With today’s technology, manual manpower is no longer the cheapest and best Business Management System (BMS) out there. Many businesses are choosing to switch to smart building solutions to improve the productivity of their company, save their business money, and cut down on electricity usage.
What are Smart Building Solutions and Why is it Important for My Business?
Smart building solutions are buildings that utilize smart technology and are run through the cloud. In the past, buildings were run manually (ie HVAC is turned on and off or lights are switched on and off, etc).
But, in a post-pandemic world, we are seeing a shortage of manpower, and facility managers with the expertise to run Building Management Systems (BMS) are retiring at a faster rate than new employees are being trained. Switching your business to smart building solutions is money conscientious and a resourceful business decision.
Figure 1: (Source: Schneider Electric)
What Can Be Moved to the Cloud?
Smart Energy & Power Management Systems (EPMS) and BMS take advantage of the data from the many types of devices and energy assets common throughout facility electrical distribution systems, according to a paper written by Schneider Electric.
Smart building solutions move everything from sensors, meters, protection, controls, power generation, advanced analytics, reporting, and security to the cloud.
A cloud-hosted model for EPMS and/or BMS means not having to host processing and a database on-site. This avoids the capital expense of having to maintain an on-site computer, a server, and software. Cloud-based EPMS and BMS are typically purchased on a subscription basis, such as a monthly fee. The subscription will normally include the on-site gateway and maintenance/upgrade of the gateway as necessary, according to a paper written by Schneider Electric.
Figure 2: (Source: Schneider Electric)
How do I switch to smart building solutions?
Switching your business to smart building solutions might sound overwhelming and impossible to get started. That’s why Mac Electric is equipped with trained electricians to help make the transition as easy as possible.
The first thing you can do is make sure your building has LED lighting that is compatible with a smart BMS. If your business doesn’t have LED lighting compatible with a smart BMS, Mac Electric will give you a free lighting audit today. If your current lighting system is not compatible with BMS, Mac Electric can recommend options to make your system BMS-ready!
Next Steps
Step 1: Consider how new cloud-based EPMS and BMS solutions fit with the current and future goals of your business and facility operations.
Step 2: Choose a solution partner with experience in both EPMS and BMS domains, and with industry-wide experience with similar types of organizations and facilities as your own. This will enable cross-building benchmarking against other companies and industry standards.
Step 3: Choose a platform that offers the breadth of the functionality, the potential to offer a unified portal to EPMS and BMS analytics, and open integration with other applications (e.g., security, space management, etc.).
Ready to Make the Switch to a “Smarter” Future?
Smart building solutions are the future of business. Regardless of where your company is in this decision process, Mac Electric is here to help you plan for a smarter future. Contact us today to start the process.