26.05.2025
Blog

Smart building, smart investment. Why a BMS is essential for renovating office assets

Bms 1980 x 1080

Office renovation today isn’t just about aesthetics or new HVAC systems. With ESG targets, energy costs, and tenant expectations on the rise, it’s about turning outdated buildings into smart, sustainable assets. For investors and asset managers, a modern BMS is the digital backbone of that shift—no longer just a technical tool, but a strategic driver of value, efficiency, and compliance.

A digital backbone for future-proof offices 

Traditional building automation (BAS) systems focused mainly on HVAC. A modern BMS like VMANAGER goes far beyond. It connects and orchestrates all essential systems—heating, cooling, lighting, air quality, fire safety, elevators, renewable energy installations, and even occupancy sensors—on a single intelligent platform. 

This enables: 

  • Real-time monitoring and energy tracking 
  • Cross-system optimisation 
  • Enhanced comfort and safety 
  • A centralised, data-rich control hub for facility teams 
  • Predictive maintenance 

“At pulse, we deploy VMANAGER BMS as the cornerstone of our smart renovation projects—transforming aging buildings into energy-smart, regulation-ready assets.”

Joris WoutersBusiness Developer pulse & Director VMANAGER

Real-time efficiency, real-world savings

Building Management Systems (BMS) are no longer just behind-the-scenes infrastructure—they’re now essential to optimising building performance, tenant comfort, and investor returns. With real-time monitoring and smart automation, today’s BMS actively identifies and fixes inefficiencies that would otherwise go unnoticed.

The result? Lower OPEX, longer equipment life, and better comfort for everyone in the building. Think lighting that switches off when no one’s around. Ventilation that adapts to CO₂ levels. Heating that responds to outside weather and occupancy. It’s intelligent control, happening 24/7.

While much is automated, a BMS isn’t fully autonomous. Its value lies in supporting facility teams with actionable insights and centralised control tools—making it easier to fine-tune performance while maintaining human oversight. 

The impact? Stronger asset value!

Key results

  • VMANAGER BMS delivers up to 40% energy savings depending on the historical behaviour of the buidling 
  • CO₂ reductions aligned wih EU Taxonomy standards 
  • Lower operational costs through smart automation and good maintenance. 

Research from the University of Antwerp’s B.CLIC backs it up: while theoretical models show up to 50% energy savings, real world simulations which compared over 8,000 buildings, confirm average energy savings of around 20%— in line with our field results

Meeting ESG & regulatory demands

EU regulations are tightening, with upcoming mandates like indoor air quality monitoring (2026), automated lighting (2028), and the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) likely becoming mandatory by 2027—driving the need for integrated BMS. In Belgium, regional policies vary, but Flanders is already requiring BACS for large non-residential buildings from late 2025, reinforcing the shift toward smarter, compliant assets.

🔹 Flanders 

Mandatory BMS (BACS) integration: starting 31/12/2025, all new tertiary (non-residential) buildings with an HVAC system capacity exceeding 290 kW—as well as those undergoing major renovations—will be required to implement a Building Automation and Control System (BACS). This threshold will be lowered to 70 kW by 2029, in accordance with the Flemish EPB regulations and the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).  More info

🔹 Brussels-Capital Region 

Current BMS regulation status: no formal obligation for BMS/BACS yet, but the region is expected to integrate smart readiness and automation requirements in the coming years. 

🔹 Wallonia 

Current BMS regulation status: no BMS/BACS mandates yet. Regulation is lagging behind Flanders and Brussels, but alignment with EU directives is expected post-2025. 

Is retrofitting a BMS complex? Not with the right partner

Many believe BMS upgrades are costly and complicated. In reality, VMANAGER  BMS makes it simple. Its open system and low brand dependency ensure seamless integration with existing technical systems—no major structural changes needed. It supports all standard protocols and allows for quick, cost-effective adaptations.

Our internal teams manage all interconnections, reducing planning risks and avoiding third-party delays. Cybersecurity? Built-in. VMANAGER BMS uses encrypted protocols and strict access monitoring to safeguard building data and systems. Training? Included—with a user-friendly interface that simplifies adoption.

And finally, maintenance stays affordable over the long term. 

What’s next: AI, IoT, and beyond 

IoT gives live data—on energy use, occupancy, and indoor air quality. AI makes that data actionable: it predicts failures, enables proactive maintenance, and continuously optimises building performance. VMANAGER BMS is taking the lead: we're actively working with Buildwise and VUB in an innovation program to accelerate smart, AI-driven maintenance strategy. VMANAGER BMS isn’t just ready to adapt—it’s being developed to lead the next generation of predictive, AI-powered building management. It’s on the roadmap, and we’re building that future today.

And what are top tenants asking for? 

  • App-controlled lighting and climate 
  • NFC access and GPS-based indoor navigation 
  • Smart booking for desks, parking, and meeting rooms 
  • Real-time air quality and occupancy monitoring 
  • Sustainability dashboards for internal reporting 
  • Etc.

VMANAGER BMS is built to connect with all these trends. It doesn’t reinvent the tech—it integrates it. That’s what makes it a scalable, adaptable solution for forward-looking investors

Pascal KinooCommercial Manager VMANAGER

Vmanager bms diagram 500 x 500 px

Ready to revalorise your assets with intelligence built-in? Contact our PULSE - VMANAGER teams for a tailored smart renovation roadmap

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