LONDON — In the global market for building energy management software, six suppliers — Envizi, eSight, IBM, Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Verisae — are market leaders, according to independent analyst firm Verdantix. Its benchmark report, Green Quadrant Building Energy Management Software 2014 , compares 14 building energy management applications. The analysis is based on live product demonstrations, an assessment of suppliers on 130 criteria, and interviews with an independent panel of 15 customers representing firms with revenues of $348 billion.
“We have tracked the building energy management software market since 2008 and it has been a roller-coaster ride for many suppliers,” said Alisdair McDougall, Verdantix industry analyst and author of the report. “The likes of CA Technologies, C3, and Hara no longer compete in this space. Elster EnergyICT, EnerNOC, and Gridpoint have more complete and feature rich solutions than they did previously. This keeps the pressure on the six market leaders. Innovative firms like BuildingIQ, DEXMA, Optima Energy Management, and Panoramic Power also demonstrate a positive impact with customers.”
According to the study, 100 percent of customers buy solutions for better energy reporting, 93 percent for improved energy monitoring, 93 percent for project management, 80 percent for better utility bill management, and 80 percent also for carbon reporting. Only 67 percent of customers prioritize functionality for building maintenance and 40 percent for demand response. A separate global survey of 250 heads of energy, found that budgets for energy management software will increase in mid-single digits in 2014.
“This product benchmark reveals significant differences in the energy management functionality of each application,” said Matt Heffley, Verdantix analyst and report co-author. “While some building energy software is a great fit for large offices, it may be a disaster for multi-site retail. You need to map your energy assets, processes, and targets before spending between $150,000 and $1 million on an application. Without a solid business case that goes beyond pure and simple energy efficiency, it will be difficult for energy managers to secure funding from the CFO.”
For an executive summary of the report, click here.
Publication date: 4/21/2014
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