BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB

Shaping a New Era of Development in Southeast Europe

Top 10 office deals in 2017. What’s next in 2018?
Top 10 office deals in 2017. What’s next in 2018? 1600 760 BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB

Top 10: Office deals in 2017. What’s next in 2018?

In the context of a flourishing economy, the local office market sees the positive effects, with six deals exceeding 10,000 sq. m in 2017.

Compiling data released on the market, BREC has put together The Top 10 Romanian Biggest Office Deals in 2017. Totaling a surface of 122,553 sq. m, the top brings together companies from different sectors: auto, banking, consultancy, energy and IT &Telecom.

Based on a legacy of distinction in science, technical education and mathematics combined with Romanians’ robust language skills, the local tech sector is expanding rapidly, translating into a strong hub for IT & outsourcing. Wages in Romania remain far below the EU average, making it an enticing option for outsourcing. According to industry insiders, the tech sector – which employs about 150,000 people – is expected to double its share of GDP to 12% by 2025, aided by one of the fastest broadband internet speeds in the world (behind only Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and Iceland).

    • Out of the total of 122,553 sq. m, 65,153 sq. m in demand comes from the IT & Telecom sector. 
    • The top is dominated by the Capital City: out of the 10 deals, just one was outside of Bucharest, in Timisoara.
    • Barbu Vacarescu – Pipera remains the area with the biggest density of AAA tenants, attracting 3 out of the 10 deals.
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Renault has renewed its surface in North Gate, in the biggest office deal on the market. North Gate was acquired by One United in 2017, the company forming a new office division where they have co-opted local investor, Ionut Dumitrescu.

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ING has preleased 20,000 sq. m in Blue Rose Office Park, the new project Portalnd Turst is developing in what seems to be a new office hub of Bucharest – Expozitiei. ING and Renault share the first place on the podium of the biggest deals closed in 2017.

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IBM has leased 13,600 sq. m in the first phase of The Bridge, the business park developed by Forte Partners near Basarab overpass. IBM has already moved into the new building at the end of 2017.

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Amazon was one of the new players entering the office market in 2017. Amazon Web Service, a division of the international giant, has leased 13,500 sq. m, in a new project Globalworth has recently finalized in Pipera. The company is now under a heavy recruiting process, following to hire 1,100 IT specialists.

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Oracle renewed its deal in Sky Tower, the tallest building in Romania, with 37 floors and a height of 137 meters. The office tower belonging to Raiffeisen Property International is 98% leased.

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The single transaction out of Bucharest in our top is in Timisoara. Nokia has pre-leased here 10,230 sq. m in Bega Business Park, the project developed by a family-owned company – Marius & Emil Cristescu. Nokia has become the multinational with the biggest HQ outside of Bucharest.

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Rompetrol renewed in 2017 its office contract from City Gate, the towers dominating Piata Presei Libere Sq, near Romexpo. The petroleum industry giant and one of the key players in the fuel sector in Southeast Europe has extended the contract with GTC for another 5 years.

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Bitdefender pre-leased in 2017 9,250 sq. m for its new HQ in Bucharest. The Romanian IT company will move this year 900 employees in Ordhideea Towers, the project developed by CA Immo near Basarab overpass. The two H-shaped towers, are linked together by a bridge hidden behind a glass façade.

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One of the oldest contracts in the office market is still on! Orange renewed its contract with CA IMMO for its HQ in Europe House, one of the landmark buildings in Bucharest’s CBD. Orange has been occupying the building for more than 10 years.

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According to info released on the market, PwC has signed a pre-lease of 8,000 sq. m in Ana Tower, the property developed by local business man George Copos. The info hasn’t been confirmed yet.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Uncertainty over Brexit is having an impact, with companies looking at alternatives within the EU in case the UK pursues an exit that restricts trade. London Stock Exchange is looking for 6,500 sq.m in Bucharest for 500 analysts.

Technology is expected to remain a strong sector in demand for offices in 2018: Microsoft is looking for 15,000 sq.m, Siemens is also on the market for a surface of around 5,000 sq.m, while Ericsson is rumored to make a new move in 2018 for a new office space.

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JLL: “Workplace transformation is a game changer”
JLL: “Workplace transformation is a game changer” 1920 864 BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB

JLL: “Workplace transformation is a game changer”

Unprecedented disruption has created a new world of work driven by technology and an increasingly liquid workforce, JLL report “The future of work” states. The real estate consultancy company thinks that the future will belong to those who can embrace uncertainty, turn disruption into opportunity, and act to transform.

