (in this case 20 January 2016) we know that the FMA unit dispensed 5.25 litres of chilled water and 3.39 litres of boiling water. Given there is typically only four staff in the office, it suggests that the average water intake per person is around 2.16 litres.

These figures tell us that the HydroTap is working (and that having the strategically placed Zip HydroTap delivering pure tasting instant water has encouraged hydration and wellness). Furthermore the average daily water usage since the product was installed suggests that the FMA will only need to budget for one filter change annually.

The ability to provide remote diagnostic services, and receive email alerts is an important step forward in helping facility management organisations deliver better service, faster response times ultimately helping them achieve their KPIs and build customer loyalty through excellent service delivery.

Zip Water
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