Market Trends: Building System Verticals Entering The Platform Arena

Executive Summary

As digital platforms increasingly proliferate across the real estate and built environment software market, vendors within traditional operational technology (OT) silos – or systems that previously existed in their own vertical ecosystems – have begun the process of digitizing and creating their own platforms. Firms operating within the largest of these building verticals, namely security, lighting and HVAC, are considering whether they should pursue a further digital shift. These verticals – with their systems already deeply embedded within building infrastructure, comprising dispersed hardware such as cameras, lights, sensors and control systems – have the potential to evolve beyond their traditional roles, becoming data-rich platforms that enable centralized data collection and analysis. This report provides essential value for building operators seeking to centralize operations by identifying platform strategies that can be layered onto existing infrastructure or embedded into new construction and retrofit projects. It also delivers strategic insights for systems integrators and product owners looking to evolve their offerings, equipping them with a clear understanding of cross-vertical dynamics, emerging integration opportunities and the competitive trajectory of platform development across the built environment.