Honeywell launches AI building management for Australia, NZ

Honeywell has released a new AI-powered building management system now available in Australia and New Zealand, following pilot tests by Verizon in its global facilities.

Platform features

The system, called Connected Solutions, is designed to allow building operators and facility managers to control software, systems and devices through a single, integrated interface. It features energy-management tools aimed at supporting decarbonisation, advanced encryption for cybersecurity, and remote monitoring and diagnostics to lower labour requirements and costs. The platform also offers predictive maintenance prompts to help identify and resolve issues before they escalate.

The launch of Connected Solutions comes as building owners contend with several industry challenges, including ageing facilities, increased costs from system downtime, shortages of skilled labour and tightening cybersecurity regulations. Honeywell says the new platform is intended to address these matters by bringing disparate building systems together under one interface.

"From aging buildings and rising downtime costs to skilled labour shortages and growing cyber guidelines, building owners and operators face a complex landscape of global trends that are constantly making operations more complex and costly. To address this, Honeywell's Connected Solutions allows building managers to link critical building software, technologies and devices together to streamline management and compliance and help protect uptime," said Billal Hammoud, president and chief executive officer of Honeywell's Building Automation segment.

Technology and integration

Connected Solutions is built on Honeywell Forge, the company's industrial IoT platform. The platform enables managers, including facility and multi-site operators as well as integrators, to oversee all Honeywell-related systems using one dashboard. When deployed across a building or campus, the system provides comprehensive, real-time data about critical systems, along with guidance on troubleshooting and optimising operations.

The installation process uses AI to speed deployment, reportedly allowing the system to be up and running within hours. Honeywell states this reduces both the time and disruption typically associated with installing building management systems, alongside reducing related labour costs.

Security and sustainability

In response to growing concerns about cyberthreats, Connected Solutions incorporates advanced encryption measures. Its remote diagnostic features aim to reduce onsite labour by allowing for offsite monitoring, while predictive maintenance helps address issues early in order to avoid service disruptions and more significant repair expenses.

Connected Solutions also includes energy management functionalities designed to help organisations work toward decarbonisation goals. By monitoring and optimising building energy use through the platform, operators can target efficiency improvements and cost reductions.

Industry adoption

Early adopters of Connected Solutions include Verizon and Vanderbilt University. Verizon has begun using the platform within its facilities worldwide.

According to Honeywell, Verizon is leveraging Connected Solutions to anticipate and address critical system issues before they grow into larger problems, aiming to reduce downtime and maintenance costs. Vanderbilt University has also integrated Connected Solutions into about 10 per cent of its campus buildings, choosing the platform to boost system efficiency, cut energy use and improve the occupant experience, particularly in older facilities.

"Honeywell's Connected Solutions is an innovative platform offering the tools to use real-time data and AI-driven insights to help us optimise our buildings," said Alex Kohnen, chief facilities officer, Vanderbilt University. "We look forward to creating a better ecosystem for our students, faculty and staff."

Honeywell's expansion of Connected Solutions into Australia and New Zealand follows feedback from early adopters and growing demand for tools that can manage increasingly complex building operations whilst addressing current challenges in energy use, labour and cybersecurity.