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AU 
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FR Bueno Wins the Prestigious Digie Award for “Most Intelligent – Retail” for Client Woolworths
In an era where sustainability and efficiency are paramount, Bueno has emerged as a leader in the industry, recently winning the prestigious Digie Award for Most Intelligent Retail. This accolade, presented by Realcomm at the IBcon Conference in Tampa on June 20th, recognises Bueno’s ground-breaking work with Woolworths, Australia’s largest grocery chain. The Digie Awards, which have been honouring innovation in commercial real estate and technology since 1999, are among the most coveted accolades globally, highlighting outstanding companies, real estate projects, and technologies that significantly impact the industry through intelligent application of technology, automation, and innovation.
Celebrating Excellence: The Digie Awards
Realcomm’s Digie Awards (short for Commercial Real Estate Digital Innovation) have been a beacon of recognition for those who push the boundaries of technology and sustainability in the real estate industry. These awards celebrate those who go above and beyond to implement innovative solutions that transform operations, enhance efficiency, and contribute to sustainability goals. This year, the competition was fierce, with finalists including industry giants like Macerich and Walmart. Winning the award for Most Intelligent Retail is a testament to Bueno’s exceptional capabilities and innovative approach in partnership with Woolworths.
Leon Wurfel, the founder of Bueno, expressed his gratitude at the awards ceremony: “Thanks to everyone’s hard work and dedication over the years making this happen, it’s been a huge team effort. We could not have done this without the dedication of Woolworths also; they are an amazing client to work with!”
The Woolworths-Bueno Project: A Benchmark in Intelligent Building
The partnership between Bueno and Woolworths has set a global benchmark for intelligent building projects. Woolworths, with its vast network of over 1,100 stores, ranks among the top 20 global grocery retailers, generating revenues exceeding $42 billion annually. The retailer’s supermarkets occupy 38.8 million square feet of real estate and employ over 190,000 people. Managing such a colossal operation requires innovative and efficient solutions, and that’s where Bueno’s expertise came into play.
The Project’s Impact and Achievements
- Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission Reduction: Bueno’s platform has helped Woolworths reduce carbon emissions by an impressive 27% and energy consumption by 18%. This equates to over $80 million in annual savings. Additionally, refrigeration leakage across all stores was reduced by a staggering 37%, showcasing the effectiveness of Bueno’s data-driven approach to building sustainability.
- Operational Efficiency: With seven years of centralised data across 180,000 pieces of equipment, Bueno’s platform can predict equipment failures days in advance, maintain equipment preventatively, reduce emergency callouts, and avoid food spoilage. This predictive maintenance capability has significantly enhanced operational uptime and reduced unnecessary service calls.
- Scalability and Innovation: Bueno’s platform is designed for scalability and innovation. By deploying nearly 10,000 electric submeters and leveraging data-driven analytics, Woolworths has achieved exceptional operational efficiency. The platform’s versatility allows for continuous adaptation and optimisation, ensuring long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness.
Challenges Overcome
The grocery industry faces significant challenges in energy management, equipment maintenance, and customer comfort. The average supermarket contributes 383 metric tonnes of CO2 annually from energy consumption alone, with an additional 1,556 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent from leaked refrigerants, according to the EPA. Bueno’s innovative solutions have addressed these challenges head-on.
Recognising the need for smarter building operations, Woolworths embarked on a journey to meet ambitious corporate sustainability targets: reducing CO2 emissions by 63% from its 2015 baseline by 2030 and combating continuously rising energy costs. Bueno’s platform played a pivotal role in achieving these targets, demonstrating the power of intelligent building systems in driving sustainability and operational excellence.
Global Implications and Future Vision
The impact of the Woolworths-Bueno partnership extends beyond the confines of the retailer’s operations. Woolworths consumes around 1% of the total electricity in Australia, making its improvements a significant contribution to the country’s overall energy consumption. The 27% reduction in carbon emissions and 37% reduction in refrigerant leakage achieved by Woolworths represent a meaningful step toward sustainability on a national scale. If similar results were replicated globally, the reduction in carbon emissions would be astronomical, contributing to a more sustainable future.
Bueno’s vision extends beyond Woolworths and aims to revolutionise the global retail industry. By leveraging intelligent building analytics, Bueno helps retailers optimise their energy consumption, reduce carbon emissions, and improve equipment reliability. This approach aligns business objectives with environmental goals, creating a win-win scenario for businesses and the planet.
Woolworths’ Perspective
Brendan Meller, Head of EMC at Woolworths and a key driver of the Woolworths-Bueno project, praised the partnership: “We partnered with Bueno because we could see the power of their analytics platform and its ability to adapt to our needs. In the last seven years, we have surpassed our expectations on performance and have pioneered some ground-breaking projects together. It’s a great partnership.”
Conclusion
Winning the Digie Award for Most Intelligent Retail is a significant achievement for Bueno and Woolworths. It underscores the transformative impact of their partnership and highlights the potential of intelligent building systems in driving sustainability and operational excellence. Bueno’s platform has proven to be a game-changer, setting new benchmarks for energy consumption, carbon emissions, and equipment reliability in the retail industry.
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and sustainability, the success of the Woolworths-Bueno project serves as a benchmark for the future. It demonstrates that intelligent building systems can deliver significant environmental and economic benefits, paving the way for a more sustainable retail sector. Bueno remains committed to helping retailers worldwide achieve their sustainability targets, reduce operational costs, and enhance their bottom line through innovative and data-driven solutions.
The Digie Award is a recognition of Bueno’s unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation. It is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between Bueno and Woolworths, showcasing what can be achieved when business objectives align with environmental goals. This award not only celebrates their achievements but also inspires other retailers to embrace intelligent building systems and contribute to a more sustainable world.
