Integration is the art of combining two or more traditionally disparate systems, and combining them seamlessly as one. True integration is not just some technical bi-directional link; it is the seamless sharing of data, without the duplication of resources.
Integration can be achieved in a number of ways in building automation. Open minded systems using BACnet™ open protocol immediately become part of the same family, but other mechanisms are also at our disposal. These include our gateway solutions for proprietary protocols, or various database methods of data exchange.
The range of Integration possibilities is broad, featuring examples such as; HVAC, access control, energy meters, lighting, chiller package data, speed drives, asset tagging, databases etc. Understanding integration requires an understanding of vertical markets. Each market has its own integration opportunities; combining BAS with baby tagging in hospitals, hotel booking systems, or ground power units in airports. Your Delta Controls Partner will understand your business processes and be able to map an integrated solution on to your organization.
At Delta Controls we love integration. Seamlessly combining multiple systems brings opportunities to our customers:
- A smarter building: with a greater information flow between systems, both automated and manual decisions are made quicker and more accurately. We all know about the HVAC and lighting turning off when the access system says a zone is unoccupied, but each vertical market can take us much further than that.
- Lower cost installation: combining fewer networks, PC’s, project coordination, training, documentation, commissioning and better, simpler communication between customer and supplier
- More efficient building management: stock, training, service, maintenance, holiday and sickness cover can be combined across disciplines. Single service visits can be implemented where visits from multiple engineers would normally take place. With one partner understanding a holistic view of your operation, the reduced need for contractor coordination meaning issues are resolved quicker and at less cost.