Choosing The Right Integrator For Building Automation
Building owners and managers are confronted with a host of control industry terms, titles, and technologies that tend to confuse more than clarify. The challenge for today’s facility professionals when it comes to installing a building automation system (BAS) is to understand the difference between system integrators and product integrators when implementing a given project. A key success factor is defining not only their changing roles and responsibilities, but also the desired outcomes and goals. This article examines the prevailing definitions and responsibilities of each type of integrator, offers a novel approach to system integration, and sets realistic expectations for the owner in terms of benefits, outcomes, and overall values.
Most building owners and facility professionals today are unclear over the differences between a product integrator, a network integrator, and a system integrator. While all of these players can provide quality products at competitive prices, the similarities typically end there. Compounding the confusion is the fact that many of the integrators do not differentiate themselves accurately from each other. In addition, an owner’s expectations of more advanced capabilities along with greatly reduced operating costs oftentimes exceed the integrator’s ability to deliver on them. For these reasons, it is appropriate to refer to the Control Systems Integrator Association (CSIA), which has formulated a specific definition for a system integrator.