Founded in 2004, OpticWise emerged from a bold realization: digital infrastructure in commercial real estate (CRE) was being overlooked as a strategic asset. With a unique blend of technological expertise and deep understanding of real estate operations, CEO Bill Douglas initiated a new approach in 2016—one in which property owners gain control, generate revenue, and elevate the tenant experience through advanced digital solutions.

OpticWise transforms commercial buildings into intelligent, connected environments. By replacing outdated third-party networking setups with owner-controlled infrastructure, they enable CRE owners to unlock recurring income streams, optimize operational efficiency, and deliver world-class tenant amenities. At the core of this offering lies the 5S^® User Experience—Seamless Mobility, Security, Speed, Stability, and Service, enhanced with Ultimate Privacy^™—a framework designed to deliver uninterrupted, private, high-speed connectivity across every square foot of a property.

Their client-centric ethos, “Take care of the client,” informs every decision—from deploying dedicated customer success teams to implementing strict data privacy protocols. OpticWise’s services drive real returns, with tangible improvements in tenant retention, network reliability, and Net Operating Income (NOI).

With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, and a growing national footprint, OpticWise supports top-tier office, apartment, and mixed-use portfolios across the U.S. Their innovation continues with AI-driven analytics platforms, strategic smart-building integrations, and a recent publication—Peak Property Performance, co-authored by Douglas—empowering CRE professionals to embrace digital transformation with confidence.

Services Offered by OpticWise

Their services include 5S^® Managed WiFi, which ensures seamless mobility, speed, security, stability, and service—providing enterprise-grade connectivity and support across entire properties.

Through their CRE Digital Infrastructure Services, OpticWise creates resilient, future-ready networks, manages IoT integration, and ensures operational efficiency. Their BoT^® Building Intelligence Audits evaluate physical and digital systems to uncover opportunities for optimization, control, and monetization. BOT^® stands for Building of Things^®.

OpticWise also specializes in CRE Data Services, helping property owners turn raw building data into actionable insights through advanced analytics, AI, and scalable data infrastructure solutions.

In Conversation with Bill Douglas, CEO of OpticWise

One of the main components of OpticWise's digital infrastructure products is the 5S^® User Experience. Could you describe this framework's elements and how it raises property value and tenant satisfaction?

The 5S^® User Experience is a core of how OpticWise delivers exceptional returns. It stands for Seamless Mobility, Security, Speed, Stability, and Service and includes Ultimate Privacy. These pillars ensure that tenants receive uninterrupted, secure, private, and lightning-fast connectivity throughout a property. For owners, this translates to higher retention rates, fewer complaints, and a measurable increase in NOI (Net Operating Income). By engineering digital services as amenities, we enable properties to differentiate themselves and command premium positioning in the market.

The significance of owning and managing a building's digital infrastructure is strongly emphasized by OpticWise. In what ways does this strategy help property owners with operational effectiveness and data monetization?

Ownership equals control. When property owners control the digital infrastructure, they eliminate reliance on third-party ISPs and tech vendors and gain full visibility into performance metrics and security protocols. This allows for efficient troubleshooting, streamlined operations, and the ability to monetize new services.

At OpticWise, "Take care of the client" is a fundamental principle. Could you give particular instances of how this idea has impacted business choices and directed your relationships with clients?

This guiding principle has influenced everything from product design to customer support. For instance, we recently revamped our onboarding process based on client feedback to include a dedicated customer success manager and proactive tenant education campaigns. Another example is our decision to invest in Ultimate Privacy™—an internal policy and technical framework that guarantees tenant data is never sold or exposed.

How do you assess the effectiveness of your services from the viewpoints of tenants and property owners, and which metrics best capture OpticWise's influence?

We measure our impact through a combination of qualitative and quantitative KPIs. From the tenant side, support ticket resolution times and user satisfaction surveys are key indicators. From the ownership perspective, we track infrastructure uptime, tenant retention rates, and new revenue generated from digital services. In many buildings, we’ve seen lower turnover and fewer maintenance tickets directly tied to digital enhancements.

At OpticWise, upholding an amazing culture and fundamental principles are highly valued. How is this culture fostered inside the organization, and how does it influence the services you offer?

Our culture is built on curiosity, accountability, and a relentless focus on impact. We hire people who are not only skilled but also aligned with our mission to transform the CRE industry. This culture drives a service mindset, where every employee—from engineers to executives—understands the importance of delivering excellence to our clients.

Are there any projects or initiatives that OpticWise is working on in the near future to improve its offerings and increase its presence in the CRE market?

We want OpticWise to be remembered for making technology simple and less daunting for the CRE industry. Drew Hall and I are publishing a book this year with Fast Company Press entitled “Peak Property Performance - Game-Changing AI & Digital Strategies for Commercial Real Estate” to share a playbook for CRE data and digital infrastructures. We use clear, plain language and share real-world experiences with owners and operators. Our desire is to positively impact the industry and give everyone the tools to embrace AI, data, and digital.

Shaping the Future of CRE through Digital Leadership

The future of commercial real estate lies in intelligent, interconnected environments where data powers every decision—from optimizing energy consumption to enhancing tenant experiences. OpticWise is providing scalable, secure, and tenant-first digital platforms that grant full ownership and control to property stakeholders. As digital infrastructure cements itself as a foundational element of modern CRE, OpticWise remains committed to delivering solutions that help owners capture, manage, and monetize their networks.

Bill Douglas |CEO

"OpticWise transforms commercial buildings into intelligent, connected environments where property owners gain control, generate revenue, and elevate tenant experience through data & advanced digital infrastructures."