Midlands Enterprise Awards 2020

49 | Midlands Enterprise Awards 2020 Sep20261 Most Innovative Water Management Solutions Provider - UK As many businesses remain unoccupied for extended periods of time, managing water consumption and mitigating damage from leaks is harder than ever. Smart technology company Quensus provides an online water management service, allowing building managers and property owners to monitor their water consumption and alert them to any leaks remotely. Quensus’ technology is proving invaluable as the world learns to adapt to unexpected and wide-reaching business interruption. Established in 2015, Quensus utilises smart technology to help property owners protect their assets. Their service is predicated on two technology products that innovatively deploying IoT connectivity, keeping building managers informed and in control. LeakNet is a smart cloud-connected device, which connects to any number of water meters and shutoff valves. The device analyses high-resolution water data to detect anomalies and diagnose faults. By learning a building’s normal water consumption, LeakNet can immediately or pre-emptively identify when there is a leak or a burst pipe. This means that there are far fewer false alerts than that of traditional leak detection devices. Leaks and water consumption are monitored through Quensus’ online platform, FlowReporter. This application allows users to monitor their water usage in real-time, from anywhere in the world. The immediate alerts mean that users can turn off their water remotely through the FlowReporter platform to prevent water damage and avoid insurance claims. Real-time data lends peace of mind to building managers, because they can be sure that the leak has been correctly identified and stopped. These solutions are British engineered and made in Britain, adhering to the strictest water regulations and standards. Quensus’ solutions help users manage how much water they consume. The FlowReporter platform allows users to easily understand where their water goes so that they can conserve more water. Notifications can be sent to building managers, owners, and tenants to ensure that every relevant party is always informed if water usage increases. 60% of all water worldwide is wasted by burst pipes and leaks, and as strong proponents of water conservation, Quensus helps building managers and property owners to be more sustainable and efficient. Technology which allows building managers to quickly respond to accurate information remotely is critical in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Around £2.5 million per day is paid out due to Escape of Water claims in the UK, which is almost double that of fire or theft. With many businesses unable to attend their properties due to pandemic restriction measures, companies are struggling to protect their assets from water damage. Furthermore, due to the unexpected nature of the pandemic, it is much harder for these companies to claim insurance for damages. This is mainly because most escape of water and business interruption insurance policies are not intended to cover COVID-19. In the interpretation of these policies, it is hard to argue that the building has actually been damaged by Covid. Many policies require the property’s security and heating to be maintained for cover to be received, which businesses have struggled to do when adhering to pandemic measures. With the use of smart technology like Quensus’ products, the need for these insurance claims can be reduced or removed. We spoke to Dan Simmons, Founder and Director of Quensus, about what the future holds for companies affected in this way and for his industry. Dan told us that, “From our own experience, especially with IoT, environmental monitoring and preventative maintenance will be stronger in our post COVID-19 world. People and businesses will prefer not to be caught out again and will want to avoid oversight in the future.” For Dan, this marks an important shift not only for businesses but for society’s values overall. He believes, “Most of us will change focus, from the acquisition of luxury goods to intangible assets such as our health and relationships and realise how fortunate we are right now.” The Covid pandemic has shown us that sustainability is more important than care-free consumption and that protecting what matters should be our main mission. Contingency measures and protection of assets will be much more of a focus, especially in the case of possible unexpected crises. Quensus’ technology will be integral in helping building managers mitigate damage and prepare for unforeseen circumstances. A remote solution can help especially in situations wherein companies cannot physically attend to and look after their properties. Quensus’ technology is answering so many problems that are currently of utmost importance. They are the innovators that are leading the way in water sustainability and asset protection, helping the industry to evolve. Contact: Dr Dan Simmons Company: Quensus Web Address: www.quensus.com