Page 13 - Climate Control News Aug-Sep 2020

World News
Panasonic adopts new business model
PANASONIC APPLIANCES AIR-CONDITIONING IN EUROPE HAS ANNOUNCED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IFS REMOTE ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS PART OF A COMPANY-WIDE STRATEGIC SHIFT TOWARD A SUBSCRIPTION-BASED BUSINESS MODEL.
LEFT: Repair instructions
can be visually demonstrated.
BELOW: IFS UK and Ireland managing director, Alain Laing
pliances Air-Conditioning in Europe, Karl Lowe, said investment in the IFS solution is part of a larger strategy to transform the company’s business mindset from product-centric to ser- vice-centric and to develop the maturity of its service organisation.
"With IFS Remote Assistance, we are leverag- ing state-of-the-art technology to unleash the full potential of our highly skilled workforce, re- gardless of where they are based,” he said.
“Not only are we able to navigate constraints, we are actually able to improve repair rates and access real-time performance data to help us gauge and improve our service."
IFS UK and Ireland managing director, Alain Laing, said the move is part of a global trend. “Across the globe, we are seeing visionary man- ufacturers invest in technology to enable a ser- vitised business model,” Laing said.
“We are thrilled to be part of Panasonic's trans- formation journey and look forward to doing our part to provide the tools they need so they can en- sure the safety of its workforce and a great customer experience."
THE IFS ENTERPRISE software will enable in- stallers, field technicians, engineers and custom- ers to share real-life situational context with re- mote product experts so that hands-on service and repair instructions can be visually demon- strated and acted upon.
The Panasonic Appliances Air-Conditioning Europe business, comprised of sales, support and technical service staff across Europe, needed a central software solution to ensure a consistently
excellent service experience for its clients. With IFS Remote Assistance, Panasonic Heat- ing & Cooling Solutions is able to remotely diag- nose issues, ensure real-time knowledge sharing, and significantly speed up repair rates, which was typically seven days. By reducing or even eliminating the need to make site visits, the com- pany is also able to lower travel costs and envi-
ronmental impact.
Head of European Service at Panasonic Ap-
Global response to a more resilient built environment
THE AUSTRALIAN SUSTAINABLE Built Envi- ronment Council (ASBEC) has joined a new initi- ative to coordinate an international response to improve the resilience of the built environment.
At a time when the level of risk to the built envi- ronment is increasing globally due to greater inten- sity and frequency of extreme weather events, in- ternational cooperation is key to ensuring the built environment can withstand the storms ahead.
The Australian Building Codes Board, which oversees issues relating to the health, safety, amenity and accessibility, and sustain- ability of Australian buildings, has teamed up with the National Research Council of Cana- da, the New Zealand Ministry of Business, In- novation and Employment, and the Interna- tional Code Council to launch the Global Resiliency Dialogue, with the purpose of shar- ing information and best practice for a more resilient built environment.
As a first step, the Findings on Changing Risk
and Building Codes statement was released last month and endorsed by building sector organi- sations from across the world.
The statement emphasised the need for build- ing codes to adapt to the changing risk from ex- treme weather events as the effects of global cli- mate change grow.
ASBEC executive director, Suzanne Toum- bourou, said the building code can play a vital
role in protecting Australia’s built environment from a future of extreme weather and wild fluc- tuations in temperature.
“Like COVID-19, climate change knows no borders and the best response is an international one. Strong building codes, which take climate change into account, are the key to buildings which are safer, healthier, more energy efficient and sustainable,” she said. ✺
International cooperation is key to ensuring the built environment can deal with more extreme weather events.
CLIMATE CONTROL NEWS
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2020
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