The future of facility management is becoming increasingly dependent on integrated systems, as evidenced by campuses' connectivity with IoT and the information, data, and resources available through both formal and informal sources (think word of mouth, group chats, and social media). Quick, reliable, and official time displays with easily accessible information management are key to ensuring occupant safety and well-being.
Whether at a healthcare facility, school campus, or office building, synchronized timekeeping plays an important role in keeping people on time, meeting facility compliance requirements, tracking events, and reviewing post-incident analysis.
Synchronized and multifaceted time-tracking solutions can help move occupants efficiently, distribute information promptly, and provide a synopsis of time-tracked incidents accurately. Having such a building-optimizing solution is increasingly important as new challenges continue to shape facility management every day.
Planning for Time and Data Display Preparedness
There are many factors to consider when preparing your facility for the ever-present demand for information management. A critical component of an efficient facility or campus is the functionality of its time displays and their adaptability to changing needs. A few questions can help you and your staff start to create a baseline for current capacity and identify where your system might need an upgrade:
- How reactive is your time and information system in emergency situations?
- How reliable is the time tracking system you currently use?
- Can you identify potential downtime?
- How often do time tracking issues arise?
- Are there any capital improvements scheduled?
- What level of satisfaction do your building occupants have with current information sources?
- How much staff time is allocated to time and facility management technology maintenance?
- Are there any future capacity requirements that your communication system will need to meet?
Once your facility management team has performed a general assessment of your time and data system, you can take that information and audit the devices and technology currently in use. Create or update the system overview to document the types of devices installed. Be sure to include the specific details on each device — such as wireless, hardwired, analog, digital, etc. — and the location within your facility.
This process will reveal your current system’s efficiency and effectiveness and determine whether it meets future time-display and information-board demands.
Time for a New Synchronized Time Display System?
If your current time display system proves insufficient for current or future facility requirements, there’s an ideal option that’s future proof. The Primex Sync™ Synchronized Timekeeping system can provide multiple solutions to meet compliance or other facility needs.
Primex Sync clock options include synchronized clocks in analog and digital formats. The digital clocks are easy to see and can be adapted to count up or down with the correct accessory. Incidents can be managed through the OneVue® Software platform, available on any device with internet access, helpful for post-event analysis, studying, or compliance proof.
Clocks and displays with Primex Sync are available through four different technologies to fit any size building or campus. For larger institutions, a wireless and patented Radio 72 MHz is a perfect fit, thanks to in-house Primex engineers who review campus blueprints to guarantee coverage. Wireless Wi-Fi and wireless Bluetooth® Low Energy technologies are ideal for simple connections and not-so-large buildings. For a secure, wired connection, Power over Ethernet provides a reliable timekeeping system that utilizes existing cable runs to power and relay time to clocks.
The Primex Notify® InfoBoard™ Display delivers a digital clock's capabilities with the added benefit of visual notifications, ideal for emergencies or facilities with high noise levels. The displays are easily installed and provide fast, effective notifications that can be seen institutionwide or users can choose to post different, customized messages per location. All InfoBoard Displays are centrally controllable to provide unified timekeeping and consistent messaging throughout a campus or facility.
All Primex Sync clocks automatically update every spring and fall for daylight saving time, eliminating hours of maintenance and freeing facility staff for more pertinent tasks. Analog clock faces are also customizable, making it easy for your facility to have its logo or motto on each face to build camaraderie or brand recognition. Digital clocks feature red or green digits and are available in four- or six-digit models to meet any specific need.
Primex Sync is the Future of Timekeeping
Several trends in facility management make modern time display and information boards a valuable asset for managers and occupants. As campuses and workplaces evolve, the amenities, occupants, and facility needs will require consistent, reliable systems that are versatile and user-friendly.
The growing expectations on facility and campus technology are to oversee and monitor all aspects of information resources, emergency notifications, environmental quality, occupancy information, and even transit data. For facility managers looking to keep up with current technology and be ready for the future, Primex Sync, Primex Notify, and the OneVue cloud-based software solutions provide comprehensive time display and communication capabilities for now and beyond.
This article was originally written in 2021 and updated in 2026 to reflect current trends and topics.
