Backpack uses Arc to bring utility data into its data platform for the built world

Backpack uses Arc to bring utility data into its data platform for the built world

Backpack uses Arc to bring utility data into its data platform for the built world

Use case:

Collect and deliver utility data to include in Backpack’s data platform for real estate assets.

Challenge:

Backpack needed to scale their collection and delivery process for utility data across their growing customer base. Without timely access to utility data, real estate owners and operators cannot identify budget deviances, reduce operational expenses, or track progress towards emissions regulations.

Solution:

Backpack uses Arc to connect customers' utility accounts to the platform, ingest historical data, and continuously update utility data as each new statement is issued. Backpack meanwhile ensures the ongoing accuracy and completeness of the data, presenting building consumption and billing data alongside property use information, energy ratings, and other aspects of their platform.

Benefits:

By automating utility data collection, Backpack provides their customers with seamless access to their energy, water, and waste data. This allows Backpack and their customers to spend less time on data collection and to instead focus on leveraging this data to improve operations, reduce costs, and meet their ESG goals.

The story:

The Backpack team has been working to develop “the first system of record for commercial building data.” They’ve done so with a comprehensive approach to data collection that ensures confidence in the accuracy of data on their platform. By organizing verified building data in one simple platform and making it easily accessible to anyone who needs it — from building operations teams to lenders, insurers, and regulators — Backpack aims to unlock innovations powering the buildings of the future.

Before the integration of Arc, Backpack realized they needed to streamline their process for utility data collection and distribution across an expanding customer base. The timely acquisition of utility data is critically important, as it allows Backpack's customers to identify budget irregularities, reduce operational expenses, and monitor progress on meeting emissions regulations.

Arc unlocked this crucial capability for the Backpack team. It seamlessly connects customers' utility accounts to the platform, extracting historical data and ensuring the continuous updates of utility data with the issuance of each new statement. Simultaneously, Backpack has maintained their focus on data accuracy and completeness, presenting an all-encompassing view of building consumption and billing data alongside property use insights, energy ratings, and other dimensions.

"Connecting a utility account with Arcadia is quick and easy,” says Andrew Duffy, Director of Operations at Backpack. “In our extensive dealings with properties across the country, we have found that any utility provider we encounter either possesses an existing integration or is capable of establishing one within our regular timeline. The data quality is consistently reliable."

Through the automation of utility data collection, Backpack streamlines access for their customers to their energy, water, and waste data. This approach alleviates the burden of data collection, allowing Backpack and their clients to redirect their focus towards leveraging this data to enhance operations, reduce costs, and meet their emissions targets.