New Year’s resolutions can inspire positive change—such as bringing smart building solutions to your business. Here are five resolutions focused on making the most of advances in connectivity, AI-driven digital tools, and energy source alternatives.

1. Resolve to... revisit your priorities.

The first step in setting a direction is to know where you’re starting from. Put time on your calendar now to review plans and goals for your buildings. Have priorities shifted? Should they be changing? Your list might look something like this:

• Increase energy and water efficiency to reduce operating costs
• Automate manual tasks to deal with labor shortages and boost productivity
• Tackle deferred maintenance to ensure continued operation
• Improve building performance to meet sustainability mandates

What steps are underway to achieve these goals? Where do you get the data to make your decisions? How are you tracking performance and measuring results? Smart building solutions can improve goal-setting and data gathering, clarify progress and simplify reporting.

2. Resolve to... walk the terrain.

See for yourself how your priorities are playing out across your facilities. If you’re focused on reducing energy costs, talk with the facility managers about what they’re doing to control energy use. If you’re looking to streamline workflows, pay attention to what’s being done manually today.

3. Resolve to... find a trusted advisor.

To make buildings perform better, you need a partner who understands the technology and infrastructure options as well as your specific needs. Look for providers who:

• Understand commercial and industrial operations and can demonstrate success with facilities like yours.
• Have a dedicated finance team and in-depth expertise in an array of funding mechanisms.
• Have a local presence, ideally backed by significant national resources.
• Can address every phase of infrastructure projects—plan, design, build, operate, and maintain assets.

4. Resolve to... schedule that assessment.

Set a meeting with your partner to launch a building-wide assessment, looking at your systems and assets as well as workflow streams. Such assessments can address indoor air quality, energy efficiency and other priorities.

5. Resolve to... maximize available funding.

Again, the right partner can help you choose the best mechanisms to spread out the costs of upgrades and retrofits, looking to take advantage of any government initiatives as well as innovative funding approaches.

Bonus resolution: Gather knowledge for the future.

Chances are there’s a topic you’d like to know more about—building certifications, renewable energy, workforce development. Look for a seminar or workshop to get inspired.