Floorcloud lays the groundwork for construction industry innovation with Verizon's Asset Tracking Solutions

The solution that Banda and Mullins envisioned, Floorcloud, allows contractors to place IoT sensors at a jobsite and monitor the interior floorspace, 24/7. These sensors collect near real-time data on climate conditions before the crew arrives to carry out their portion of the project. Floorcloud uses these IoT sensors to monitor ambient conditions like humidity, temperature and dew point. By way of a third-party integration, Floorcloud can also monitor the internal conditions of the concrete sub-floor itself. These metrics include crucial factors such as relative humidity—the moisture in a slab of concrete for example—and concrete slab temperatures.

As this early warning data is collected, Floorcloud compares this data against its proprietary, comprehensive database of over, 10,000 manufacturer product specifications. "Our software takes the reading from the sensor and sends it up through the network to the cloud, where we basically measure the onsite conditions relative to the manufacturer's specifications. If things are out of spec, the user will get a push notification from our software, notifying them about the problem onsite," explained Banda.

Once notified of an emerging problem, a contractor is able to take the appropriate corrective action. "Commonly, they'll take the data we generate in the form of graphs, and they send that off to their clients, with one click, who can objectively review the data and make more informed business decisions," said Banda. With these early warning capabilities, everyone involved can better mitigate the risk associated with the climate conditions on a jobsite.

Banda and Mullins knew that reliable cellular IoT network connectivity would be essential to ensure real-time monitoring at the scale Floorcloud required. Initially, the Floorcloud team explored several different IoT networks. "The goal with launching our solution was to be able to say that we have a solution no matter where you are in North America. So we turned to Verizon, and we tested our sensors in various locations. We found the connectivity exceptional, even in some of the remote areas of the U.S. and Canada," said Banda.

Floorcloud discovered that Verizon's deep IoT expertise would prove to be strategically advantageous, as well. IoT solution development is an incredibly complex undertaking that includes remote device and lifecycle management.

  We were able to help Floorcloud configure, update, provision and secure all of their devices over the Verizon network through our ThingSpace and Cloud Connector API platforms. Our Verizon Asset Sensor offers Cloud Connectors API's making it possible to integrate the sensor and sensor data with custom cloud applications like Floorcloud.”

— Kevin Fleming, Senior IoT Technology Product Manager, Verizon Business Group

Equipped with a solution that bundles hardware, network connectivity and network management, Floorcloud was able to focus on building their software and expanding their business across multiple construction trades and with general contractors. "Floorcloud can focus on their customer, and we bring the IoT expertise and solutions to the table," Fleming noted.

Among the assets Verizon brought to the table is an IoT sensor with long battery life that delivers high performance in harsh conditions. "Right now, we're using one specific sensor. This is the workhorse of our line. It monitors ambient temperature, humidity, light, vibration, altitude and GPS location. It can also send out alerts," explained Banda. "It is contractor grade in terms of its ability to be on jobsites. It's IP67-Rated (with water and dust ingress protection), which is important for us because our environment can be dirty and dusty. This unit has proven to be robust in those kinds of spaces," he added.

From the beginning, Floorcloud and Verizon built a strong partnership that was foundational to success. Banda observed "the relationship with the Verizon team has been very personal. We know many members of the engineering and product teams, they are an extension of our engineering team." In addition, because the IoT sensors were already FCC-certified, the Floorcloud team was able to focus on building their software applications and go to market faster than would otherwise have been possible. As a result, they were able to deliver a best-in-class solution to their customers. "All our user has to do is scan the QR code on the front of a sensor. They connect to the Verizon network, and our client is basically reading data within 30 minutes," explained Banda.

An early Floorcloud client quickly saw the value. Consolidated Flooring, a third-generation, family-owned, full-service flooring contractor headquartered in New York City prides itself on high-quality work that earns client satisfaction with every contract. As an early beta tester, President and CEO David Meberg saw Floorcloud as a valuable tool for carrying out installation due diligence. "I knew right away that Floorcloud was going to be a success. The advantages with this product are second to none," he said.

Given how slow the construction industry has traditionally been to embrace new technology, Floorcloud represents a significant advancement. "Habitually, the construction industry has been a late adopter. I would say that in some senses, we're behind the curve," explained Meberg. "Tools like this did not exist years ago. When we went out to the jobsites, we had to do our own record keeping or, worse, rely on other entities to do the record keeping and trust that it was valid. This piece of equipment can be utilized on any type of job or used by any type of contractor, regardless of size, to help protect their installation and the bottom line of their business.”

Floorcloud has rapidly grown since its launch in 2022, having deployed nearly 1,000 sensors across the U.S. and Canada. What began as a solution for flooring contractors has quickly gained traction across the contracting industry. "When we built Floorcloud, we wanted it to be easily used by everyone from the smallest contractors to the largest contractors, regardless of their trade," explained Banda. "The largest contractors that do commercial projects are the earliest adopters. We're starting to see more residential contractors that do smaller, but still high-liability projects, come on board with us, as well."

Floorcloud's partnership with Verizon has enabled the company to quickly pioneer an innovative IoT solution for the construction industry as a whole. "I would highly recommend working with Verizon. The coverage in North America is exceptional, the engineering teams are available and personal attention is the norm. The devices that they've shown us are terrific, robust and reliable," said Banda. Verizon's Fleming added: "We actively listen and collaborate with our customers on feature enhancements that can be incorporated into future releases."

Floorcloud has ambitious plans for the future. "We're always asking for other new pieces of technology because we want to continue to build the business and offer new functionality," said Banda. "We have devices in our development pipeline right now that are going to improve things from a battery life perspective and so on. Those devices will come out later in 2024." With a bold vision and a strategic IoT partnership in place, Floorcloud has laid the groundwork to transform the construction industry.