The ideal workspace, as JLL visions it, is articulated around five dimensions driving fundamental changes for corporate organizations:

  • Digital Drive Harness digitization and rich data to enhance people and enterprise performance.
  • Continuous Innovation Combine new thinking, solutions and processes to drive value creation and accelerate transformation.
  • Operational Excellence Optimize enterprise resources and service delivery to increase productivity, mitigate risks and ensure high performance.
  • Financial Performance Manage spending to enable growth and enhance ROI.
  • Human Experience Enhance user experience through engagement, empowerment and fulfillment.

“Today, as a result of unprecedented disruption, real estate is a strategic lever for transformation.
It enables organizations to leverage uncertainty, to prioritize investments, drive return on investment (ROI) and achieve broader business agendas”, Marie Puybaraud, Global Head of Research, JLL Corporate Solutions

5 IMPERATIVE DRIVING WORKPLACE TRANSFORMATION

1. Adopting a flexible working model to meet the needs of an evolving workforce through activity-based working.
2. Understanding the impact of a liquid workforce on the business model.
3. Redesigning workplaces to enhance human experience through engagement, empowerment and fulfillment.
4. Creating new metrics that matter to demonstrate increased performance through people and place.
5. Designing the working environment with a strong appeal towards environmental and social achievements.

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More about the subject here.

Real Estate used for employer branding by Lidl
Real Estate used for employer branding by Lidl 1026 720 BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB

Lidl: launches its brand new 12.500 sqm HQ in Bucharest

In a move emphasizing its leadership on the Romanian retail market, Lidl has finalized its own office building in Aviatiei, North Bucharest, the area with the biggest density of AAA tenants in Bucharest. The innovative & green project that implements the most advanced construction technologies was built by Skanska.

The investment in its new HQ comes in line with the company’s policy for a sustainable activity as well as its commitment as a reputable employer. The 12,500 sq. m. compound has two interconnected buildings: one is destined for the facilitates dedicated to the employees (such as fitness area, restaurant, coffee shop, lounge & relaxation areas) and the other one comprises the office spaces.

On a very competitive HR market, where multinationals compete fiercely for skilled workforce, Lidl shows high focus on its reputation as an employer. The company has recently announced that will increase the salaries starting 1st of March, the minimum gross wage of a seller working at a Lidl shop following to reach 3,000 RON (approx. 650 EUR). In this context, the headquarters becomes a strong attraction and motivation instrument for the HR department.

The new building benefits of 233 parking units, 7 charging station for electric cars and 40 bicycle parking places. The project used 100% sustainable, certified & recycled materials, integrating one of the most technologically advanced construction solutions. The office building is to be certified by BREEAM.

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H.E. Basil Constantinescu – Romanian Ambassador to the People`s Republic of China
H.E. Basil Constantinescu – Romanian Ambassador to the People`s Republic of China 2000 1333 BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB

BREC Talks to H.E. Basil Constantinescu

Romanian Ambassador to the People`s Republic of China

“Chinese companies will become more and more interested in the investment opportunities in Romania, in the context of dynamic promotion of the New Silk Road Initiative”

One of the proposed routes in the initiative is China – Port Batumi-Port Constanta. If the railway road will include Romania, the new created infrastructure will have a massive impact on the local logistics sector, with the potential of attracting new, important players on the market.

Private Real Estate in ECE region targeted by China`s New Silk Road Initiative

On the occasion of the 16+1 Summit (China-Central and Estearn European Countries) in Riga, November 2016, the China – Central and Eastearn European investment Fund was launched – a private equity fund meant to support investment projects implemented through the 16+1 Cooperation Format.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Financial Group was designated by the Chinese Government to launch consultations with potential partners, for the establishment and operationalisation of the fund. Thus, under the coordination of Sino-Central Eastern Europe Financial Holding Corporation (CEEFC), member of ICBC, consultations, strategic lines and ways of operation of the Fund have been established. CEFC, together wth ECE partners and other Anchor Investors will contribute to the initial capital with EUR 1 bln., as Limited Partners. Other premium institutional investors are expected to contribute with EUR 9 bln., following a fund raising campaign.

