Bridging Business Goals with Data, AI & Technology

Ideon Consulting helps companies leverage AI applications and modern technology to streamline operations, unlock business innovation, and drive measurable digital transformation across industries.

AUTHOR OF THE COMPLETE AI TOOLKIT SERIES FOR CRE
A complete framework for AI adoption – from executive alignment to operational execution
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Strategy
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⚙️
Implementation
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🛠️
Execution
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About Ideon Consulting / Randy Storch

Randy Storch

Randy Storch

Former CTO at JLL | Technology Executive | Entrepreneur

Ideon Consulting is led by Randy Storch, a veteran technology executive and entrepreneur with a track record of turning bold ideas into real-world impact. As founder and principal, Randy brings decades of executive experience and a hands-on approach to innovation, digital transformation, and product development. From startups to Fortune 500s, he has successfully delivered transformative solutions across industries.

Randy is also the author of the Complete AI Toolkit Series for Commercial Real Estate—a comprehensive framework helping CRE leaders implement AI strategies across their organizations, from executive alignment to operational execution.

He's held C-level and founder roles at companies ranging from Convia (a Herman Miller division) to JLL, where he led the development of JLL Serve—an award-winning smart FM platform. He's also founded and exited startups in airline reservations, cybersecurity, and AI-driven workplace technology.

He's not just a technologist or a strategist—Randy thrives at the intersection of business vision and technical execution. Equally fluent in the boardroom and in deep technical discussions, he bridges the gap between what customers need and what technology can deliver by translating ideas into scalable, high-impact solutions.

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What Sets Him Apart

🎯 Customer-Centered Problem Solver

Digs deep to understand user needs, then delivers practical, high-impact solutions.

🔧 End-to-End Builder

Leads products from concept to deployment—whether cloud-based platforms, on-prem systems, workflow tools, or integrated hardware/software solutions.

🧱 Short-Term Wins, Long-Term Value

Builds technology that solves today's problems while positioning organizations for future growth, flexibility, and innovation.

🧠 Fluent Across Functions

Equally effective in executive strategy sessions and engineering reviews. Bridges product, engineering, and operations to align teams and accelerate execution.

🚀 Entrepreneurial & Intrapreneurial Impact

Founded and scaled successful startups. Also led groundbreaking innovation inside Fortune 500 companies like JLL and Herman Miller—delivering enterprise-scale transformation.

💥 Disruptive Innovation

Created technologies that redefined business models—including airline reservations and facilities management—by shifting how entire industries operate.

🌐 Cross-Industry Reach

Transformed operations in commercial real estate, hospitality, telecom, healthcare, education, internet security, and aviation—proving innovation isn't limited by industry.

🏆 Award-Winning Inventor & Leader

Holds 9 patents spanning multiple industries. Recognized as EY Entrepreneur of the Year, a Crain's 40 Under 40 honoree, and inducted into the University of Illinois Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame.

Technology Leadership as a Service

Fractional CTO

Fractional CTO / Innovation Leadership

For companies that need senior technology leadership but aren't ready for a full-time executive, I offer fractional CTO services. I bring clarity, focus, and execution to complex initiatives:

  • Define and execute digital product strategies
  • Build and mentor cross-functional teams
  • Guide architectural decisions and technology investments
  • Drive alignment between business goals and technical delivery
AI & Data Transformation

AI, Data & Digital Transformation Advisory

Turn complexity into clarity. I help organizations harness data and emerging technologies to drive smarter decisions and operational efficiency.

