After years in the field, supporting building owners, architects and facility managers across a wide range of projects, we’ve learned one thing: the most costly technical problems almost never come from the technology itself.
They come from decisions made too early — or too late.
Here are the 5 mistakes we still see regularly, and what we wish we could have said beforehand.
- Integrating the BMS at the end of the project
This is mistake number one. Building Management is often treated as an “extra” added once everything else is in place. The result: systems that don’t talk to each other, costly rework, and a supervision system that doesn’t really supervise much. The BMS needs to enter the project from the planning phase — not at handover.
- Choosing a proprietary solution without weighing the consequences
The appeal is understandable: a single point of contact, a polished interface, a promise of simplicity. But five years later, when a controller needs replacing or you change facility manager, the bill can be steep. An open system (BACnet, KNX, Modbus) keeps you free. And in property operations, freedom has real value.
- Underestimating the importance of team training
A high-performing BMS that the on-site teams don’t understand is a BMS that serves no purpose. We’ve seen brand-new buildings running in degraded mode for months because no one had been trained on the supervision interface. Technology should serve people — not the other way round.
- Skipping the audit before renovation
Renovating without auditing is a bit like prescribing treatment without a diagnosis. You replace equipment that still works, miss obvious savings potential, and create new incompatibilities. Before acting, you need to understand what you already have.
- Confusing “connected” with “intelligent”
Having sensors everywhere isn’t enough. What matters is what you do with the data. Too many “connected” buildings generate tons of information that nobody actually uses. Intelligence means fine-tuned control, relevant alarms, and measurable savings.
We don’t judge these mistakes. We’ve seen them on projects of every size, led by serious and competent professionals.
Our role at Workswell is precisely to be there beforehand.
If you have an ongoing project or an installation to optimise, we’re happy to talk.
📍 Sion, Valais 🌐 workswell.ch 📩 Info@workswell.ch
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