Chinese funds of EUR 10 Bln. for projects in Central & East Europe, through the Initiative

The Fund will mainly finance projects in the ECE region, as well as projects developed under the new Silk Roads Initiative in other regions. Under market conditions, without irredeemable component, public projects will be financed (such as transportation infrastructure, energy, utilities and other public projects). A special attention will be provided to private sector projects able to generate important growth in the following period – companies activating in healthcare sector, agriculture, IT&C, High-Tech, Real Estate, states the Romanian Ambassador to the People`s Republic of China.

The Initiative is considered the biggest foreign spending program by any one country since the U.S.’ Marshall Plan to rebuild post-World War II Europe. BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB`s key question in the context: How will Romania and ECE private Real Estate sector will benefit from?

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Study-case: Il Centro, Milano
Study-case: Il Centro, Milano 1554 874 BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB

The new shopping center format: turns conventional retail

into an experience, social center and brand showcase

With a great vision and intuition, the Italian hypermarket giant and mall developer Finiper bought in the 90’s the former site in Milano of Alfa Romeo, one of the Italy’s most admired motorcar brands.

The huge location potential (on the north-west corner of Milan, between Malpensa airport, Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Switzerland) has set the scene for what has become one of the most avant-garde pieces of architecture in Europe and a successful retail business with over 15 million visitors annually.

STUDYCASE – IL CENTRO, MILANO

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Il Centro features a Fashion Court, inspired by London’s Covent Garden, which hosts brands such as Primark (the first in Italy, 7,000 sq. m on two levels), H&M, Zara, Pull & Bear, Berska, Massimo Dutti, Superdry, MAC, Swarovski or Bottega del Regalo.

Iper la Grande has been transformed into an innovative Market Place where fresh products of the hypermarket are brought into the mall in permanent kiosks where guests can experience live cooking shows, consume in situ or carry away freshly made meals. The Market Place climbs with a ramp from the ground floor to a large restaurants’ court on the first floor, resembling the ramp of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, except in this case food and taste are the arts on display.

Tall trees enrich the retail streets both outside and inside, creating a real garden with kiosks and restaurants, bike trails, children’s games and other activities related to sport and health. The green and multi-strata polycarbonate roof structure is made from sustainable materials and supported by 40 meters long timber beams, which represent one of the largest wooden structures ever built in Europe for a shopping mall. The entire construction is designed according to firm criteria of energy saving and sustainability, to achieve the prestigious LEED Gold level certification.

Where today there is the biggest shopping area of Italy, once there was a factory of legendary cars. The old circuit of Alfa Romeo has been converted in a brand-new testing and safe driving track managed by ACI VALLELUNGA: 1,500 sq. m of track where visitors can set free their speed desire, learn the importance of safety with safe driving courses and attend events and exhibitions about motors.

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Colliers: “Online retailers are looking at how physical stores can generate more trade”
Colliers: “Online retailers are looking at how physical stores can generate more trade” 730 460 BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB

Colliers: Online retailers are looking

at how physical stores can generate more trade

The growth rate of e-commerce sales is forecast to fall over the next four years, according to a study by Colliers International, and the online ‘pure-play brands’ are increasingly looking at how they can support future sales. For many e-retailers, part of the remedy is to open ‘showrooms’ in physical shopping environments which both generate online sales and raise awareness of their brand.

In 2016, online retail sales grew by 11.5% year-on-year, but this level of growth is projected to steadily decline through to 2021 when it is forecast to be around 7%.

Research by British Land highlighted that pure-play retailers which opened a physical store saw online sales increase by 52% within the catchment area.

SHOWCASE – HOTEL CHOCOLAT

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the company starts by selling chocolates online, becoming one of the UK’s earliest ever “e-tailers”

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the company opens the first shop in UK

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the company opens a café in London’s Borough market

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Boucan, a luxury hotel, restaurant and spa, is opened on the company’s cocoa plantation in Saint Lucia

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Hotel Chocolat is approaching 100 stores in high streets and shopping centers across UK and enters Hong Kong market

THE ROMANIAN STORY – EXAMPLES OF E-COMMERCE PLAYERS COMBINING ONLINE WITH PHYSICAL STORES

The biggest online retailer in Romania, has 13 showrooms all over the country – 2 in Bucharest and one in Timisoara, Sibiu, Iasi, Galati, Constanta, Ploiesti, Pitesti, Brasov Craiova, Oradea and Cluj.