  • Uncover high-value opportunities for AI, automation, and process optimization
  • Align data strategy with business goals to unlock actionable insights
  • Break down silos by connecting systems for real-time visibility and control
  • Improve forecasting and planning through advanced analytics and digital modeling
Product Development

Product Strategy & Development

From whiteboard to working product, I help conceive and lead the development of scalable software and hardware solutions:

  • Validate market fit and identify user pain points
  • Develop MVPs, prototypes, and full product builds
  • Manage agile teams and product roadmaps
  • Ensure technical feasibility and commercial viability
Innovation Acceleration

Innovation Acceleration for Enterprises

I work with corporate teams to drive innovation with startup speed:

  • Launch internal ventures and pilot programs
  • Evaluate emerging tech and vendor solutions
  • Create innovation playbooks and governance models
  • Foster a culture of experimentation and outcome-driven execution
Go-to-Market

Go-to-Market Strategy & Commercialization

A great product still needs a great launch. I support:

  • Positioning and messaging development
  • Channel and partnership strategies
  • Business model and pricing design
  • Sales enablement and strategic pitch support

Real Estate Focused Innovation & Advisory Services

Smart Building Technology

Rethinking how real estate works—from the ground up.

With deep experience across facilities management, smart buildings, and digital transformation, I help real estate leaders modernize operations, unlock data-driven insights, and deliver better experiences for tenants, operators, and investors.

Let's unlock the full potential of your real estate portfolio.

Contact me to discuss how Ideon Consulting can help you move faster, operate smarter, and deliver greater value.

Core Capabilities

Strategic Advisory & Innovation

Bridge the gap between business strategy and technology execution.

  • Evaluate and modernize your current tech stack
  • Align digital initiatives with strategic business goals
  • Develop product roadmaps and guide vendor selection

Smart Building Transformation

Design and deploy more intelligent, efficient environments.

  • Integrate IoT, BMS, and building automation systems
  • Enable real-time visibility, alerts, and operational control
  • Reduce energy costs and enhance occupant experience

Data-Driven Decision Making

Turn fragmented data into actionable intelligence with AI/ML-powered insights.

  • Structure and unify data across systems to enable better analysis
  • Use AI/ML for predictive insights and smart recommendations
  • Support capital planning with real-time insights

Experience-Driven Design

Deliver modern, personalized experiences that drive retention and value.

  • Implement mobile and digital engagement tools
  • Seamlessly connect tenants to spaces and services
  • Personalize journeys using behavior and usage data

Featured Solutions

  • AI & ML Strategy – Identify high-value use cases, optimize workflows, and deploy intelligent recommendations.
  • Facilities Management Modernization – Digitize maintenance, streamline work orders, and apply predictive analytics.
  • Digital Twin Enablement – Create virtual models for real-time simulation, forecasting, and lifecycle planning.
  • Capital Project Support – Improve transitions, tracking, and ROI through integrated tech solutions.

Transforming Real Estate with AI: My Work in Action

AI Asset Onboarding

AI-Enabled Asset Onboarding

Automating Accurate, Scalable Asset Capture

The Problem

  • Manual data entry is slow, error-prone, and inconsistent
  • Key asset metadata (make, model, serial number) is often missing
  • Poor records hurt system integration, analytics, and reliability

The Solution

  • Snap a photo – AI extracts make, model, serial number and specifications
  • Auto-build asset profile – Complete, structured records without manual entry
  • Link instantly – Seamlessly connects to systems, telemetry, and metadata
  • Validate smartly – Flags errors, duplicates, and formatting issues in real time

Why It Matters

  • 70% faster onboarding with no manual effort
  • Clean data from day one for all sites
  • Consistent setup that scales across locations
  • Lays the foundation for digital twins, automation, and AI-based insights
AI Chatbot

AI Chatbot for Technicians

Real-Time, Targeted Support in the Field

The Problem

  • Technicians struggle to access the right asset-specific data quickly
  • System noise buries relevant insights under irrelevant details
  • Troubleshooting is inconsistent and time-consuming across teams

The Solution

  • Unified Intelligence – Aggregates telemetry, work history, OEM manuals, and asset metadata into a single source
  • Natural Language Interface – Enables technicians to ask questions and get clear, step-by-step answers
  • Targeted Guidance – Prioritizes likely causes and recommends fixes tailored to the specific context and asset history

Why It Matters

  • Speeds up diagnosis with relevant, context-specific information
  • Reduces downtime and increases first-time fix rates
  • Boosts productivity by eliminating data-hunting and guesswork
Asset Registry

