Half of prospective buyers of intelligent building technologies are hesitating to make a move because of adoption and integration complexities, according to new research conducted by Facilio, a leader in the sector.
Facilities managers find it increasingly difficult to integrate modern solutions with legacy systems, the survey says.
One-third (33%) of respondents say today’s fragmented technology landscape adds to the complexity of initiating smart building projects.
Facilio’s is a leading provider in the intelligent building sector.
Its property operations platform allows real estate owners and operators to aggregate building data, optimise performance and control portfolio operations.
In its report, “State of Smart Buildings Software 2024”, Facilio finds 20% of facilities managers agree with the statement, “fragmented and outdated technology ecosystems breed confusion, hamper data exchange and trap optimisation opportunities in silos”.
Most respondents (78%) say their priority is optimising existing systems. Zone-controlled HVAC systems are at the top of the agenda for 35% of respondents.
More than two-thirds of facility managers (68%) say they want to install start-of-the-art Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD).
Some 41% plan to install remote command and control solutions to optimise energy efficiency and ensure comfort for residents of apartment blocks.
The survey identifies these four top challenges for the adoption of intelligent building technologies:
- Cost of implementation and maintenance – 51%
- Interoperability with legacy systems – 45%
- Centrally integrating automation systems and sensors – 35%
- Building a business case, including the ability to demonstrate ROI and allocate budget and resources – 34%
The Facilio report says: “There are many reasons why addressing these challenges isn’t straightforward, but the main culprit is the fragmented nature of the current technology landscape.”
A further complicating factor is that more than half of facilities managers (53%) feel they face a “choice overload”.
Understanding and selecting the most appropriate strategy for adoption is an exhaustive process that can stall project planning.
“The key to unlocking progress lies in starting small,” says the Facilio report. It suggests facilities managers “take stock of existing buildings and assets” to uncover optimisation opportunities that would be “quick wins”.
These would “generate valuable data, empowering you to strategise your next step with confidence, not guesswork”, it says.
The full report can be found at https://facilio.com/resources/state-of-smart-buildings-software-2024/