Started in 2010 as an online bookstore and grew into an online family mall. The retailer has developed a strong pick-up points’ network (where it also showcases some products) with 15 locations in Bucharest and another 19 in the country.

The fashion retailer entered the Romanian market in 2015 and to differentiate in a competitive industry, decided to open locations where clients can try the items they have shopped for online. Zoot has now 8 such spaces: 6 in Bucharest and one in Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara.

The online fashion shop which promotes Romanian designers was opened by local entrepreneur, Mirela Bucovicean, in 2010. Five years after, Molecule F opened a concept store in Promenada, the shopping mall from Bucharest belonging to NEPI.

Check out the full Colliers study .

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Top 10 Mega Deals in Real Estate Tech
Top 10 Mega Deals in Real Estate Tech 852 586 BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB

Real Estate + Tech = LOVE

10 Mega Deals in Real Estate Tech

As technology is advancing based on continuous innovation, the real estate industry is reshaping. According to a study by RE:Tech, a real estate tech research and marketing agency, a significant number of mega-deals in real estate tech drove the funding boom across the sector in 2017 .

WeWork

The business co-funded by Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey in 2010 as a trendy co-work space, announced in Q3 2017 that it had raised $4.4 billion in funding from SoftBank Group and SoftBank Vision Fund. SoftBank invested $3 billion in WeWork itself and added another $1.4 billion into three new WeWork subsidiaries — WeWork China, WeWork Japan and WeWork Pacific. According to Cushman & Wakefield, WeWork is today the central London’s biggest office occupier.

In the picture: WeWork Shanghai

Compass

The New York-based startup with the goal of disrupting the real-estate market, has raised $450 million at a $2.2 billion valuation. The new investment from Japanese conglomerate SoftBank’s $100 billion tech fund, will be used to bring the Compass platform to more cities than the 11 areas where it now operates. While it employs traditional brokers, the main selling points of Compass are the leveraging of data to improve the efficiency of the real estate business along with a sleek mobile app for buyers and renters.

In the picture: the two co-founders of Compass, Ori Allon and Robert Reffkin in front of the company’s HQ in New York.

OfferPad

They secured $230 million in debt from LL Funds LLC in Philadelphia in early 2017 to expand the company’s online home sales software and continue hiring at least three new employees a week, from marketing and accounting, to tech and renovation roles. OfferPad is a direct home buyer, in a mission to make “selling a home” convenient and hassle-free, by allowing sellers to get the best of both worlds – a fair and competitive offer – all at the click of a button.

Investment in real estate tech evolved beyond simple venture capital investments 2017, the study by RE:Tech shows. Corporations, who have continued to invest in real estate tech have also demonstrated increased interest in alliances and partnerships to leverage the potential of future gains. Through alliances and partnerships, real estate tech companies can gain access to customers and customer data they may not be able to access independently. Additionally, corporations gain access to technology that can help provide more attractive and cost-effective solutions.

You can download the report here: http://bit.ly/2CfCiXL

3 “trophy” boutique office buildings of Bucharest occupied by big-name tenants
3 “trophy” boutique office buildings of Bucharest occupied by big-name tenants 700 525 BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB

3 “trophy” boutique office buildings of Bucharest

occupied by big-name tenants

The niche market of small, chic office developments in Bucharest has lured some high-end tenants willing to pay up for a “trophy HQ”, ensuring landlords and investors long-term value, bigger incomes as well as full occupancy rate.

A recipe behind the success of boutique office buildings combines key location, disruptive architecture and facilities such as coffee-shops and restaurants, fitted out following the latest design trends.

Here is our top 3 preferences list among such projects in Bucharest:

ETHOS HOUSE

Developed by a Greek private investor in the middle of Floreasca -Barbu Vacarescu hub, Ethos House distinguishes itself through an architecture inspired from elements of the Florentine Renaissance. The building is 100% leased to multinationals and has become a landmark in the area due to the retail amenities: Uanderful restaurant and Fratellini coffee-shop, both part of Fratelli group.

