The shift toward data-driven building operations marks a fundamental break with the traditional way buildings have been maintained for decades. This is not an incremental improvement — it is a structural transformation. Smart buildings are introducing new expectations for performance, efficiency and transparency, and large real estate portfolios are already preparing for this future, well before GACS A becomes a formal requirement.

Their early adoption is not driven by hype, but by strategic necessity.

1. From reactive to predictive: a complete reinvention of maintenance

Conventional maintenance is built on fixed intervals, inspections and reactive problem-solving.
Smart buildings operate differently:

• maintenance becomes predictive rather than scheduled,
• interventions are triggered by real performance data,
• diagnostics are automated through analytics and FDD,
• and resources are allocated only where they create real impact.

This shift reduces failures, prolongs asset life and improves reliability — but it also demands entirely new workflows, skills and decision structures. Large portfolios start early because this transformation cannot be implemented overnight.

2. Data-driven maintenance reshapes contracting and service models

In a digital operating model, value shifts from labour to information. Contracts increasingly focus on:

• performance outcomes rather than activity levels,
• transparency through data instead of assumptions,
• lifecycle performance rather than short-term fixes,
• and shared responsibility for building results.

Large portfolios are already redesigning their contracting models because they recognise that the traditional “hours and materials” structure will not survive in a data-driven future.

3. Digital buildings redefine asset value

Smart, data-driven assets perform better — and they can prove it.
This directly influences:

• ESG reporting,
• tenant satisfaction,
• operating costs,
• asset longevity,
• risk perception,
• and eventually, valuation.

Large investors and portfolio owners understand that in the coming years, market expectations will shift toward demonstrable performance. Data-driven buildings will be more attractive to tenants, lenders and regulators. Early movers secure long-term competitive advantage.

4. Fragmentation is too costly: portfolios need standardisation

Most large portfolios suffer from:

• inconsistent system architectures,
• incompatible data sets,
• vendor-specific solutions,
• siloed information,
• and a lack of portfolio-wide standards.

Data-driven operations require a unified foundation:

• consistent data structures,
• interoperable systems,
• shared architectural principles,
• and central governance.

Because the journey to standardisation is complex, large portfolios begin the transition now — long before regulation forces them to.

5. People and processes must mature ahead of regulation

Unlike technology, human capability does not scale instantly.
Smart buildings require:

• new digital competencies,
• redefined team responsibilities,
• predictive thinking,
• interdisciplinary collaboration,
• and continuous learning.

Maintenance engineers evolve from troubleshooters into data-enabled decision-makers.
Asset managers shift from periodic reporting to real-time strategy.
Financial managers start working with predictive forecasts instead of historical patterns.

This organisational maturity takes years to build — and early adopters know that waiting for mandatory GACS A compliance is not a viable option.

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Conclusion: The market is changing faster than regulation

GACS A may still be in the future, but the operational, financial and strategic shift toward data-driven management is happening now.
Large portfolios are preparing proactively because they understand:

• digital operations lower risks and costs,
• improve portfolio resilience,
• and create tangible, measurable value.

The organisations that begin the transition today will shape the standards, expectations and competitive landscape of tomorrow.