A comprehensive building management system (BMS) helps you stay on top of your building’s mechanical and electric systems. It also streamlines communication between your building’s occupants and your management and maintenance teams. And some of the best systems will even support your brand in ways that make closing deals with interested buyers a breeze.
But choosing the right BMS isn’t as easy as it sounds. One of the reasons is the many different types of software that fall under the umbrella term ‘Building Management System’. Some are designed for managing the HVAC, electric, plumbing and other building systems. Others are created to help with taking care of your building’s occupants’ needs. And then there are systems that address some aspects of building management and not others.
The purpose and types of building management systems
There are four main types of BMS. Some Building Management Systems — like CAFMs and BuildingLink’s software for developers — cover more than one category.
- Computer-Aided Facility Management Software (CAFM) One of the most comprehensive types of building management systems, this solution helps you to plan, implement and monitor building management activities. You’ll be able to stay on top of everything from managing moves to maintenance management, physical building admin and asset tracking from a centralised system.
- Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) Just like the name suggests, this system centralises maintenance information. This helps you record, track and monitor preventative and reactive maintenance tasks.
- Building Infrastructure Platform (BIP) Focusing on understanding your building’s performance, this type of BMS lets you automate tasks such as billing tenants and tracking and calculating utility costs.
- Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) The entire lifecycle of your building’s assets, from procurement to disposal is taken care of with this software.
These digital systems make management of your property easier, centralised and visible. They let you spot problems before they become major issues and streamline your processes to improve your management team’s productivity. As you can see, some types of building management software do a lot more than others.
Choosing the right Building Management System for your development
After deciding the level of management you need for your development and shortlisting your options, you’ll need to look a little closer at your selection. Choosing which building management system is best suited to your development shouldn’t be done without considering some key factors. These three considerations will help you narrow in on the best building management system for your development.
#1 – Implementation and support
It’s no good to choose software that doesn’t work with your other systems or is difficult to understand. Consider not only what you need your building management system to manage, but also how it will fit with the systems you already use in your business.
The other part of the puzzle is the support that’s available. Find out the level of training you’ll get with the software, how much it will cost and how long it is available for. If you run into trouble, what kind of help is available? You’ll need additional training when members of your team move on and new staff join. How will your BMS provider meet this need?
#2 – Scalability and upgrades
Your business is going to grow. So your software needs to be able to grow with it. You should consider the functionality you need right now. Also, think about what you’ll need six months to a year from now. Find out how easy it is to upgrade. If you need more, what the process is for scaling the software to meet future growth?
#3 – Security
A building management system stores a lot of sensitive information. From occupant data to business metrics, you’ll want to keep this information private and off the dark web. Ensure the software options on your shortlist reach the minimum cloud security requirements. If you can, opt for building management software that exceeds the minimum security requirements for greater peace of mind.
The right software enhances your day-to-day management activities by streamlining processes, automating some activities and enhancing communication between your building’s occupants and your management team. The best BMS will also grow your business and enhance your brand and overall offering. Get in touch for a free demonstration to see how BuildingLink does all of this and more.