Palatul Universul

An abandoned building in downtown Bucharest, which hosted a printing house and the editorial team of “Universul” newspaper in the inter-war glory years of the Romanian capital, was rehabilitated by an investor seizing the historic flavor opportunity of the property. The estate has become a “creative hub” and hosts an interesting tenant mix: the headquarters of BBDO advertising agency, Cumulus architecture office, a co-working space – Talent Garden, a cocktail bar, a contemporary dance studio, an art gallery, Beans & Dots coffee shop, Apollo 111 Bar & Theater.

In the picture – Palatul Universul, photo by Andrei Margulescu

Stefan cel Mare Office Building

Awarded with the American Architecture Prize, Stefan cel Mare building was developed by local developer Forte Partners in the Central Business District of the Capital. It hosts the HQ of Kaufland Romania, Apa Nova and Roeng, while at the ground floor functions one of the most appreciated restaurants in Bucharest, Kane Seasonal Bistro.

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Bogdan Gavril – Sales Engineer & Trainer, CEE Region at Axis Communications
Bogdan Gavril – Sales Engineer & Trainer, CEE Region at Axis Communications 2880 1920 BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB

BREC Talks to Bogdan Gavril

Sales Engineer & Trainer, CEE Region at Axis Communications

“Retail surveillance can provide information to support the development of better store layouts – via heat mapping and dwell time applications”

Following the opening of a new office in Romania by Axis Communication, the market leader in network video, we sat down for an interview with Bogdan Gavril, Sales Engineer & Trainer, CEE Region at Axis Communications to find out more about the company’s innovative solutions for retailers and smart city.

How do you address the retail segment and what type of info can those type of solutions offers to the retailers or retail owners?

Retailing today is a tough business and more and more store owners face challenges. Therefore, it is important to ensure that your store technology can minimize loss due to frauds and protect people and assets. As important, find opportunities to increase revenues and enhance customer experiences in real time. Retail surveillance using network video solutions such as IP cameras is an excellent weapon in the battle to protect the retail business and to find ways to increase its efficiency, like it can help store owners manage queues, count people and monitor flow control. Or It can provide information to support the development of better store layouts – via heat mapping and dwell time applications.

Outside the store itself, network video can be connected to access control systems, or used for general surveillance of the building’s exterior and parking lot. License plate recognition is also possible, thanks to the high quality of the images generated. All of these cross functional applications make retail stores safer for visitors and more profitable for the owners. More, network cameras in intelligent systems can spot even empty shelves – and alert appropriate staff to get them restocked. In this way the manager can monitor queues and re-deploy staff where they are most needed.

How can your video surveillance solutions can help to improve traffic in Bucharest?

We believe that the road to a smarter traffic is by monitoring it. From congestion and stopped vehicles to serious accidents and extreme weather, we understand the everyday traffic management challenges and to keep the traffic moving as smooth as possible, we need the very latest information at hand.

Axis Communications is working with partners across the globe to offer smart network video solutions, that can provide reliable and detailed traffic video around the clock, automatically alert for incidents such as congestion and stopped vehicles. Our products stand up to the toughest weather conditions and provide real-time and historic traffic data. One of our recent local integration was done in Bucharest, Pasajul Unirea. The solution was developed by Axis Communications and one of our partners and consists of three pillars:

  • Axis network cameras with technologies that allow the units to monitor in any light conditions.
  • Citilog video-based Automatic Incident Detection system, that identify incidents and accidents within seconds on highways, bridges and tunnels. The application was installed directly on Axis Cameras, through the AXIS Camera Application Platform.
  • Number OK LPR – Software that can recognize car’s license plate numbers and control executive units /barriers and automatic gates. Number OK can recognize license plate’s patterns, regardless of the plate state and lighting conditions.

BACKGROUND INFO ABOUT AXIS

Swedish-based Axis Communication was established in 1984 and the company’s products are now installed in public places and areas such as retail chains, airports, trains, motorways, universities, prisons, casinos and banks. In Romania, the company works with two distributors and at the end of 2017 officially opened a direct representative office.
Axis offers intelligent security solutions that enable a smarter, safer world. As the market leader in network video, Axis is driving the industry by continually launching innovative network products based on an open platform – delivering high value to customers through a global partner network. Axis has long-term relationships with partners and provides them with knowledge and groundbreaking network products in existing and new markets. Axis has more than 2,600 dedicated employees in more than 50 countries around the world, supported by a network of over 90,000 partners across 179 countries.

