The Internet of Things is not a phenomenon of the future, it is already here, and JLL is looking for ways to help clients further integrate technology with real estate.

The firm hired Dmitri Gerchikov, former global director of strategic solutions at Brookfield Global Integrated, as its new senior vice president of IoT and Analytics. Gerchikov will be responsible for working with companies to better use tech to enhance the occupier experience while helping organizations manage their office space.

From smartphones to smartwatches, IoT collects and sends data across platforms, and experts project within less than five years more than 20 billion devices will be connected to the internet.

Gerchikov said it is critical for firms to integrate mass data sources, saying the network of interconnected data will shape how office occupiers work today and in the future. He also said utilizing IoT smart objects will help companies better manage their portfolios.