Brady Services is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2017 winner of the Innovative Workplace at the NC Tech Awards. Winners were recognized at the annual awards gala on Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center, presented in conjunction with title sponsor Cherry Bekaert. This year’s event was attended by more than 700 leaders from across the state.

The NC Tech Awards is North Carolina's only statewide technology awards program, recognizing companies and individuals who have characterized excellence, innovation and leadership. For more information on the selection process, categories, finalists, winners and the awards gala, visit www.NCTechAwards.com.

Brady has come a long way since its founding 55 years ago as a Trane HVAC company by Don Brady in Greensboro. Jim Brady, President and CEO of Brady family of companies said, “At Brady we are undergoing significant transformation---moving from a building services company leveraging technology to a technology company in the field of building services.”

Harmandeep Singh, who leads the Strategy and Innovation function at Brady, shared the company’s approach around driving innovation “At the core of our 3-I strategy is Innovation, which by the way is not just about new technologies, it's more about our people. We are very proud of all of our associates who have helped make Innovation real at Brady.”

“Since 1995, the NC Tech Awards has honored excellence and innovation throughout North Carolina, representing the best and the brightest,” said Brooks Raiford, president and CEO of NCTA.  “As a winner, Brady Services has distinguished itself as a peer-leader and we are proud to recognize them as a 2017 NC Tech Awards winner. 

Singh shared the story of the Brady Innovation Center, located in the Brady corporate headquarters in Greensboro, He said “Seeing is believing. It’s easier to get the buy in from your own people as well as your customers if you can create a tangible version of your vision”. He described the Brady Innovation Center as “the seat of new learning, a laboratory for testing new ideas, and a showcase of the latest technology for providing digital services to the market. The Brady Innovation Center houses the latest technology equipment and solutions and includes work desks for future roles such as Virtual Coach, Data Technicians and Customers for Life team, etc.

Brady added, “To balance the needs of innovating for the future while running a current profitable business, we creating an Innovation team colt BOLT (Brady Opportunity Launch Team, a group of innovators who work on diverse projects arising out of Brady’s business needs or challenges. Using an ideation process, BOLT collects the ideas, conducts experiments and builds a business case, and lets the Brady Business Leaders decide when to activate the idea into the core business, thus causing minimum disruptions to ongoing business.”

Singh invited the executives of North Carolina based tech companies to visit the Brady Innovation Center to learn more about how to make innovation a key differentiator for companies who have embarked on a similar journey of digital transformation.

Brady has recently launched new digital services, such as a Virtual Coach, where senior service personnel remotely help newer field technicians and customers, a cybersecurity solution for connected buildings, and a Virtual Energy Manager solution to help customers manage their utility consumption via a remote connection.

From four associates in 1962 to over 420 now, Brady expects to continue to grow, to change, and to use technology to save its customers time and money while at the same time making its customers happier, more comfortable, and more productive. Our newest endeavor in the IOT space, Building Clarity, provides Smart Buildings Analytics solutions to connect building performance to business results for our customers.

Jim Brady was announced earlier as a finalist in the Tech Exec of the Year competition. North Carolina Lt. Governor Dan Forest received the “Public Leader of the Year” award.