Redefining the Modern Workplace: Why Haltian’s sensors are the essential layer for Microsoft Places
Have you ever walked into the office only to find your booked meeting room or desk is occupied by someone else? In today’s hybrid work era, these frustrations are all too common.
Hybrid work is now the norm for most organizations, bringing new expectations for flexibility, collaboration, and efficient use of office space. As a result, corporations are rethinking how they design and manage their workplaces, and the key to success lies in data-driven decision-making.
Microsoft Places, an AI-powered workplace platform, represents a significant leap forward in this transformation. It brings together booking systems, analytics, and real-time insights to help organizations create workplaces that genuinely work for their people. Yet, to unlock the full power of Microsoft Places, one critical ingredient is required: accurate, real-time occupancy data.
That’s where we come in.
Gain visibility
Why is data the foundation of a smart workplace?
Digital booking tools and workplace management systems are invaluable, but they only tell part of the story. Employees book meeting rooms or desks, but plans change, meetings move online, and spaces remain empty. The result? Ghosted bookings, wasted space, and unreliable data make it hard to plan, optimize, or even find a desk when needed.
To address this, organizations need visibility into how spaces are actually used, not just how they’re scheduled. Haltian’s occupancy sensors, seamlessly integrated into Microsoft Places, provide exactly that. These sensors detect real-time occupancy at the desk, room, and zone levels, giving organizations the most accurate picture possible of their workspace utilization.
The power of integration: Microsoft Places x Haltian
Haltian’s integration with Microsoft Places transforms the platform into a brilliant workspace ecosystem. Through the Microsoft Graph API, Haltian’s wireless, battery-powered IoT sensors feed real-time occupancy data directly into Microsoft Places, enhancing everything from desk bookings to AI-driven analytics.
This deep integration brings benefits on multiple levels: operational, financial, and experiential for both employees and workplace managers.
Eliminate ghost bookings with auto-release
Ghost bookings, meaning when rooms are reserved but never used, are a costly and frustrating issue. Haltian’s sensors detect whether a space is actually occupied, and when no one shows up within a set timeframe, the system automatically releases the booking back into availability in Microsoft Places.
This auto-release functionality ensures meeting rooms and desks are only shown as “in use” when they truly are. The result is higher space efficiency, fewer booking conflicts, and happier employees who can always find a place to collaborate.
Enhance employee experience and ease of use
Finding a free meeting room or desk shouldn’t feel like a treasure hunt. With Haltian sensors providing real-time presence data, Microsoft Places can accurately show which spaces are available on its digital maps. Employees can see and trust what’s free, making their office days smoother and more productive.
Moreover, when paired with future Microsoft Places features, Haltian’s sensors will enable zero-touch check-in: simply sit down, and the system automatically books your desk. No need to scan codes or log in manually, just a seamless workplace experience
Empower facilities and real estate teams with actionable insights
For real estate and facility leaders, the difference between perception and reality can be millions of euros. By combining Microsoft Places analytics with Haltian’s high-precision occupancy data, organizations can finally see how spaces are actually used, across floors, departments, or entire portfolios.
With this data, facility teams can:
- Identify underutilized or overcrowded areas
- Reconfigure layouts to better support collaboration
- Optimize cleaning, maintenance, and energy schedules
- Make informed decisions about expansion, downsizing, or redesign
In other words, Haltian sensors turn workplace analytics into a strategic tool for portfolio optimization.
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Unlock advanced analytics
With Haltian’s integration, occupancy data from the sensors is first visualized directly in Microsoft Places analytics, giving organizations a clear, real-time overview of space utilization and workplace activity.
In addition to the native analytics available in Microsoft Places, Haltian provides Haltian Workplace Reports, a dedicated analytics platform where customers can dive deeper into the data. With heatmaps, custom filters, and an interactive floor plan, Haltian Workplace Reports offers a comprehensive view of workplace performance that supports continuous optimization.
Importantly, at Haltian, we believe that our customers own their data. All collected data can be easily exported or integrated into any other application, service, or analytics platform of choice. This ensures full flexibility and transparency for the customer.
Plug-and-play simplicity
Technology should make life easier, not harder. Haltian’s wireless, battery-powered sensors arrive pre-configured, ready to deploy with a simple QR scan. Installation is as easy as attaching them with the included two-sided tape — no cabling, no downtime.
Haltian also provides full onboarding support for Microsoft Places. As part of the onboarding process, an IMDF floor plan of the office is created. In addition to several Microsoft partners, Haltian can also support this with configuration guides, PowerShell scripts, and troubleshooting.
Proven value: financial, operational, and human
The benefits of integrating Haltian sensors go far beyond technology.
- Financially, organizations gain the ability to right-size their office footprint, reduce wasted lease, and plan future investments with confidence.
- Operationally, facility teams can base cleaning, maintenance, and scheduling on real usage data, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
- Experientially, employees enjoy a frictionless, intuitive workplace where rooms are genuinely available, and collaboration just works.
In today’s hybrid work reality, this isn’t just a convenience — it’s a competitive advantage.
Shaping the future of work – Together with Microsoft
As a certified Microsoft Places data integration partner, Haltian brings deep IoT expertise and a proven track record in workplace technology. Our Thingsee PRESENCE sensors deliver up to 10 years of battery life, are plug-and-play to install, and seamlessly integrate into Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem.
From strategy and setup to analytics and support, Haltian provides a turnkey solution that scales effortlessly across global enterprises, ensuring that every square meter of office space delivers measurable value. The partnership between Haltian and Microsoft Places represents more than an integration. It’s a shared vision: workplaces that are responsive, data-driven, and human-centric.
As organizations worldwide reimagine their office strategies, Haltian stands ready to help them make every space work smarter — supporting Microsoft’s mission to empower people and organizations to achieve more. Because when spaces respond, people thrive.
And with Haltian and Microsoft Places, the modern workplace truly comes to life.
Want to learn more about our integration? Contact us
Head of Commercial Partnerships
Janne Kilpeläinen
Janne looks after our commercial partnerships
Head of Technology Partnerships
Jarno Majava
Jarno looks after our technology partnerships