Asset Registry & Ontology

Building a Common Language for Smart Operations

The Problem

  • Asset data is siloed across multiple systems
  • No consistent naming, hierarchy, or identification standards
  • Data inconsistencies limit automation, reporting, and analytics

The Solution

  • Centralized Registry – Standardizes and unifies assets across platforms
  • Ontology Engine – Auto-generates structure, naming, and relationships
  • Unique Asset ID – Links data sets using a consistent key

Why It Matters

  • Enables predictive maintenance and energy optimization
  • Powers automation and AI-driven decision-making
  • Lays the foundation for digital twins and scalable insights across the portfolio
Work Orchestration

AI-Driven Work Orchestration

Intelligent Task Management Across People, Priorities, and Systems

The Problem

  • Alerts are often missed or misrouted
  • Manual scheduling doesn't reflect real-time availability or expertise
  • Communication breakdowns slow coordination and response

The Solution

  • Smart Routing – Analyzes alerts and assigns them to the right person
  • Dynamic Scheduling – Matches tasks to staff based on skills and availability
  • Conversational Interface – Keeps stakeholders aligned through human-like interaction

Why It Matters

  • Reduces downtime and accelerates issue resolution
  • Improves coordination with intelligent triage and communication
  • Enables proactive maintenance with scalable, data-driven execution

My Innovation Portfolio

JLL

JLL Serve

Transforming Facilities Management Through Scalable Innovation

As CTO at JLL, I conceived, designed, and led the development of JLL Serve—an integrated FM platform built for Fortune 100 clients. The system combined mobile apps, IoT, and AI to streamline operations, improve data quality, and enable advanced applications like predictive maintenance and digital twins—delivering measurable impact at global scale.

Airplan / System One / Amadeus

Amadeus

Breakthrough Innovation in Airline Booking

As co-founder of AirPlan, I helped launch one of the first PC-based airline booking platforms—giving consumers direct access to a pre-Internet era. The system bypassed travel agents and introduced real-time pricing, accelerating the industry shift toward self-booking. AirPlan was acquired by System One, the reservation arm of Continental Airlines, and later became part of Amadeus.

Herman Miller / Convia

Convia

Pioneering Intelligent Power for Smart Buildings

As CEO of Convia, a Herman Miller division, I led the development of a software-defined power and control platform embedded in furniture and architecture. The system enabled real-time reconfiguration of lighting, HVAC, and energy zones—dramatically reducing infrastructure costs and establishing a scalable foundation for today's smart buildings.

Bretford Manufacturing

Bretford

Innovation Strategy for K-12 Power Delivery

As an innovation consultant, I led the strategic redesign of a classroom power system for Bretford. Originally conceived as an under-carpet charging pad, I reimagined it into a portable, wireless DC track that delivered flexible, safe, and cost-effective power access—without requiring construction or code approvals. This shift unlocked new markets, accelerated time to revenue, and aligned with Bretford's core strengths in productized, scalable solutions for schools.

Catbird Networks

Catbird

Market Repositioning to Unlock Scalable Growth

As CEO of Catbird Networks, Randy led a strategic pivot that transformed the company from a web performance monitoring tool into an early SaaS provider focused on Internet security for community banks. By identifying a more urgent market need and refining the company's value proposition, he repositioned the business to better align with customer pain points and regulatory demands. The result: Catbird rapidly scaled to over 500 customers in less than two years—an example of how strong technology, when matched with the right market, can drive exponential growth.

SceneTap

SceneTap

Repositioning a Failing Startup for Growth

Brought in as a turnaround expert for a nightlife tech startup burning capital with no viable revenue model, Randy led a full strategic reset. He identified core flaws in the original go-to-market plan, secured a complementary technology through acquisition, and repositioned the company around a data-driven solution that delivered real value to alcohol brands and venue operators. The result: early sales traction, renewed investor confidence, and a clear, scalable path to sustainable growth—turning a failing concept into a viable, insight-driven business.

From Building Systems to Building Solutions

Across all these companies, I saw the same challenge: leaders knew AI was critical for their future, but didn't know where to start.

