A world first – Zip installs its first ever Zip Assist cloud-managed water system in live office environment
Published
The launch of Zip’s newest innovation, Zip Assist, marks a new generation approach to water and facility management. By Daniel Cuthbert, Zip Water Commercial Marketing and Training Manager
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
zipwater.com
Related Articles
Articles
Creating synergies of form, hue and space
When considered from the perspective of the human experience, a chair is not merely an object. It is a human vantage point within a space, it is the focal point for energies and activities, and it is a visual anchor that guides activities and emotions.
Articles
Injecting identity into adaptable workplaces: the brand harnessing the visual treasure trove of cross-sector design culture
The magnetic pull of certain spaces comes down to how seamlessly they work and, more importantly, how they feel. Recognising this, Kettal Workplace draws on the uplifting codes of other sectors to deliver contemporary workplace design.
Articles
What Nikari reveals about Finnish design and its love of wood
KFive Furniture and Finnish design brand, Nikari, invite us into a world of Finnish folklore and exquisite woodworking traditions. As we step through this moody, magical forest of culture and contemporary design, we discover what makes Finnish design distinct from its Scandinavian counterparts.
Articles
The brand spotlighting furnishings crafted with purpose and the skilled design minds behind them
A wander around a BACHLI showroom reveals a tapestry of captivating furniture designs, curated precisely and craft-led. Thanks to its longstanding partnerships with iconic designers, BACHLI has become a go-to for discovering the most exciting established and emerging Australian and international brands. Initially based in Melbourne, BACHLI have recently expanded into Sydney with their Surry Hills showroom, increasing their presence and opening their invitation to the design-savvy and curious nationwide.