Data centre operators are facing a growing problem as software built for commercial buildings struggles to match the scale, complexity and uptime demands of modern digital infrastructure.
A data centre-focused solution from Planon, a global provider of smart sustainable building management software, targets that gap in mission-critical environments. The system brings maintenance, compliance, asset lifecycle management and energy workflows into a single operational setup.
JLL’s 2026 Global Data Centre Outlook points to rapid expansion in the sector, driven by rising demand for digital infrastructure. It expects global capacity to grow at a 14% compound annual rate through 2030, with close to 100GW of new capacity added. As portfolios expand, operators are managing more distributed sites with separate systems, maintenance requirements and service level obligations.
Traditional building software under pressure in data centre environments
Facility management platforms, including integrated workplace management systems, are built for commercial buildings. In data centres, operators work under continuous uptime requirements and tightly connected systems that leave limited room for operational fragmentation.
Planon’s approach is aimed at these constraints. Generic building tools often struggle to maintain visibility across assets and maintenance processes in multi-site operations, limiting coordination across sites.
CMMS capabilities extended for data centre operations
Planon for Data Centres builds on the company’s computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) capabilities, adapted for environments where operational control and system integration are closely linked.
The platform connects with data centre infrastructure management systems, building management systems and electrical power management systems. Monitoring data is linked with maintenance workflows so operational and maintenance activity runs in a single environment.
It supports preventive, predictive, corrective and condition-based maintenance across power, cooling and building systems. Real-time alarms can automatically generate work orders for faster response and structured incident handling.
Other functions include colocation and service level agreement management, reporting for multi-tenant environments, and energy tracking at asset and site level. Safety and compliance tools record inspections and maintenance activity for audit purposes.
A move towards unified operations across distributed data centres
Planon said the solution is aimed at enterprise, colocation, hyperscale and edge operators managing distributed data centre portfolios, bringing maintenance, compliance, asset and energy data into a single operational view.
The platform connects operational systems with maintenance and governance workflows without replacing existing infrastructure tools. Large operators already run mixed technology stacks across different facilities.
Planon chief executive Peter Ankerstjerne said operators want greater control over assets, risk and performance without added complexity. He said the new solution combines CMMS capabilities with real-time integration to support uptime, compliance and scalability.
The launch reflects a broader shift in facilities software towards more specialised systems for high-density infrastructure, where continuous operations across interconnected environments are central to performance.