Future of work and businesses

Recently, the story of a man whose fall was detected on an Apple Watch made the rounds on social media. The hard fall triggered the watch to dial 911 which got an ambulance to his location. Also, tweeting from smart refrigerators and toasters is gradually becoming a norm and the integration of devices will soon affect every business.

Almost every aspect of our lives now generates data. Smart devices track our steps, offer recommendations on our health, and know our location at any moment providing insights that not only benefit the customer, but also the product maker.

The simple definition of the Internet of Things (IoT) is the interconnection of devices over the Internet. It allows devices to communicate with us, with applications, and with other devices, and businesses to continue operations 24/7 across all oceans and continents. It also offers businesses unprecedented opportunities for gathering data as patterns of use or behaviour that were previously hidden come to life, automating processes and developing new products or services, a phenomenon that will have major impact on businesses, even those that do not operate in the technology sector.

As the expectations of consumers begin to place new demands on businesses, businesses will need to employ smart technology and be aware of new opportunities so that they can keep up. Here are some of the ways that IoT devices will change the way that businesses operate.

1.       New business models:

When a company understands how its customers use its products, they can better fulfil their needs and improve the customer experience. Internet-connected cars, thermostats, refrigerators, and all manner of other smart things can feed usage data back to their manufacturers and operators. The IoT will help companies create new value streams for customers, institute processes that speed time to market, and respond rapidly to customer needs.

2.       Create New Consumer Demands

As consumers become more familiar with IoT technology, they will begin to demand things that they don’t currently know they want.  This leaves a lot of room open for disruption as well as opportunities for maximising the use of products and services.

3.       Cost and Downtime Reductions

Allied with other technologies, such as big data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), an emerging world of predictive maintenance and proactive operations could see both operational costs and system downtime in factories and other industrial installation slashed significantly.

4.       Improved Customer Engagement

The same technology that allows consumers to connect to smart devices in the home will allow businesses to monitor those devices as well as being notified when home appliances need repairing or replacing.

5.       Efficient, Intelligent Operations: 

Access to information from many points will allow organizations to make on-the-fly, more accurate decisions on pricing, logistics, sales, and support deployment, etc.

6.       New Business Models

The IoT will allow more organisations move away from conventional business models. Few products were originally designed to be connected, but the IoT can add new value to them, and help improve their future design via the reams of data gathered about their real-world usage. The IoT can help companies create entirely new services and new revenue streams on top of traditional products.

7.       Working Remotely

The IoT is likely to increase the number of people working from home because with IoT technology, you don’t have to be physically present at the venue to handle work. With access to multiple devices in the office and on the factory floor, many more tasks will be able to be completed remotely. The IoT could change the face of work and work processes to work smarter.

8.       More powerful wearables

Wearables could be more powerful and provide alternatives to the smartphone for engaging with the virtual world. These wearables, like the Apple Watch, could be equipped with new, powerful features that make the virtual world and reality blend into one stream of information.

Ultimately, smart devices will increase productivity in all types of businesses. The enhanced data analyses will streamline many tasks, will provide more intelligent data and automation, and will change consumer expectations. When combined with other emerging technology, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and the next generation of applications that address specific business needs, businesses can unlock previously untapped revenue, gain new competitive advantages, create new training methods, and produce higher quality products and services. By planning for the future and understanding technology's role in future innovations, you can keep your business one step ahead of competitors.

Housing system in Nigeria

*NIGERIA'S HOUSING 'THE WORST IN THE WORLD'*

A recent research study has shown that about 70% of Nigeria's population lives in poor settlements which lack basic amenities.*

Nigeria is facing a housing crisis, with conditions among the worst in the world, the UN has warned.

More than two thirds of Nigerians are living in poor settlements with a lack of basic amenities, the UN's housing rapporteur, Leilani Farha, said.

She is quoted by the Reuters news agency as telling journalists in the capital, Abuja, at the end of her 10-day visit to investigate the housing situation in the country's cities:

_Nigeria's housing sector is in a complete crisis. Existing programmes will hardly make even a small dent in addressing the ever-growing housing need._

*"Informal settlements are ballooning where conditions are inhumane and perhaps the most severe I have seen worldwide."*

She said some settlements lacked access to portable water, toilets and rubbish disposal – and many were exposed to the health problems because of the dangers of stagnant water where bacteria breeds.

The population of Nigeria - already the biggest in Africa - is expected to double to four hundred million by the middle of the century.

The West African nation already lacks more than 22 million houses for its citizens.

An insurgency in the north-east has forced two million people from their homes, causing further strain.

Ms Farha warned that corrupt money flowing into the housing sector had led to a boom in the building of luxury homes, beyond the reach of the vast majority of Nigerians.

She also criticised poor housing policies and the use of force by states and developers to evict communities, which mainly affected women and children.

The UN rapporteur is quoted as saying in her preliminary recommendations:

*A national-level moratorium on forced evictions should be declared by the federal government, until adequate legal and procedural safeguards are in place to ensure that all evictions are compliant with international human rights law."

How to build a house at reduced cost

One of the three major human needs is a shelter which can be in any form so far it provides adequate security. Erection of any structure can get expensive without controlling the cost. There is therefore a need to put the cost into a regular check from inception stage to completion. Below are some of the things to consider in building at a reduced cost.

1. PLANNING

Like it is generally said; if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. The planning of any building construction must be realistic enough to consider all the costs of construction. Planning for the construction of your building provides you with the basic information you need to control the costs and deliver the project within the budget. Time they say, is money!

Therefore the more time you spend on planning, the less money you spend on the project.

