The Future of Building Automation Is Hybrid: Why Flexibility Matters More Than Ever
Hybrid is a buzzword in the workplace these days. It makes sense. Hybrid approaches offer users greater flexibility and efficiency, from schedules to cars and beyond. However, our focus today isn't the hybrid workplace but rather the physical workspace and its hybrid building automation.
The demand for real-time responsiveness, remote management, and operational continuity grows as technology changes. To best meet that demand, building automation systems (BAS) need flexible control systems that don’t rely solely on local control or cloud connectivity. They need the best of both worlds. Let’s explore why the future of building automation needs hybrid models and how they work.
Functional Devices knows the importance of building automation system flexibility. That’s why we design and build a wide range of products tailored to your BAS needs. Discover our building automation devices and contact us to learn more about what your space requires.
Why Flexibility Matters in Modern Building Automation Trends
Older buildings could get by with siloed systems, standalone control, basic sensors and controllers, and limited integration. But modern buildings need more: real-time control, energy efficiency, uptime, and scalability. Why? Several reasons:
- Increased demand for occupancy comfort and operational efficiency
- More focus on energy conservation and sustainability
- An increasingly global industrial complex
- A rapidly changing technological landscape
Fortunately, modern building automation trends are embracing hybrid models, which is wise, considering there is such a thing as over-reliance on the cloud. While the cloud offers numerous benefits, latency, connectivity, and security remain key considerations.
Conversely, limiting your BAS control to local-only edge systems could result in a lack of remote insight and adaptability. You want all the potential benefits cloud technology offers (visibility, updates, and analytics) but with the safety net provided by local edge computing (autonomous operation even when offline). You need the flexibility to go back and forth or use both simultaneously. You need hybrid building automation.
Core Components of a Hybrid Building Automation System
Now that we’ve explored why flexible building control systems are important, let’s dig into what makes a hybrid model.
Local Control: Edge Intelligence and Autonomy
You don’t want to depend on the cloud constantly for time-sensitive and crucial operations. What if the network is down? Your lighting controls, HVAC, or load shedding could be compromised. If you have any systems in your building where the phrase “the show must go on” can apply, they need edge devices that can make decisions without cloud input.
Edge devices are simply pieces of computing equipment installed where their name implies: on the edge of a network, closest to data sources and systems (e.g., lighting controls) and farthest from central data storage (e.g., cloud platform). They can connect devices to the larger network and process local data themselves.
Edge computing is all around us. Think about your smartphone, the classic example. It can process data internally while simultaneously transmitting data from your phone to the cloud. Commercially speaking, edge devices could be:
- Sensors (e.g., temperature, pressure)
- IoT-enabled devices (e.g., smart meters, vehicles)
- Smart cameras
- Gateways and routers
- Local servers and processors
Edge devices are critical for autonomous systems and provide functionality offline or when the cloud doesn’t cooperate.
Cloud Integration: Visibility, Coordination, and Analytics
The cloud has changed so much of how we all operate personally and professionally, and it makes up the essential other side to hybrid building automation. Benefits of cloud upgrades in commercial and industrial settings include:
- Control of multiple systems at once
- Real-time data for more informed decision making
- Historical analysis
- Predictive maintenance and extended equipment lifespan
Cloud management can benefit industries with multiple buildings or those integrating broader energy strategies (e.g., renewable energy). It provides unparalleled centralized oversight and analysis of a BAS and allows for better integration.
Seamless Communication: Protocol Support & Interoperability
We’ve built the two pillars of hybrid building automation with edge devices and the cloud. Now, those pillars need a bridge built across them so they can interact with each other. That bridge is called a communication protocol.
Communication protocols can take many forms, and it doesn’t matter which one you choose, as long as it enables smooth communication between edge devices and the cloud. Some examples include BACnet over IP, Modbus, and industrial Ethernet. These communication bridges could be hardwired or wireless, combining several different protocols. The data volume, environment, speed requirements, and security considerations will determine which protocols make the most sense.
How Functional Devices Helps with Hybrid Building Automation
At Functional Devices, we design electrical components for resilience, modularity, and interoperability. We understand the importance of crucial equipment that meets the demand for flexibility and works with edge and cloud computing. Here’s how we’re answering the call for hybrid models:
- Relays respond to both digital inputs and cloud-based control signals.
- Current sensors provide granular real-time feedback that is usable at the edge or in cloud analytics.
- Power supplies ensure uptime for local controllers, IoT sensors, and gateways, preventing system downtime during connectivity loss.
These components enable facility managers and engineers to build systems that easily scale and adapt to future needs.
The Road Ahead: Designing for Building Automation System Flexibility
As buildings evolve into smarter and more sophisticated ecosystems, flexibility will become non-negotiable. Hybrid models aren’t just a patch job between old and new; they’re the future of building automation, built for resilience and performance.
If it’s not already on your mind, we recommend an audit of your current BAS. How could hardware upgrades support both edge and cloud computing? We’re here to help you with this transition by providing reliable, adaptable equipment that forms the backbone of hybrid setups. Give us a call to start planning your automation updates today!