Pioneering Talent Solutions with AI: Insights from CoRETech 2023.

Dec 5, 2023 | Industry News, Insights

Attending this year’s CoRETech 2023 conference as a speaker brought some fantastic insight into the talent landscape in today’s market. As usual, the conference was an invaluable gathering of minds, with industry leaders delving into the challenges and opportunities surrounding AI adoption in commercial and corporate real estate. As a specialist smart buildings and climate tech talent provider, our time at the event was spent engaging in key panel discussions with thought leaders to understand how this trend impacts growth and hiring strategies in the space.

Evolution in Smart Buildings

The event reaffirmed our belief in the transformative power of AI for our industry. Recent Upwork statistics reveal a 1000% spike in AI recruitment searches, highlighting the urgency for organisations to invest in their workforce’s AI skill development. This showcases a huge opportunity to revolutionise talent solutions, focussing on candidates who not only possess technical skills but innovators who can harness AI to drive positive change. An overriding factor impacting the competitive landscape is the ability to effectively navigate these transformative technologies. Building a proficient team capable of addressing AI applications in commercial and corporate real estate is imperative for organisations seeking to unlock AI’s full potential for our industry.

A comprehensive approach to building an AI savvy workforce entails identifying the specific skills required, cultivating a culture of continuous learning, and attracting top talent. On a panel during the BuildingsAI conference our founder, Lewis Martin, discussed key strategies for upskilling and acquiring talent in the field of AI, and equipping them with knowledge tailored specifically to real estate applications.

Balancing AI’s Potential

While AI’s potential is limitless, we must acknowledge its limitations and the legitimate concerns surrounding job displacement. Our approach is to strike a balance — using AI to enhance efficiency without sacrificing the human touch. Rather than solely seeking individuals who work with machines; we have to adapt and grow our workforce alongside these progressive technologies. Seeking candidates who can effectively communicate with these tools, ensuring a harmonious collaboration between technology and humanity, is the first step. Alongside this, we discussed a few actionable tips to ensure you can successfully integrate AI and remain ahead of the curve.

Revolutionising Job Descriptions: Traditional job descriptions often miss the mark in capturing the essence of what candidates and our industry seek. Take action by redefining job descriptions to highlight key skills with the right terminology. Showcase opportunities not just as roles but as invitations to be at the forefront of smart buildings and corporate real estate innovation. A well-crafted job description sets the tone for attracting the right talent.

Support Upskilling Initiatives: Recognising the future of climate tech lies in upskilling workforces for AI adoption. Offer tangible support to employees whose functions require AI integration. Provide access to training programmes, workshops, and resources that empower individuals to upskill. By investing in your team’s development, you’re not just adapting to change; you’re driving it.

Demystify AI: AI isn’t the elusive silver bullet. It’s a tool that, when implemented correctly, enhances progress in every role. Take proactive steps to demystify AI within your organisation. Foster a culture where the capabilities and benefits of AI are clearly communicated. This ensures that every team member understands the role AI plays in creating efficiency and driving positive change.

Create a Culture of Continuous Learning: AI is not a one-time implementation; it’s an ongoing journey. Cultivate a culture of continuous learning within your organisation. Encourage employees to embrace the Learn, Engage, Adapt, and Practice (LEAP) framework. Provide opportunities for ongoing education, whether through courses, conferences, or internal meetings focused on AI’s impact. A workforce that continuously learns is a workforce that thrives in the age of AI.

Foster Collaboration and Innovation: AI’s true power lies in collaboration. Create channels for collaboration and innovation within your teams. Establish internal forums where employees can share insights, experiences, and success stories related to AI adoption. This not only accelerates the learning curve but also fosters a sense of community, driving collective progress.

Measure Progress and Iterate: Implementing AI solutions is a journey marked by milestones. Establish metrics to measure the impact of AI on efficiency and innovation within your organisation. Regularly assess progress and be ready to iterate. Adaptability is key in the evolving landscape. Use data and feedback to refine AI strategies and ensure they align with your organisational goals.

Empowering through LEAP

Our use of a LEAP framework is well placed here. By encouraging our own team to Learn continuously, Engage with the community and AI’s impact, Adapt to the evolving landscape, and Practice by being advocates for change, we can ensure we are leading from the front when it comes to providing the right talent to forge our industry forwards. We believe that only through sharing insight with a likeminded community of leaders can we remain a truly innovative and inclusive sector.