    2. INVOLVE PROFESSIONALS FROM INCEPTION TO COMPLETION

Yes, you heard that right! There are key professionals in the construction industry whose services can be engaged as far as construction of a building is concerned. There are projects where only a few of these professionals needs to be engaged and there are complex projects where all of them would be engaged depending on the size and nature of the building.

Some of these professionals are:

• Architect: He translates your vision into physical designs and can help you manage the actualization of your dream through designs and supervision of works.
• Structural Engineer: He ensures that the architect’s design is achieved through his structural advises and designs. He makes sure the building is designed to withstand both its own loads and super-imposed loads. He’s mostly concerned about how the building will stand the test of time and not collapse. He is like a muscle builder for a building.

• Quantity Surveyor: This is the financial expert on construction projects otherwise known as the financial manager, the cost accountant, the cost engineer, estimator, and constructioneconomist among other names. He translates the designs (from the Architect, Structural engineer, services engineer etc.) into cost by a way of generating the quantities of materials required, estimating the cost of the items and preparing a bill of quantities to represent the entire cost of a project. Among other services, He also prepares the budget for the project to ensure every money spent is monitored and properly managed.
• Services Engineer: This is the professional responsible for the designs of mechanical and electrical fittings in the building e.g. plumbing works and accessories, electrical works and accessories, transportation systems etc. As we all know every building requires adequate amount of toilets and electricity for the occupants to make life enjoyable, this professional helps you, depending on your budget, to achieve the best value for your money.
• Builder: This is the professional responsible for the actual erection of the building on site. He transforms the designs from the architect, structural engineers, services engineers etc. to physical structure(s) unlike some quacks who work without any guiding principle and this has led to a lot of abandonment of projects, due to too much waste of money and materials, and also building collapse.
• Project Manager: This is a trained professional that is sometimes appointed separately by the client, to lead the construction team in adequate management of the project costs, time and quality in accordance to the approved program of works – a special detailed document showing every activity of the project from mobilization to completion.

“…the project is not big, why should I hire a professional?” This is a common question in any society among those who lack the understanding of involving professionals in the construction industry. But ignorance is more expensive than professional fees. You can be rest assured of this fact.

     3. DESIGN TO A COST

Except you are exceptionally rich, one approach to cost management is to have an affordable cost in mind before embarking on a journey of construction. You may have told the architect so many things you want during your brief, but it is also a good practice to inform him about your financial limit on the project. This will save him some time on unnecessary complex designs.

This also helps him to involve a quantity surveyor immediately for a cost advice on the designs. If peradventure, the ‘now-simple’ design still exceeds the financial limit of the client, he can then decide on what to do either by sourcing for more funds or to reduce the quality of materials. Now, reducing the quality of materials does not mean jeopardizing approved standards. For example, where marble tiles were approved, it can be changed to quality vitrified tiles, where Gerard roofing tiles has been designed for use, it can be changed to quality aluminum roof covering etc. But regardless of any tweaking of the design, the purpose of construction must not be compromised. For example, you cannot because of lack of fund, remove wall tilingin baths and exchange it for cement mortar screed. In a bathroom? NO!

  4. AVOID ‘additional-cost’ VARIATION ORDERS

I believe you are aware that not all variations necessitate additional cost, in fact there are variation orders that can reduce costs to a reasonable extent. But during the construction, try to avoid making changes that can increase the cost of construction. Remember there is a cost in mind. Your professionals are there to help you achieve your dreams within budget.

    5. HIRE A COMPETENT CONTRACTOR

Another way to achieve your dream when constructing a building is to hire a competent contractor. Either by inviting some experienced contractors to bid for the project or by recommendation through known sources. They will also use their experience to work faster and deliver within the time frame given and within the budget.

CONCLUSION

Construction of buildings at a reduced costs is not limited to the above suggested steps, but they are the basic steps that if followed, a dream can be achieved as far as construction is concerned.

Thank you.

FG- agitation might lead to extended project completion date.

Federal Controller of Works in charge of Anambra State, Adeyemo Ajani, has disclosed that agitations by host communities may affect completion of the Second Niger Bridge  on scheduled time. 

Ajani called on government and other stakeholders to quickly intervene and resolve the disagreement between the communities and contractors so that work can continue.

The federal controller, who spoke to newsmen in his office in Awka, yesterday, confirmed that work has stopped at the site because of some demands being made by the communities and workers.

Few days ago, the workers and host communities of the ongoing Second Niger Bridge project in Anambra and Delta states shut down the Julius Berger yard office at bridgehead, Onitsha, the Anambra State capital.

The protesters said they were marching against non-compliance to agreements with the host communities in regards to compensation, employment of ad hoc staff, skilled and unskilled staff as well as supplies.

Leader of the protesters and host communities Liaison Officer (CLO), Peter Okafor, also demanded the sack of the Project Director of the construction firm, Julius Berger, Friedrich Josef Wiser, over alleged highhandedness and neglect of the plight of the host communities.

They demanded that the project manager should give them their dues, which they allegedly put at N500 million.

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Innovative prowess

In an era of water scarcity in some regions,water flooding in some other regions, and climate change, there is need for technological innovations to help save our planet and make life easy for everyone. One of the leading Masters of innovations in technology has developed another wonderful masterpiece. A water closet with an attached wash hand sink.
There have been calls in recent times by the world health organisation's and non-government organisations for the need to construct buildings, infrastructures that are eco-friendly without jeopardizing the basic requirements of the buildings, which are sanitation, health and safety.
Following Bill gates mobile water closet, Japan has come up with another wonderful one. See pics below......