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‘Adapt or fail’: WiredScore expands European presence
Building connectivity ratings system WiredScore has expanded to 12 new countries in Europe as it releases research into the continent’s connectivity and working habits.
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Now operating in 23 countries worldwide, WiredScore – the company behind the WiredScore and SmartScore rating schemes – has received commitments from 26 major landlords to certify a total of 61 buildings.
These landlords, which include Blackrock, Patrizia, Hines and Watkin Jones, operate in the Nordics as well as Central and Eastern Europe.
WiredScore is also rolling out its WiredScore Home certification in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Iberian peninsula.
William Newton, president and MD of WiredScore, said: “Prompted by the pandemic, the real estate industry has had a wake-up call over the course of the last two years: adapt or you will fail to keep up.
“In order to sustain this new paradigm in the built environment, user outcomes must be placed at the core of everything we do, with technology acting as an enabler.”
Connectivity in Europe
WiredScore also released a report, Live. Work. Connect., which found that while 72% of European rate their office or university connectivity as “good”, 51% believe their home internet is better.
Other findings included:
- Spain is the best place in Europe to work from home, according to an index that measures home broadband quality (including compared to office internet quality), wellbeing, productivity and duty of care
- Nearly half (49%) of Europeans believe they are most productive working at home – up from 35%, pre-pandemic
- Some 31% of Europeans use internet connectivity for work while commuting. This is highest in the Czech Republic (44%)
- Just over half (51%) of respondents said they get the best broadband at home, compared to just 27% that said they get it in the office
Newton said: “There has never been a more critical time for landlords to work hand-in-glove with the companies and people which occupy their buildings to ensure that demands for digital connectivity are being listened to.
“Our hope is that, by providing a globally recognised benchmark by which to measure, landlords will be able to take advantage of user-focused outcomes that their buildings are capable of delivering.”
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