6 Benefits of Building Management Systems Automation You’re Overlooking

Today, building owners are increasingly seeking data that provides a clear picture of building operations, equipment, and efficiency opportunities in their properties.

For many, this begins with the installation of a building management system. But a building management system alone will not provide the streamlined data or stunning visualizations needed to capitalize on the advantages of smart building technologies. An analytics platform that offers powerful data mining capabilities and actionable insights is necessary to continuously monitor building systems, diagnose real problems, and quickly implement solutions.

By deploying an intelligent building analytics platform, contractors and engineers can help clients more fully realize the benefits of building system management systems and open up opportunities for greater automation across their operations.

6 Benefits of Analytics for Building Management Systems Automation

As smart technology matures and energy efficiency becomes a greater priority for building owners, building management systems (BMS) are becoming an integral part of both new construction and retrofit projects. Indeed, the building management system market that was valued at $6.65 billion in 2016 is expected to climb to $19.25 billion by 2023. 

The impressive growth of the BMS market is a clear indicator that building owners recognize the value of data; building management systems can offer extraordinary amounts of data on what is happening in a building. Without targeted analytics to filter through the noise and make that data meaningful, many of the benefits of building management system automation are lost. An automation-enabled solution with features like 4-D insights and customizable reporting will facilitate creation of data-driven strategies that improve efficiencies for teams and equipment. 

When you pair a BMS with the right analytics software there are 6 major benefits that take building management and automation to a new level and create real value for your clients. 

1. Access to the Full Picture

An automated building management system with intelligent data analytics helps you focus on the big picture, providing straightforward, actionable results instead of exhausting lists of alarms and metadata.. Significantly, analytics can offer:

• Clear overall energy usage data
• Real-time context-based insights on building conditions, assets, and equipment

Access to prioritized information rather than data overload will help transform building management systems according to each client’s specific needs.

2. Simplified Custom Reports

Reporting can be tailored to client preferences and play an essential role in enhancing building operations. The best analytics platforms will produce reports that:

• Reveal trends and demonstrate progress toward efficiency goals
• Proactively suggest changes to address problems
• Can be generated on-demand and automatically at regular intervals
• Are distributed to the right stakeholders and easily accessed via customer-facing portals

BMS systems paired with smart data analytics generate tailored, intuitive reports identifying specific areas for action-oriented changes. 

3. Streamlined Internal Systems

An interconnected network of building management and analytics tools allows for continuous collection and analysis of data from a wide variety of linked devices and sensors. These include:

• Indoor air quality sensors
• HVAC controls
• Lighting controls
• Occupancy sensors
• Water, gas, and power meters

Combining sensors and devices with a building analytics platform creates a fully-managed, streamlined system that can:

• Prioritize alarms
• Detect and correct problems that might otherwise be overlooked
• Respond before repairs are needed or systems breakdown
• Prevent future inefficiencies

Data analytics platforms monitor building equipment and conditions to prevent operational bottlenecks, breakdowns, and dysfunctions.

4. Improved Uptime

Ongoing oversight of asset and equipment performance is essential to maintaining system uptime, providing value to not only building owners, but to integration, maintenance, and service teams. Primary and auxiliary systems include:

• Existing BMS alarm systems
• Power generators
• Airside and waterside equipment

By allowing critical insights to be extracted from the large volume of data, analytics platforms allow greater focus on areas where downtime can be minimized, improving operational efficiencies and reducing costs. 

5. Increased Energy and Utility Efficiency Opportunities

Data analytics supply the information needed for smart building management system automation and energy efficiency initiatives. For building owners, this is typically a top priority, as it can result in significant savings; according to some estimates, automation of HVAC and lighting systems alone can reduce overall energy consumption by as much as 30%. 

To improve energy and utility efficiency, intelligent analytics can:

• Track energy consumption and produce energy efficiency reports
• Provide valuable airside analytics regarding HVAC and fan coil units and variable air volume systems, including identifying unnecessary heating and cooling operation and setting heating and cooling system hours
• Create opportunities for equipment setpoint management
• Identify valve leakage

Smart data analytics offer meaningful energy and utility efficiency strategies for day-to-day building operations.

6. Optimized Maintenance Teams

Traditional maintenance models rely on preventative maintenance visits that may or may not need to happen. With data-driven analysis and automation, maintenance can be optimized by:

• Eliminating unnecessary maintenance
• Monitoring equipment and assets effectively to reduce system breakdowns
• Improving efficiency of field service visits and allowing for smaller maintenance teams

Creating maintenance schedules based on each building’s unique needs ensures maintenance teams are appropriately staffed and focused on the real issues.

Implementing Data Analytics for True BMS Automation

Building management systems are an invaluable asset for building owners. But if you just have a building management system without data analytics, you’re left with an unmanageable volume of data that can be more of a problem than a solution. With a smart analytics system designed to facilitate building management system automation, that data can be effectively organized, mined, prioritized, and put to use.

Deploying a comprehensive analytics platform like onPoint Analytics with SkySpark is an ideal solution for state-of-the-art building management. 

onPoint runs on top of building management systems to deliver meaningful, user-friendly insights and identify opportunities for operational efficiency for both teams and equipment. Secure edge-to-cloud services like this make it easier for contractors and end users to take advantage of powerful data analytics without having to become expert computer programmers or invest in additional technical resources to build out their own programming teams. 

As onPoint is a platform built on open protocols, the SkySpark back-end is open to any users who are interested in adding their own analytics to further customize the onPoint solution. By using SkySpark to develop a cohesive and cost-effective infrastructure for data analytics, onPoint transforms data into actionable intelligence and keeps that data openly available to all users.

Analytics-enhanced BMS automation offers compelling advantages for building owners and facilities managers. With the right technologies, buildings become easier to manage, more energy efficient and increasingly valuable.