iOpt, which provides remote access monitoring services to social housing providers, has been shortlisted for the IoT Global Awards 2020.
One of just six companies shortlisted, iOpt is the only Scottish headquartered company to feature in the Smart Cities, Government and Utilities category. They will compete against firms from California, Melbourne and Paris, including industry giant Thales Group.
The Glasgow-based company, which provides remote access monitoring services to the operators of large-scale housing stock, has won acclaim for a £1m deal with Renfrewshire Council to install their real time asset monitors in up to 2,400 homes.
Supported by the Scottish Government, the partnership is believed to be the first of its kind in Europe and, alongside their ongoing work across the UK, is the basis for iOpt’s inclusion on the shortlist for the Smart Cities, Government and Utilities category.
To date, studies have shown savings of approximately £190 a year per property and Managing Director Dane Ralston is hopeful that their inclusion in the global shortlist will spark a conversation about how the public sector can gain huge benefits through embracing the innovative use of IoT.
Dane Ralston (pictured above), Managing Director of iOpt said: “Being recognised alongside some of the leading players in the IoT sector globally is a real feat for us, and something we are incredibly proud of. We believe that IoT can unlock huge benefits, particularly in the UK’s social housing sector.
“With COVID-19 far from behind us, we believe that there is huge value in the services we provide. Tenants are rightly concerned about unnecessary visits to their property while housing providers are naturally concerned about the overall economic impact of COVID-19. Our technology removes the requirement for unnecessary visits and the cost savings, combined with the ability to foresee any potential issues, is of enormous benefit to large-scale housing providers.
“We know that economic difficulties hit ordinary people in pocket and that there’s a real risk of fuel poverty taking hold in these circumstances. The fact that the public sector is showing a willingness to embrace innovation is really encouraging, and a trend that we hope will continue long into the future.”
