How much time does your technician team spend working vs trying to work? You might have the best team of technicians and contract services support that can be found but are you making it more difficult than it should be for them to service your building systems? You might be and not even realize it.
Processes and tools that might have streamlined workflows when they were first introduced could be causing bottlenecks now. But to clear those you don’t have to scrap what you’ve been doing, you can improve operations by building on what works with a BMS app.
What is a BMS App?
A BMS mobile app is a cloud based building management system. It functions much like the traditional BMS terminal that your teams have used for years but instead of placing that data in a static, standalone location it places it in the pocket of team members through a mobile device. A BMS app connects using BACnet protocol to give users a direct, secure connection to key system data points.
BMS Software or BMS Mobile App
You can access BMS data through a desktop terminal or mobile device. While the same basic information can be accessed, the difference is in the details.
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On-Site Terminal |
BMS App |
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Availability |
At a stationary terminal an HVAC technician might have to wait to get the system detail they need until an electrician is done using the BMS for their work. |
With a BMS app, every technician can get the information they need, whenever they need it. And apps can be customized and information segmented so each technician only sees the system detail they need. |
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Access |
With a BMS terminal a technician has to get a reading, run back to the equipment, run back to the system, make an adjustment and then repeat the process until everything is operating effectively. |
By using an app a technician can get the system readings they need right at the work site. |
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Accessibility |
When BMS data is only accessible in a singular location and format it can be complicated and cumbersome to find and view what you need.. |
With a cloud based building management system, performance updates and alerts go with you. And in a form and format that matches your usability needs. |
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Usability |
Terminal displays can be “one-size-fits-all” in the way that information is displayed and accessed. |
The best BMS app can be customized to the users’ preferences. This makes accessing information easier. |
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Response |
When an issue arises it will only be discovered when someone sees the alert on the terminal. |
When an issue arises, everyone with access will get an alert simultaneously. |
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Satisfaction |
Tenants can quickly grow tired and frustrated at always having to bring issues with IAQ, heating, cooling, lighting etc to a building manager’s attention. They expect the management team to find and fix issues quickly. |
With alerts delivered to key team members in real-time, issues can be addressed before a tenant is ever aware of them. |
The Technician Runaround
Does this sound familiar: You hire an onsite HVAC technician to work on an air conditioning unit on a particularly humid day. The system is on the roof so that’s where they start. They make some adjustments but then have to wander through the building to the basement where the BMS terminal sits. They check some readings and then it’s back to the roof. More adjustments and another trip to the basement. It’s a cycle that continues until the machine is operating efficiently again. What’s not efficient will be the invoice you receive for a technician that spent half of their time walking, not working.
Cloud-native building management systems with mobile access and automation can be used to eliminate this work/check/work loop. Technicians can get information at the equipment, making adjustments and repairs and getting performance data nearly simultaneously. It makes the work more efficient and frees up a technician’s time to do more of it.
Information Access
Teams are more efficient when they are informed and a BMS app allows every member of your team to get the same information at the same time. This doesn’t just make routine maintenance easier, it also helps when systems need immediate support. If an alarm is triggered everyone finds out at the same time and can immediately address concerns with each individual system as needed.
You can also control the flow of information, so if you have a contractor in to support your team you can limit what types of information they can see and how long they can have access to it.
The Only BMS Mobile App You Need
A BMS app can free up the responsibilities involved in building system maintenance and service tasks. It can help technicians work more effectively by allowing every member of the team to have the same point of truth no matter where in the building they are working. In fact, the power of a cloud based BMS software is in its ability to be customized to match your building system data outputs with the needs, schedules, and responsibilities of your staff.
To discover the benefits ODIN’s BMS app can bring to your team, schedule a demo today.