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How to raise value of Real Estate through Innovation
How to raise value of Real Estate through Innovation 1400 898 BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB

How to raise value of Real Estate

through Innovation

Fluctuating market conditions, changes in consumers behaviors and the rapid development of technology and innovation are shaping a new real estate industry. According to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate®: Europe 2018 survey by PwC & Urban Land Institute, over 50% of the respondents agree that technology, big data and the rise of “space as a service” will disrupt the traditional property valuation model.

As the most important event in technology, Consumer and Electronics Show (CES), has ended we have looked at major innovations that are impacting the real estate industry:

SMART ASSET MANAGEMENT

The discussion about innovative ways to manage assets is on everybody’s lips, especially as redevelopment seems to be one of the most attractive instruments to acquire prime assets this year, deploying investors’ strategy based on smart asset management.

Zenplace, an innovative real estate and technology company based in Silicon Valley, wants to reinvented property management, tenant placement and leasing to provide a better owner experience. The business model combines experienced property management professionals with artificial intelligence, machine learning and mobile technologies, providing owners with higher returns, lower costs, and an overall better owner experience. The firm’s latest development is a robot that provides smart guided home showings. Zenplace hopes its new robot tours will move homes off the market faster.

Ecovacs Robotics displayed at CES the Winbot X, the most recent window cleaning robot model, which is cordless and runs on an internal battery. The new model defies gravity to clean windows and eliminates the need for a power source.

INNOVATION RE-SHAPES RETAIL INDUSTRY

As classical retailers face tough competition from online sector (H&M announced in December sales in the September-November period were far below its own expectations, planning to close more H&M stores and opening fewer new ones, according to media reports) the retail industry is sensitive to new developments.

Kino-mo’s Hypervision Wall benefited from a lot of attention in Las Vegas. Made up of multiple propeller-looking modules adorned with programmable LEDs, the Wall creates holographic images up to 3 meters in size. This is a cutting-edge visual solution for creating, managing and displaying unique 3D video content with holographic effect. It uniquely combines a smart Hypervsn management platform and a Hypervsn projection unit, a hi-tech hardware device generating stunning 3D visuals perceived by viewers as hi-resolution holograms floating in the mid-air. It can be used in a shopping mall, increasing footfall for the retailers which implement this solution. Early versions of Hypervsn were successfully used by Red Bull, BMW, McDonald’s, Virgin Media, Dell or Moet Hennesy.

WORKSPACES SIMPLIFIES IN FORMAT & ADOPTS INNOVATION

As people are changing the way they are organizing their personal and professional lives, the workspace concept is also adapting and tends to be a more simplified & cost competitive format. Office developers look closely at the new techniques available and also take into consideration co-working spaces along with classic occupied property.

Virtelo is a touchscreen technology that provides the office visitors with a unique and friendly alternative to the typical front desk receptionist. Office security should be on the minds of business owners. Using Virtelo, companies can lock their doors to protect employees and data, yet still provide a personal touch to visitors and guests. It works based on a monthly subscription.

The Vuzix Blade Smart Sunglasses, officially unveiled at CES 2018, provide a wearable smart display with a see-through viewing experience utilizing Vuzix’s proprietary waveguide optics and Cobra II display engine. It’s like having your computer or smartphone screen information with you wherever you go.

Where we work, how we work and how we get to work is also influencing the workspace format. Smacircle, based in Shenzhen, China, claims it’s built the world’s most compact and lightweight foldable eBike, also presented for the first time at CES 2018. Weighing in at roughly 15 pounds (6.8 kg), the bike can be folded into a small backpack and locked using your phone.

NEW GADGETS MAKE HOMES MORE SECURE & FRIENDLY

Smart homes already represent an old subject on the real estate agenda, but new, improved gadgets launched at CES 2018 showed how technology can make life simpler.

Buddy the robot looks as cute as his name is and can also do some tricks around your home. It can control your smart residence, respond to voice commands, act as a home security device, play music acts as a calendar or alarm clock.

Singlecue tracks your hand in the air, allowing you to control your media and living room devices touch-free. The system controls the entertainment devices, removing the necessity for remotes. Singlecue connects to the existing TV and media devices and works with over 100,000 devices.

Ultraloq is designed to be keyless for maximum flexibility and convenience. It can be used by fingerprint, code or key to unlock. The client has full control of all guests’ access and can simply share a code to let visitors in when he or she are not there. It can work also just by knocking the phone in the pocket.

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