Beyond Handover: Why Smart Buildings Still Underperform

Modern buildings are increasingly equipped with Building Management Systems (BMS), smart technologies, analytics platforms and digital tools. Yet many continue to underperform long after handover, falling short of their energy, carbon, operational and occupant comfort objectives.

This presentation explores the gap between what is designed and installed, and what is ultimately achieved in operation. Drawing on real project experience and building performance reviews, it examines the common issues that prevent buildings from delivering their intended outcomes, including control strategy challenges, scheduling issues, poor data quality, sensor inaccuracies, underutilised analytics and operational practices that drift over time.

The session will demonstrate how Health Checks and performance-focused reviews can uncover hidden inefficiencies, improve building operation and help organisations realise greater value from their existing systems without major capital investment.

Attendees will gain practical insights into:

- Why many smart buildings still underperform after handover.
- Common issues identified through building performance and controls reviews.
- The role of controls, data and operational practices in achieving better outcomes.
- Practical approaches to improving energy performance, occupant comfort and decarbonisation.
- How building owners and operators can unlock more value from existing systems and technologies.

Whether you are a building owner, facilities manager, operator, asset manager, project manager, or building performance professional, this session will provide practical lessons and real-world examples that can be applied to both new and existing buildings.