Recognising the strengths and limitations that come with the rapid emergence of AI is crucial to embracing this innovation. It’s not merely a technological advancement but a paradigm shift that demands a new approach to talent acquisition. Our industry’s historical lag in technology adoption has shaped the way talent is attracted, and we see this as an opportunity to pioneer change.

About LMC: Our mission goes beyond solving clients’ problems; we are committed to fostering a more efficient, inclusive, and effective climate technology sector. The industry is not just about technology; it’s about the people who drive innovation, and talent acquisition is at the heart of our commitment to positive change. To chat to us about how we can help your business, get in touch.

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Gina Elliot, Chief Services Officer

Buildings IoT (Client)

It has been a pleasure to work with Lewis for many years. His understanding of the complex needs of the Smart Building, Proptech, and Climatec is unique in this industry. He is always thorough in his work and provides well-qualified candidates. Lewis is part of the team, realizing that each company’s ongoing success relies on his knowledge of our needs. He puts considerable time and effort into identifying our goals and his follow through is impeccable, ensuring that company and candidate are well-matched. It is obvious that he is passionate about his work. Lewis has a wide reach with a large network of vetted candidates. He establishes and nurtures his relationships, providing counsel and advice along the way to business and individual. He is my “go to” when looking for the next member of my team.

William Behn, President

TOSIBOX (Client)

As the world experiences a tighter and tighter labor market, the ability to attract and retain talent will be a core tenant of any thriving business. And because Recruiters pop up everywhere, it makes sense to partner with the best and the brightest and those with staying power. What I look for in a Recruiter is simple: Integrity, Teamwork, and the ability to go and get beyond what's on the resume/CV. As you look to grow staff it would be hard to do better than Lewis Martin. Lewis is able to operate across borders and oceans. His candidates respond to him and his customers love him. Lewis and his team dig into your needs, understand the soft skills necessary to be successful, and as was the case with me recently, will pick up the phone even while on holiday.

Mike Cioce, Vice President of Sales

Legend Power Systems (Client)

Lewis is a true professional and great to work with! He has filled five positions for us and has found us more great candidates than we can currently hire. He does a great job of giving us multiple "A player" level candidates to choose from. Most of the highest achieving people in our organization have been sourced by Lewis and his team. He is proactive and very fair to work with. I highly recommend Lewis to anyone looking for a top-tier talent partner.

David Joy, Head of Sales

Infinitum (Client)

Lewis Martin and his team lead a recruiting process that landed me at Infinitum as Director of Sales. I recently worked with Lewis again to successfully recruit an additional Sales Manager to join our Infinitum sales team. Lewis approaches his work with the highest degree of professionalism. He carefully reviewed our requirements, found, and qualified excellent candidates, and supported the interview, offer, and onboarding stages. I am very pleased with the job that Lewis did and recommend his services.

Michael Westerfield, Director of Product

Acuity Brands (Candidate)

I was impressed Lewis could speak to my strengths with the client and discuss how my skills would complement the team. He convinced the client I was the right person for the role. While I wasn’t looking for a new role at the time, he clearly articulated the clients’ objectives in a way that also sparked excitement with me. Throughout the process, he worked closely to build the relationship and role so everyone was excited to move forward. While I’ve worked with talent acquisition professionals before, I’ve never worked with anyone more passionate and thorough as Lewis.

Edi Demaj, Co-Founder

KODE Labs
LMC possesses an unparalleled ability to identify and attract top-tier talent that aligns perfectly with our company's needs and culture. Their strategic approach to listening, understanding our needs and then using that information to source, screen and engage candidates has resulted in a remarkable success rate in filling key positions for us at KODE Labs. Their ability to maintain clear communication and transparency throughout the process is their greatest asset and ensures a smooth and efficient recruiting process.

Hugh Amoyal, Chief Executive Officer

Bueno
Lewis and his team have been terrific in not only advising on recruitment strategy but have also been able to help us with identifying commercial partners to help us with client deliverables. LMC is not just a recruitment service provider to Bueno, they are a key partner in our global expansion journey.

Mike Luscombe, Head of Global Growth

Radix IoT
Lewis is a pro and has built an extensive international network in the smart buildings’ community. He’s able to establish trust relationships and act as an advisor to both hiring managers and candidates. If you’re looking for a recruiter in the smart buildings space, he should be your first call!

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