"What Is That?" — How One Question Saved $56,000 and Created New NOI
Commercial real estate owners are constantly searching for ways to boost Net Operating Income (NOI), retain tenants, and future-proof their assets. Yet too often, the biggest leaks in value come from the simplest oversight: not knowing what you already own.
That’s why the first step in the 5C Framework for Peak Property Performance is Clarify.
What Does “Clarify” Mean?
On Episode 2 of the Peak Property Performance Podcast, hosts Bill Douglas and Drew Hall frame it this way:
“Know what you own, where you’re leaking value, and what your data is really worth.”
Clarify is about getting a true picture of your building’s digital infrastructure and systems. It means:
- Identifying what networks and systems are installed.
- Determining what’s actually connected, monitored, and producing usable data.
- Understanding ownership—because if you don’t own your infrastructure, your vendors do.
Bill Douglas puts it simply:
“We’re not talking about how to solve the problem yet. We’re just saying get a lay of the land.”
The Building Engineer Who Asked the Right Question
One real-world example highlights the power of Clarify. In a commercial property, a building engineer noticed an unfamiliar device mounted in the data closet. He asked a simple question:
“What is that?”
Turns out, it was a lighting control system—installed, paid for, and never turned on. After a Data & Digital Infrastructure (DDI) Review, the system was activated.
- Result? Over $56,000 in energy savings in year one on common areas alone.
- ROI? Positive by month 15, even though the system had sat dormant for five years.
- Beyond savings: Data from the system allowed the owner to adjust leasing and lighting schedules. When the building rented its auditorium to a church on Sundays, they could align operations with occupancy—monetizing the common area more effectively.
All of this started with one question and a willingness to Clarify.
Why Clarify Matters for Owners
Clarify isn’t just about reducing waste—it’s about repositioning digital infrastructure as a business intelligence asset.
- According to JLL’s Digital Experience Report (2024), 79% of tenants say building-wide digital capabilities directly influence their leasing decisions.
- A McKinsey study found that buildings using structured data in operations can cut energy costs by up to 30% and improve NOI margins by 15–20%.
- Deloitte notes that owners who integrate digital infrastructure into asset strategies are 20% more likely to outperform peers in valuation during refinancing or sale.
The message is clear: Clarify isn’t optional—it’s foundational.
Clarify Before You Connect
Many owners want to jump straight to automation or AI. But without clarity, those investments are built on sand. As Bill and Drew emphasize:
“You can’t fix something if you don’t even know you have a problem.”
Clarify gives you the map. Connect, Collect, Coordinate, and Control are the next steps—but they all depend on knowing where you stand today.
Key Takeaways
- Start with curiosity. Ask, “What is that?” about every device, closet, or system in your building.
- Document ownership. If you don’t own your digital infrastructure, your vendors do—and they own the revenue too.
- Demand ROI from every system. If it doesn’t have an income component, why is it there?
Clarify isn’t just an audit. It’s a mindset that transforms your property from a bundle of costs into a platform for value creation.
Next Step: Dive Deeper
Ready to see how Clarify can transform your properties? Get your copy of Peak Property Performance and check out the PPP Podcast for more real-world stories and strategies to grow NOI, delight tenants, and take control of your digital infrastructure.