Six Practical Steps for Your Smart Project
The smart building sector is maturing. It’s less novelty and more about solving real business problems. But the path remains tricky. Projects can falter. Easily. With challenges such as unclear goals, fragmented systems, budget allocation, siloed teams, and lack of buy-in, common issues.
We’ve set out six practical, project-defining steps for the formation of a smart asset rather than a pile of connected hardware.
1. Define Your 'Why'
Forget the word "smart" for a second. What are the problems you are solving and key priorities? Clear, well-defined goals are essential.
- Ask: Do you want to cut energy costs by 20%? Are you aiming for a WELL or NABERS certification*? Is your goal to reduce occupant maintenance requests?
- Action: Prioritise 2-3 specific, measurable outcomes (e.g., "Achieve £X in energy savings" or "Improve Indoor Air Quality scores")
This important stage will define your entire technology selection process.
*You can read about more the value of smart building certification in our article here.
2. Audit Your Digital Readiness
Before you buy a single sensor, look at your existing network. Your IT/OT infrastructure is the foundation.
- Ask: Do you have a scalable, secure network that can handle potentially thousands of new data points? Are your IT and Building Operations teams talking to each other?
- Action: Engage an independent smart-building consultant (not a vendor) to conduct a digital infrastructure audit. This small, upfront cost can prevent massive, costly network reworks later.
3. Focus on Data Quality, Not Quantity
You can have too much data. Data is only valuable if it leads to action.
- Ask: What data do we need to achieve the goals from Step 1? Who owns this data (a legally complex question that needs an internal answer).
- Action: Implement a data-sharing policy between landlords and occupiers early on. Invest in semantic tagging (like Project Haystack) to ensure all devices speak the same, useful language, which makes your data actionable for AI and analytics tools.
4. Design for Interoperability (Stay Vendor-Agnostic)
The worst outcome is being locked into one vendor. Future-proof your building by demanding an open architecture.
- Ask: Does this platform connect with other major systems and open standards (like KNX, BACnet, or OCPP for EV chargers)? Can I swap out a sensor brand without re-architecting the whole system?
- Action: Select a vendor-agnostic data integration platform first. This "middleware" is the most important tech decision, as it will be the translator that allows all future systems to work seamlessly together.
5. Prioritise Retrofitting
If you own older buildings, that's your biggest opportunity for impact and ROI.
- Ask: Where is my energy consumption highest, and where are my maintenance costs soaring?
- Action: Start with low-cost, high-impact sensors like air quality monitors, occupancy sensors, and water leak detection in high-risk areas. This provides immediate, actionable data that justifies the next phase of investment, such as BEMS upgrades.
6. Invest in Your People
New technology is useless without people who know how to use it.
- Ask: Who on my team will manage the new data dashboards, and do they have the skills? What's our plan for training new staff?
- Action: Mandate and budget for staff training on the new Building Management Systems and data analysis tools. Remember, your facilities and engineering teams are now operating a data centre, not just a mechanical room. They need the right skills to protect your investment.
In summary, start with your goals, secure your foundation, and make smart, unbiased choices about your data and platform.
We’re working with people at the outset of smart building projects right now. Providing unbiased guidance and sharing our experience. We’d love to hear from you.