Global real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) has partnered with Google to create a digital assistant application for office workers, according to a report by Geekwire.
Under this partnership, JLL unveiled a smartphone-based voice assistant designed for office workers. The new app will allow workers to book conference rooms and desks in their buildings and file maintenance requests, among other capabilities.
According to the report, the digital voice assistant, dubbed JiLL, is expected to be tested with a number of JLL’s customers soon. The project is part of a broader effort from JLL company to offer new technology offerings for the real estate sector.
“When we come to the office there is a different portal when you look at what’s for lunch, or when you need to file a service request or when you need to book a meeting,” said Vinay Goel, chief digital product officer for JLL. “All those types of things tend to be very siloed experiences.”
JiLL is a smartphone-based app and mainly focuses on the office setting.
“We understand teams because we understand where you sit; we understand your cost center; and we understand your organization — who you report to, who works for you,” Goel said. “We know the floorplans, and we know where the printers are.”
The digital assistant is still being tested internally. Following tests with initial customers in within the next couple of months, JLL intends to roll out the digital assistant across the U.S. in the last quarter of the year, according to the report.
The report also stated that JLL is in process of developing a set of APIs and integrations to plug into companies’ calendar and work order systems. JLL’s digital assistant will be able to integrate with Microsoft 365 and Google’s G Suite.
JiLL has been developed by JLL Labs, the real estate firm’s in-house software development group.
JLL also worked closely with Google to develop the new digital assistant, which runs on the Google Cloud Platform.