Why CRE Needed an AI Framework That Works

At JLL, I focused on the foundational work that makes AI possible—structuring data, connecting systems, building the infrastructure for digital twins and intelligent operations at scale.

But I kept watching companies across the industry struggle. Their AI initiatives couldn't get off the ground. Promising pilots would stall. Teams didn't know where to start or how to maintain momentum.

The problem wasn't technology. It was the absence of a clear, proven framework that connected strategy to implementation to execution.

So I built one. The Complete AI Toolkit Series gives CRE teams everything they need to launch AI initiatives with confidence and sustain them through real transformation.

– Randy Storch
Former CTO, JLL

Complete AI Toolkit Series
for Commercial Real Estate

From strategy to execution – a framework designed to give CRE leaders clarity and confidence with AI adoption.

📘
Strategy
Set the foundation with executive alignment
⚙️
Implementation
Bridge strategy into operational execution
🛠️
Execution
Ready-to-use prompts and workflows for every team
⬇ Scroll down to explore bundles, guides, and toolkits

Choose Your Bundle

Complete bundles include everything you need. Specialized bundles focus on leadership or operations.

Strategic Guides & Implementation

Build the foundation for AI success – from executive alignment to practical execution.

Role-Specific AI Toolkits

Each toolkit includes ready-to-use prompts, proven frameworks, and workflow templates—designed for immediate impact in your daily work.

All toolkits now include the Universal Quick Start Guide — your step-by-step companion to getting results in 15 minutes.

Common Questions

Who created this series?

Randy Storch – former JLL CTO and co-creator of JLL Serve – with decades of CRE tech leadership.

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What's included in each guide or toolkit?

Each includes ready-to-use prompts, templates, and workflows delivered as PDFs.

How do discounts and promo codes work?

Discounts shown on this page apply automatically at checkout. If you have a promo code, enter it on the payment page. One code per purchase.

Can I upgrade later?

Yes – you can apply any prior purchase toward a Complete Bundle upgrade. Contact upgrade@ideonconsulting.com.

How does licensing work?

Licenses cover up to 5 team members in the same organization; enterprise options are available. Contact licensing@ideonconsulting.com.

Need help getting started?

Contact support@ideonconsulting.com for guidance on selecting, purchasing, or implementing your toolkit.

Discounts and promo codes are subject to change.

Insights on CRE, AI, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Observations and lessons learned from implementing AI in CRE, building smart building technology, founding startups, and transforming how entire industries operate.

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Insights & Publications

Thought leadership on AI, smart buildings, innovation strategy, and digital transformation in commercial real estate and beyond.

🏗️ Digital Transformation

BIM Was Supposed to Fix This

Exploring why BIM hasn't solved the data challenges in commercial real estate and what needs to change for true digital transformation.

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🚀 Entrepreneurship

The Bigger Idea Inside the Big Idea

Lessons learned from founding and scaling multiple startups across diverse industries, from airline reservations to smart buildings.

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🤖 AI in CRE

AI is the Engine - Strategy is the Journey

Why successful AI implementation starts with strategic clarity, not technology selection. A framework for CRE leaders.

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🏗️ Digital Transformation

The Asset Is the Anchor - Rethinking Smart Building Data

How creating a centralized asset registry unlocks predictive maintenance, energy optimization, and intelligent operations.

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📡 IoT

They Asked for Air Quality Sensors - We Gave Them a Global IoT Strategy

A case study in identifying the bigger opportunity hidden inside a tactical request and delivering enterprise-scale transformation.

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👥 Change Management

The Soft Stuff is the Hard Stuff

Why most technology projects fail not because of the tech, but because of people, process, and organizational readiness.

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💡 Innovation

From the Archives: How We Rewired Buildings Without Electricians

The story of Convia's software-defined power platform that enabled dynamic building reconfiguration without traditional infrastructure.

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⚡ Innovation

From the Archives: DC Powered Infrastructure

Pioneering work in bringing DC power distribution to commercial buildings for improved efficiency and flexible space design.

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🎯 Entrepreneurship

The Coin Slot for Technology

Understanding how to identify the right market timing and customer readiness for breakthrough technology innovations.

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