Businesses today must learn to adapt and keep pace with technology trends to maintain relevance and continuity, or they risk being left behind. Consider, for instance, how online shopping has changed the competitive landscape of big box stores, and how social media has changed the way we communicate, receive, and share information. At the end of the day, facility and energy management is no different.
In the past, building controls operated on pneumatic systems which kick on when pressure controls move pressurized signals from a controller to a device through copper or plastic tubes. For a long time, these systems had to remain separate and were unable to communicate with each other.
However, as the world adopted more digital technologies, so too did the building automation industry. Now, control processes integrate a microprocessor controller that updates internal information for continuous monitoring, data collection, and corrective output commands in response to changing control conditions. As a result, more systems can be integrated into the network, including HVAC; ventilation; lighting; security; access; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems; emergency backup systems; fire and life safety; crisis communication systems; and much more. A fully integrated, smart facility connects infrastructure inside and outside the building, delivering data on a single pane of glass for easily digestible information and data-driven actionable insights.
Another trend on the uptick is remote monitoring of these fully integrated buildings. A command center pulls data from your buildings into a secure platform that analyzes and processes the data from one building or multiple buildings across a large-scale real estate portfolio. The command center is the vehicle used to alert facility operators and owners about issues inside and outside the building, specifically which building it is, the location of it, and what equipment – down to the part – is faulting. Additionally, 24/7 monitoring facilitates instantaneous fault detection alerts so action can be taken before a bigger, more costly problem arises. The command center team can deploy service technicians to the facility armed with the right tools and data to fix the issue with little to no disruptions to your operations.
Why is this important? Why now?
According to Dodge Construction Network’s latest report, skilled labor shortages will continue to be an issue throughout the next several years. “Though the growth of total construction in 2023 is expected to remain positive, the sector will continue to face significant headwinds when it comes to finding labor.” Therefore, technology will be critical to keeping facilities operational and running efficiently.
A command center takes technology to the next level by integrating all systems across multiple facilities. Through a single pane of glass, the center provides real-time analytics and actionable insights to improve efficiencies and achieve corporate goals.
This may include:
- Improving energy utilization rates
- Tracking and validating key performance metrics
- Reporting and compliance requirements
- Validating data to the C-Suite
- Predictive analytics for future state planning
Stark Tech serves customers across North America providing integrated building solutions including master systems integration and grants them access to its Command Center. The platform integrates facilities at scale, regardless of the inherited control systems or interfaces, providing data through a single pane of the glass for customized service and equipment solutions. In addition, clients gain access to building systems specialists, analytics experts, engineering, and IT networking professionals. The team delivers industry-leading building intelligence and energy performance monitoring and insights, in addition to best-in-class service.
