Cisco Spaces

Cisco Spaces is a cloud platform that turns Cisco networking hardware a building already has into occupancy and location sensors. Rather than installing a separate sensor network, it captures location signals from access points, switches, cameras and collaboration devices, which is why Cisco frames the value as smart buildings at low total cost of ownership. Third-party IoT sensors can be added alongside.

The cloud engine works across Catalyst, Meraki and WebEx hardware and exposes a full stack open framework: 3D rich maps, location metadata, indoor location services over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy, third-party sensor ingestion, native applications, partner applications and meta APIs. A high-volume multi-sensor location firehose API is available for teams that want to stream the raw signal into their own systems.

Outcomes are delivered through applications rather than raw data. Cisco supplies built-in Spaces apps for experience, efficiency and analytics, and a pre-validated partner ecosystem provides ready-to-install apps built for specific verticals, all managed from a single-pane dashboard. Named vertical use cases cover workplaces measuring occupancy and elevating employee experience, retail driving engagement and growth through smart analytics, and healthcare improving patient experience, operational efficiency and people safety. One retail customer describes building personalized personas, distinguishing frequent weekend visitors from daily visitors and drawing insight into shopping habits.

Three packages are offered at different scales. Notably, existing Cisco customers may already hold Spaces licenses sitting unused, since Spaces Advantage is included in the price of Meraki Advanced and CW-A wireless licensing, and Cisco actively prompts customers to check. A price estimator and a device marketplace support planning, with 24/7 use case monitoring and SLAs.