Improving Operations: Cloud-Based Building Operation Systems

By Rahul Chillar
From the April 2025 Issue

Ever since the “new normal” became the only normal known in the work environment, digital tools and remote work became the norm for many professions. But what about those whose careers required on-site presence over a long period of time, facility managers being one of them? 

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the integration of internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and further smart building technologies is transforming the operational management of real estate. With an increasing need for data-driven decision making, the implementation of building operation systems gains momentum. 

Since 75% of commercial buildings are not managed as efficiently as they could be, there is huge potential to build on. Cloud-based building operation applications can be viewed as indispensable for future-proof facilities management. As the number of connected devices is expected to exceed 75 billion by 2025, data collection in commercial buildings is becoming more relevant than ever.

From Manual To Digital

Looking back over recent years, the rapid evolution of infrastructure technology is remarkable. While in the late 1990s property operations were strictly reliant on the on-site presence of personnel, nowadays buildings can be operated remotely and conveniently from anywhere. This transformation was possible as technology, such as sensors, have been integrated into building equipment, providing essential data. Strategically deployed throughout the property, sensors are monitoring critical areas such as Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), lighting, water management, fire safety, or security. Once the sensors have collected the data, they can display it in a cloud-based building operations application. And here are the key advantages:

1. Remote Monitoring 

These systems enable building managers to oversee whole building fleets on their preferred devices remotely — from anywhere, anytime. In case of potential issues, they even can receive instant notifications via email or SMS, enabling them to react before occupants get affected and to immediately troubleshoot the detected root causes.

Cloud access ensures a secured and end-to-end encrypted connection, while avoiding intrusive changes to network environments — such as VPN set up — as well as unnecessary onsite travels.

2. Data Analysis

While only 54% of global companies rate their organizations as mature or advanced in data-driven operational management, building managers can take huge advantage when having access to historic data sets; Cloud-based building operation systems can automatically log and store values and events around all connected data points. Interactive charts present data histories, which enable facility managers to analyze data over specific time periods, while also highlighting potential issues.

3. Tenant Comfort

Tenant turnover can result in significant expenses, including lost rent, the cost of marketing to new tenants, brokerage and legal fees, the cost of preparing spaces for new tenants, and other administrative costs. Thus, keeping tenants satisfied should be one of the main targets for building owners and investors. 

Cloud-based applications can calculate a comfort status based on real-time data and can automatically send notifications when a below-average performance is detected in any building. This makes it easy for facility managers to take corrective measures to ensure the well-being of tenants. 

4. Work Order Creation And Management 

Most cloud-based operations applications can be connected smoothly to additional asset management software solutions to create and manage work orders. This integration is a great add on for building managers, enabling them to react quickly and fix upcoming issues via smart order management. This might include an automated work order creation in response to system-detected events; a manual creation in response after alarm analyzation; and an event lifecycle management based on work order inputs. 

5. Fault Detection And Diagnosis (FDD)

While establishing fault detection and accelerating workflows is one of the key areas for facility managers, compiling the systems’ data points is also essential. A rule library, containing hundreds of pre-defined analytics rules based on industry standards for areas such as air distribution, heating or chilled waters, can build a critical basis. 

Future-Proof Facilities Management

When evaluating the implementation of cloud-based operations management systems, there are several advantages for building owners, investors, tenants and facility managers. These systems are powerful tools that not only increase overall efficiency but also provide the necessary transparency of single buildings or entire fleets in order for them to react fast and adequately to potential issues. A key pillar to achieving these benefits is the ability to access the application remotely. Facility managers can monitor and control their buildings from anywhere with reliable data. 

Building owners and investors profit through the reduction of travel and operational costs. On the tenant side, satisfaction is likely to increase due to immediate control options such as temperature levels. This improves overall comfort and preserves the assets’ value for owners and investors. Ultimately, this is what makes cloud-based operations management applications a win-win for all stakeholders involved.  

Chillar is Executive Vice President, Software, at Siemens Smart Infrastructure Buildings. His team focuses on scalable digital building platforms to digitalize, manage, and optimize building operations, allowing for improved sustainability, increased performance, and higher building value.  

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Check out more technology and facility management news in previous Facility Executive Tech & FM Columns.