Building operations software

Building operations software brings HVAC, lighting, metering and room data into one view for facilities teams, often on top of an existing building management system. Check which protocols and BMS vendors it reads, and what it is allowed to change on site.

Platforms in this directory

What to look for

What good looks like

  • Integration evidence for BMS, HVAC, meters, occupancy and controls
  • Support for retrofit estates as well as new buildings
  • Workflows for alarms, maintenance, optimisation and fault detection

Red flags

  • The interface is polished but there is little proof of controls depth.
  • There is no public interoperability detail for BACnet, Modbus or older estates.
  • Savings or optimisation claims come without deployment examples.

Connecting building operations data

Start with an operational question

Which area is uncomfortable? Why is consumption high outside occupied hours? Which equipment needs investigation? Choose measurements that help answer those questions rather than collecting every available point without context.

Map the building's existing meters, sensors and control systems. Identify gaps in coverage and the supported ways to access useful existing data before specifying additional hardware.

Combine new monitoring and existing equipment

The hardware range includes electricity monitoring, temperature sensing and interfaces for other equipment. For example, review temperature sensing, the Modbus interface and the M-Bus interface against their current datasheets and your source devices.

Wireless communications can help with distributed retrofit measurements, but coverage and installation still need assessment. For wired systems, confirm the protocol, point mapping and permissions with the building's controls team.

Use a common local workspace

Edge brings supported devices into a common data model on the Gateway. Its dashboards, data tools and local automation are available without adding another building platform.

Name readings so operators can identify the site, room, circuit or equipment they describe. Distinguish measured values from calculated values and keep units, timestamps and connection state visible. Design each dashboard around a decision someone has to make.

Connect the existing operations workflow

If your organisation uses another building platform, agree which measurements and events it needs. Integration flows in Edge are configured for each platform, depending on the receiving system and requirements.

Confirm the endpoint, authentication, schema, reporting interval and quality handling. Before go-live, confirm the platform's endpoint, schema and account set-up with its provider.

Define control boundaries

Command access is separate from monitoring access. Agree permitted actions, operating limits, local overrides and failure behaviour with the equipment owner and controls team.

If local automation or a platform instruction is part of the design, verify the physical response and the feedback that confirms it. Keep specialised equipment protection and its required controls distinct from a new monitoring workflow.

Pilot a useful area of the building

Compare readings with the source equipment, review names with the people who operate the site, and check an interruption and recovery. Agree ownership for configuration, updates and failed delivery before rolling out further areas.

Read the energy management guide or browse technology providers.

Need building data for your operations platform? Tell us about the site, existing equipment and the data or control workflow you want to build.

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