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Building management software (BMS) and building automation systems (BAS) will sometimes come packaged with an optional, limited style of mobile access through a building management app. However, when these applications require you to be connected to the building network to access the system, this is not really “remote” access so much as the option to use a phone or tablet while on site.

Building Automation Software (BAS) can be remarkably complex. Depending on the size of the facility, you may have tens or even hundreds of unique lighting, electrical, heat, cooling, ventilation, IAQ sensor, and other devices to monitor and control. 

There are a ton of facility management apps out there to choose from, but the differences in their capabilities can be vast. Many that claim to offer “remote” access, for example, actually mean that you can access the system using proprietary facilities management mobile apps—but must still be on the local network for your BAS, which generally means being on-site.  A truly remote option, like ODIN, would function from anywhere. Here are seven questions to ask as you compare your options.

Smart homes—and the automated technology they helped make popular—entered the scene in the tail-end of the 1990s and found their foothold in the early 2000s. The prospect of a home autonomously managing lighting, heating, and other actions seemed right out of a movie, and it was only a matter of time before those smart technology solutions found a home in other environments.

Automation professionals and engineers have a challenging, but crucial, role to play in the future of building management. It’s ultimately their responsibility to find new and intuitive ways to utilize technology in the continued maintenance, management, and evolution of the buildings under their care. 

Equipping your building with a management system can go a long way toward streamlining your day-to-day responsibilities and maximizing the amount of work you can get done. There are plenty of building manager software options you can choose from, and each one will probably help you accomplish more with less time and effort. However, why settle for “good enough” when you can reach for the “best?”

As our buildings become increasingly reliant on automation services, cloud application security technologies, and other interconnected systems, finding a safe and secure way to manage it all has become nothing less than essential. 

Building owners and operators know full-well how essential it is to keep their sites running smoothly and securely. However, with multiple systems in need of supervision and various employees who need access to those systems, it can be difficult for a single building manager to delegate specific tasks to the right people efficiently.

ODIN (Operator Display Integrated Network) is a building automation system with an integrated, simplified user interface that makes it easy to manage complex HVAC and energy processes in your building—or even in multiple buildings.

ODIN is a helpful central control hub for the BACnet objects in your HVAC system and other building facilities, even if they’re all from different makers.  However, it is more than just a centralized control dashboard—ODIN is an open book for the story of your building monitoring system.