In 1962 the television show the Jetsons, showed us a world of flying cars and automated homes. Today smart buildings are no longer a dream of tomorrow, they are very much here, in commercial offices, residential buildings, hospitals, and industrial sites.
By combining connectivity, automation, and data analytics, they offer a plethora of functions, such as, optimising energy use, enhancing occupant comfort and improving operational efficiency.
The technology ecosystems behind smart buildings are vast, fragmented and they are still very much evolving.
At Ignys, we work with innovators in the IoT and embedded systems space to help them navigate the complex landscape of connectivity and control.
Here, we’ll break down the current technologies connecting smart buildings, which ones fit best purpose, why and what limitation each has.
Key connectivity technologies in smart buildings
- Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6 and 6E)
- Best for: High-bandwidth applications like video surveillance, conferencing systems, and occupant Wi-Fi.
- Why: Offers excellent through-put and mature ecosystems. Wi-Fi 6/6E also supports high device density, making it suitable for large office spaces.
- Limitations: Power-hungry compared to low-power protocols and not ideal for battery-powered sensors.
- Zigbee & Z-Wave
- Best for: Lighting control, HVAC automation, and occupancy sensors.
- Why: Proven low-power mesh networks that enable devices to relay data across a building.
- Limitations: Proprietary ecosystems can lead to vendor lock-in. Zigbee remains more widely adopted in commercial deployments than Z-Wave.
- Thread + Matter
- Best for: Interoperable IoT device networks (lighting, locks, sensors).
- Why: Thread is IP-based and low-power, ideal for scalable building-wide deployments. Matter ensures cross-vendor compatibility.
- Limitations: Still early in adoption, though momentum is strong due to industry backing.
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- Best for: Asset tracking, indoor positioning, access control systems.
- Why: BLE beacons provide location data at low power and low cost. It is also common in wearable integrations, for occupant health and safety.
- Limitations: Limited range compared to mesh-based technologies.
- LoRaWAN
- Best for: Wide-area building or campus monitoring (e.g., water metering, predictive maintenance sensors).
- Why: Long-range, ultra-low power protocol designed for devices that send small packets infrequently.
- Limitations: Low data rates; unsuitable for real-time or bandwidth-heavy applications.
- BACnet & KNX (Wired Protocols)
- Best for: Building automation backbone—HVAC, elevators, fire safety, and lighting systems.
- Why: Industry-standard, widely used, and reliable for mission-critical control.
- Limitations: Installation and maintenance costs can be high due to wiring.
- Cellular IoT (LTE-M, NB-IoT, 5G)
- Best for: Smart building systems that need remote connectivity or redundancy, such as security alarms or backup monitoring.
- Why: Reliable, carrier-managed, and increasingly affordable.
- Limitations: Requires subscriptions; higher power consumption than local protocols.
The Future of Smart Building Technologies
So, where do we see these 7 key technologies shaping the future of our smart buildings? Here are some suggestions:
- Convergence via Matter: Thread and Matter are likely to unify fragmented ecosystems, reducing integration pain.
- AI & Analytics Integration: Cloud and edge AI will increasingly automate HVAC tuning, occupancy-based lighting, and predictive maintenance.
- Digital Twins: Real-time building models will enable simulation of energy use, safety scenarios, and occupant flow.
- Sustainability at the Core: Regulations will push buildings to achieve net-zero energy usage, driving adoption of IoT-based monitoring and optimisation.
- 5G Private Networks: For large campuses and high-density environments, private 5G could complement Wi-Fi as a high-performance backbone.
Final Thoughts
Smart buildings rely on a mix of technologies, each optimised for a different layer of connectivity and control. No single protocol solves all challenges, but together they create an ecosystem that makes buildings safer, greener, and more responsive to our needs.
We believe the next decade will be defined by interoperability and intelligence. Matter and Thread will smooth out connectivity headaches, while AI-driven optimisation will unlock the real potential of smart buildings.
If you’re developing solutions for smart building connectivity, we can help you choose the right protocol mix and design you a future-proof set of systems.
Our watertight six stage development process removes any risk, so by the end of it, you won’t have anything but a best-in-class robust working device, that won’t let you down.
If you’re ready to have a conversation about moving your business forward contact us here.