Susanne Seitz is CEO of Buildings Smart Infrastructure at Siemens. Opinions are the author’s own.

Walk through almost any city in the world — from Madrid and Singapore to Chicago — and you will notice something remarkable: the vast majority of the buildings around us today will still be standing 25 years from now.

That's both our industry's greatest challenge and one of its biggest opportunities.

While technology continues to evolve, most existing buildings have yet to begin their digital transformation. Only 10-15% of medium-sized buildings and fewer than 5% of smaller buildings have a building management system installed.

The opportunity before us isn't simply about creating smarter new buildings — it’s about transforming the millions of buildings that already exist.

But no one organization can achieve that alone.

The next competitive advantage in buildings won't come from technology alone — it will be the strength of the partner ecosystem behind it, anchored by the professionals who manage the buildings’ systems.

If we're serious about creating buildings that are more intelligent, more efficient and more resilient, partnerships are no longer a nice-to-have. They are fundamental to how we will modernize the built environment and deliver meaningful outcomes for customers.

Why partnerships matter now more than ever

The conversation around buildings has changed.

Customers are no longer asking for individual technologies — they are asking for solutions to increasingly complex business challenges. They want to reduce energy consumption while improving occupant comfort. They need to meet ambitious sustainability targets, manage aging infrastructure, address workforce shortages and prepare for a future where AI and automation play a much greater role in building operations.

These aren't challenges that can be solved through technology alone.

They require collaboration between technology providers, systems integrators, facilities managers and other partners who understand both the technology and the realities of their local markets.

True partners have trusted customer relationships, understand regional market dynamics and know how to translate innovation into practical solutions that deliver measurable value. They help customers identify where to invest, how to modernize existing assets and how to adopt new technologies in a way that aligns with their business priorities.

It's a powerful combination. Customers achieve better outcomes, partners grow their businesses and together we can accelerate the transition towards future-ready buildings.

Building operators are under pressure

The pace of change is creating challenges for building owners and operators.

Buildings account for around 40% of global energy consumption. Building operations alone are responsible for approximately 10% of global energy use. In Europe, around 75% of buildings are considered energy inefficient. Improving operational performance is no longer simply an environmental objective; it’s a commercial necessity.

But energy is only one part of the story.

Across the industry, we see six challenges shaping customer conversations.

1. Workforce shortages

An aging workforce and difficulties attracting talent mean building operators are expected to do more with fewer people, while the demand for digital, sustainability and automation skills continues to grow.

2. Operational complexity

Many buildings still rely on disconnected HVAC, safety, security, energy and IT systems. Managing these independently increases manual effort and limits visibility across operations.

3. Cost pressures

Operators face pressure to reduce operating costs while maintaining reliability, occupant comfort and regulatory compliance.

4. Sustainability and regulatory demands

Meeting carbon reduction targets and complying with regulations requires greater visibility into building performance and the ability to make data-driven decisions.

5. Reactive maintenance

Many facilities still operate on a reactive basis, responding to issues after equipment fails rather than predicting and preventing problems.

6. Investment uncertainty

Although many organizations recognize the benefits of digitalization, uncertainty around costs, return on investment and integration with existing infrastructure often slows progress.

These challenges are interconnected and that's why collaboration is so important.

Partnerships are the bridge to autonomous buildings

Autonomous buildings have the potential to address many of today's biggest operational challenges.

They can reduce energy use, improve occupant comfort, predict maintenance issues before failures occur and help building operators focus on strategic improvements rather than day-to-day firefighting.

But autonomy isn't something organizations can switch on overnight.

Unlike new buildings, which can be designed with digital technologies from day one, existing buildings require a phased approach. They need greater connectivity, deeper integration across systems, increased automation and the ability to harness data before AI can deliver its potential.

This journey is too complex for any single organization to navigate alone.

That's where partnerships become the critical enabler.

Working closely with our partner ecosystem allows us to combine global innovation with local expertise, ensuring customers adopt the right technologies — whether that's IT, OT, AI or automation — at the right time, in the right way and with a clear focus on delivering measurable business outcomes.

Turning technology into results

Research shows that digitalizing buildings can reduce operational costs 10-17%, while reducing energy consumption by 15%.

Fault detection and diagnosis technology is a case in point. This technology has existed for years, but advances in software, analytics and data availability are unlocking new possibilities. By identifying issues before they become failures, FDD helps building operators move from reactive maintenance to proactive optimization.

Similarly, autonomous fire safety applications are reducing false alarms, improving operational efficiency and allowing facilities teams to focus on higher-value activities rather than responding to unnecessary incidents.

These technologies are powerful — but technology alone doesn't create impact.

Our partners play a vital role in helping customers understand where these solutions will deliver the greatest value, building realistic investment roadmaps and ensuring new capabilities are successfully integrated into existing buildings.

Building the future

As our industry continues its journey towards autonomous buildings, partnerships won't simply support progress — they will determine how quickly we get there.

Because the future of buildings isn't something any of us will build alone.