The future is in connectivity - connecting everything and controlling it from anywhere - and lighting is part of that story.
Wherever there's wifi and a processor you'll be able to join up your technology - so your smart plugs, smart heating, smart cams and smart lighting all join up into one smart concept - and you have your own very own seamless mission control, tailored for your business.
For businesses this way of operating means that lighting (and everything else) can be controlled according to the time of day, taking seasonal changes into account and even altered depending on footfall and any other activity that can be picked up by a sensor or data collection method.
The ultimate connectivity is when data is collected on activity patterns over a period of time and it becomes possible to predict usage accurately. This knowledge feeds back into the smart system and adjusts the light as required - based on its harnessed knowledge. You can set base parameters in which the light can be adjusted so it doesn't fail or turn off when it could be needed so you're not relying completely on technology. Overrides can also be integrated into such intelligent systems.
Lighting tech in a commercial environment is also the informed way to make sure you are in complete charge of multiple locations around the clock - masterminding the entire operation from a base control. This works very well if you have a business model that is replicated in many locations. Consider the early TGI Fridays model where all of the restaurants were based on the same layout - how easy smart tech would have been for them to use had it been readily available in those days!
Ultimately by having this level of control you'll be able to provide the lighting that is required with the built in intelligence to know when it's needed - and for financial savings, when it's not needed. This cost-efficiency is further maximised when you combine an investment in long-lasting, energy efficient LEDs with connected lighting.
It sounds complicated but its a matter of taking it piece by piece and building a connected network of your required services. We recommend starting with the bigger picture (what do you want from a connected network) and breaking it down firstly by service (lighting, heating, security and so on) and then joining each one with the other until you have all the IT you use all working together, for your business.