Commercial building software is increasingly moving beyond monitoring systems towards platforms capable of automatically adjusting operations in real time.
Smart building software provider Switch Automation and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have introduced new capabilities within Switch OpX, Switch Automation’s operational management platform for commercial buildings. The new features are aimed at advancing the transition from analytics-driven management to autonomous building operations.
The project focuses on how software systems can support automated fault correction and operational optimisation across commercial real estate portfolios. Conventional analytics platforms typically generate energy savings of approximately 9%, while research from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) suggests operational improvements could potentially deliver savings of up to 29%.
The work moves beyond fault detection and diagnostics by enabling building systems to respond to operational insights across multiple properties.
Jessica Granderson, Senior Scientist and Director of Berkeley Lab’s Building and Industrial Energy Systems Division, said the collaboration reflects a wider shift taking place across the sector.
“We are moving from insight-driven tools to systems that can directly support operational improvements in a scalable and practical way,” she said.
Smart building operations move beyond monitoring
The research draws on deployments across six commercial properties in the US delivered alongside Cushman & Wakefield. The programme demonstrated estimated energy savings exceeding 10%, alongside annual cost reductions of more than $290,000.
The initiative also focused on improving operational consistency and occupant comfort across multiple sites.
The platform is built around a data integration system designed to connect information from building management systems, energy meters, and IoT devices into a unified operational layer. Switch Automation says the approach allows applications to be deployed across portfolios without requiring extensive modifications to existing building automation infrastructure.
The structured data environment also enables operators to interact with building systems more efficiently and implement operational changes across diverse assets, the company adds.
Open data standards gain importance in smart buildings
As commercial buildings become increasingly dependent on connected systems, data interoperability is emerging as a larger issue across the smart building sector. Fragmented infrastructure and incompatible systems have often limited the ability of operators to scale automation across property portfolios.
Switch Automation said its work with Berkeley Lab builds on industry initiatives tied to open data standards, including the Brick ontology framework used in building data modelling.
Deborah Noller, CEO of Switch Automation, said operational limitations in smart buildings have historically been linked to fragmented data environments and the inability to translate insights into direct action.
“This work with Berkeley Lab demonstrates what becomes possible when you combine a strong data foundation with scalable software, buildings that can continuously optimise themselves, not just report problems,” she said.
Commercial real estate operators look towards automation
The collaboration comes as building owners and operators face increasing pressure to improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, and manage energy performance across large property portfolios.
In commercial real estate, automated operational adjustments are becoming more relevant as companies work to balance sustainability targets with long-term asset performance.
Switch Automation said the new capabilities are intended to help buildings continuously optimise operations instead of functioning primarily as monitoring systems.
