When I talk with customers, I hear the same challenge again and again:
"We have so much data about our buildings, but turning it into real value is hard."
I recognise that. At Planon, we have always believed that IWMS should be more than a system of record. It should help people make better decisions. Today, with artificial intelligence (AI) embedded in our platform, we are taking the next step: helping buildings think for themselves.
From Data to Decisions: AI-Powered Insights
For years, organisations have been monitoring space use, asset performance, energy consumption, contracts, and services. The issue is not collecting data, it is using it effectively. That’s where AI makes the difference. It allows IWMS to move beyond reporting and become a system of intelligence: one that can interpret, predict, and act.
What does that look like?
- A facility request no longer starts with a form. The Planon Assistant listens and creates the ticket in natural language.
- A contract renewal no longer requires hours of review. AI summarisation shows the key terms and deadlines.
- Maintenance is no longer a fixed calendar event. Adaptive AI predicts the right moment to service an asset.
- A backlog of work orders no longer overwhelms. Smart triage prioritises them by urgency and history.
- In multilingual environments, the translation engine ensures everyone can interact in their own language.
These are not distant visions. They are examples of AI that is already embedded in Planon today.
Looking for a plain‑English explainer on AI vs. ML vs. LLMs?
Then listen to this Planon podcast from IFMA fellow Erik Jaspers with professor Tom Heskes. Together they dissect real value, responsible adoption, and practical applications for strategists and knowledge workers.
Why Embedded AI Matters for Your Platform
Many vendors offer AI as an external add-on. At Planon, we chose a different route: AI built into the core of the platform.
That means:
- Every module and process can benefit immediately.
- Customers can configure and scale AI use cases themselves.
- Data remains unified, validated, and GDPR-compliant.
- New capabilities can be rolled out consistently across the ecosystem.
Embedding AI this way ensures it is not only powerful but also useful, safe, and responsible.
From Fixed Rules to Predictive Intelligence
I often describe the shift like this:
Rule says, ‘Service this pump every six months.’
AI says, ‘This pump will need service in three weeks based on how it’s running.’
Rule says, ‘Switch on the lights when someone enters.’
AI says, ‘Dim the lights because in five minutes this area will be empty.’
This is how we move from smart buildings to thinking buildings: workplaces that don’t just react, but anticipate, support, and evolve.
Your Journey to a Smarter, Thinking Workplace
As CTO, I’m proud that Planon already delivers embedded AI use cases today. But I also know this is just the start. Each organisation will take its own path. Some beginning with energy optimisation, others with workplace services or contract management.
That is why we see this as a journey we take together. We bring the platform and embedded intelligence. You bring your priorities and context. Together, we create workplaces that truly work with you.
The Road Ahead
With every release, more AI capabilities become available: predictive asset care, natural language interfaces, digital twins, ecosystem-wide assistants. Our mission stays clear: empower people, reduce complexity, make operations more sustainable, and turn data into action.
Because the workplace of the future is not just a building you use. It is a building that thinks alongside you.