Digital-First Innovation in the Construction Industry

Digital-First Innovation in the Construction Industry

24/07/2025

Creating smarter, more sustainable spaces starts with rethinking how buildings are designed, used and maintained. At McKeon Group, we’ve taken a digital-first construction approach by integrating Hereworks’ smart building technologies into our own headquarters.

In this article, we explore how these technologies are transforming our workplace, supporting compliance and ESG goals and forming a key part of our future project delivery model.

Leading the Way in Digital Construction

Established in 2007 as McKeon Group’s technology division to meet the growing demand for intelligent, user-focused environments, Hereworks delivers integrated smart building technology and audio visual solutions that enhance how people interact with the spaces around them.

Drawing on McKeon Group’s deep expertise in construction and facilities services, Hereworks was created to push the boundaries of what is possible in modern workplace design through the seamless fusion of technology, data and human experience.

Smart Technology Embedded in McKeon Group’s Daily Operations

At our Ashbourne HQ, McKeon Group made the strategic decision to implement Hereworks’ two flagship platforms, Hereworks Happy™ and Solve, as part of our commitment to enhancing the human experience in our buildings, spaces and places. These platforms were embedded into the daily workflows of our teams to support performance, wellbeing and sustainability.

Hereworks Happy™ is a smart workplace platform designed to optimise building performance and occupant wellbeing. It uses real-time data and AI-powered analytics to monitor environmental conditions and generate a unique metric known as the Happy Score.

Hereworks Happy™

Hereworks Solve is a ticketing and concierge system that allows users to report issues or request services in seconds using QR or NFC tags placed throughout a building. Every desk at our HQ is now fitted with a Solve tag, enabling staff to report issues instantly without the need for logins or apps.

The impact of these implementations was immediate. We experienced faster issue resolution, improved occupant satisfaction and a more agile facilities operation built on real-time insights. This hands-on deployment demonstrates the practical value of smart building technology in a digital-first environment.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

The successful deployment of Happy and Solve was a cross-functional effort that brought together expertise from across McKeon Group and Hereworks. These platforms are now actively shaping how our teams work.

Procurement uses Solve data to identify recurring issues and inform purchasing decisions, while Health and Safety monitor reports in real time and use Happy’s environmental data to maintain a safe and comfortable environment.

Our ESG team track energy efficiency and occupant satisfaction through the Happy score, aligning building performance with our sustainability goals.

“Solve has proven invaluable in identifying and tracking air quality trends within our office environment by continuously monitoring key indicators such as CO₂ levels, particularly matter and humidity. Solve enables us to take timely action to ensure a healthier workspace. Its data-driven insights support our compliance with Ambient Air Quality Standards Regulations 2022, helping us align with EU directives and maintain indoor air conditions conducive to wellbeing and productivity. By tracking utility consumption alongside building occupancy, Solve helps identify discrepancies such as potential water leaks early on, enabling quicker response times than was previously possible.” ~ Veronica Lavelle, Health and Safety Manager and member of ESG team, McKeon Group

Hereworks Solve

“Since implementing the new Solve app in our office, we’ve seen a significant reduction in communication bottlenecks. The user-friendly app hade made the identifying and reporting of problems a much more user-friendly task. Solve now logs problems directly in the system, assigns them to the right people and tracks resolution in real-time. It’s streamlined our entire approach to solving problems.” ~ Matthew Banville, Procurement Manager and member of ESG team, McKeon Group

Extending Innovation to Clients

Following the success of the internal rollout, McKeon Group extended the use of Solve to our longstanding Facilities Maintenance contract at University College Dublin (UCD), managed by our 360Works division. UCD’s campus presented a complex, multi-building environment where compliance and reporting are critical.

Solve was adapted to support Residual Current Circuit Breaker with Overcurrent protection (RCBO) and Residual Current Device (RCD) testing, with tags placed on each unit. Our team scans the tag, performs the test and records the result, automatically generating a report for the client complete with any required actions. This has significantly improved the accuracy, traceability and efficiency of compliance reporting.

This application highlights how a digital-first mindset can be applied to large-scale facilities and existing buildings, improving both operational efficiency and accountability.

A Digital-First Future for Construction