Best Fault Detection Diagnostics Software for Asset Reliability Engineers in 2025

In asset-intensive industries and built environments, detecting and diagnosing faults before they escalate is crucial. Equipment failures lead to unplanned downtime, increased maintenance costs, and inefficiencies that impact overall operational performance. This is where Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) solutions play a pivotal role — helping organizations identify, analyze, and address potential faults in critical systems, ensuring reliability, energy efficiency, and cost optimization.

For asset reliability engineers, FDD tools act as a second set of eyes, continuously monitoring equipment conditions and flagging anomalies that could lead to failures. By leveraging data-driven insights, these professionals can move beyond reactive maintenance to a more proactive and predictive approach, reducing unnecessary servicing while ensuring peak asset performance.

Today, the latest advancements in AI-driven FDD solutions are pushing the boundaries further — automating fault detection, prioritizing issues, and even prescribing corrective actions. In this article, we explore the top five FDD software solutions, their key features and capabilities, and how they compare to Xempla’s AI Agent for FDD, an advanced autonomous system designed to streamline maintenance workflows and drive smarter engineering decisions.

Best Fault Detection and Diagnostics Software in 2025

When exploring fault detection and diagnostics software, there is a wide sea of options to consider. Each FDD solution comes with its unique features, strengths, and best-suited applications. Here's a concise breakdown of five of these tools considered to be the best on the market:

1. Building Logix

Building Logix provides an FDD-driven analytics platform that optimizes facility operations by analyzing data from Building Automation Systems (BAS) in real-time.

Key Features:

• Fault Detection & Trend Analysis: Identifies performance deviations by continuously analyzing historical and real-time BAS data for proactive issue resolution.
• Energy Performance Monitoring: Tracks building-wide energy consumption trends, highlighting inefficiencies and optimization opportunities to reduce operational costs.

Best Suited For: Facility managers and building operators looking for a BAS-integrated FDD platform to enhance operational efficiency and reduce downtime.

Strengths:

• Integration with BAS Platforms: Works with leading BAS providers (e.g., Tridium, Johnson Controls, Siemens) for smooth data extraction and monitoring.
• Data Visualization for Decision-Making: Offers custom dashboards and interactive reports, enabling engineers to quickly interpret data and prioritize maintenance actions.

Limitations:

• Reliance on BAS Data: Performance depends on BAS-generated data, making it less effective in facilities with limited automation infrastructure.
• Manual Rule Configuration: Requires manual setup of fault detection rules for different asset types, increasing complexity and setup time.

2. Bueno Analytics

Bueno Analytics offers an advanced FDD module that leverages AI-driven analytics to improve equipment reliability, energy efficiency, and operational performance.

Key Features:

• Data-Driven Maintenance Programs: Uses real-time sensor data and analytics to proactively detect faults and optimize maintenance schedules.
• Predictive Analytics for Failure Prevention: Identifies early warning signs of equipment failure, helping teams prevent costly downtime and inefficiencies.

Best Suited For: Facility management teams aiming to reduce energy costs and improve asset performance through automated fault detection and diagnostics.

Strengths:

• Actionable Insights with Diagnostic Analytics: Provides detailed fault reports with recommended actions, streamlining issue resolution and decision-making.
• Enhances Tenant Satisfaction & System Efficiency: Maintains optimal environmental conditions, ensuring comfort and reliability for building occupants.

Limitations:

• Requires Third-Party Platform Integration: May need additional software to achieve comprehensive diagnostics across all building systems.
• Setup Complexity & Specialized Expertise: Initial configuration and customization may require skilled professionals to fine-tune fault detection parameters.

3. CIM’s PEAK Platform

CIM’s PEAK Platform enhances Building Management Systems (BMS) by integrating real-time fault detection and AI-driven analytics to optimize equipment performance.

Key Features:

• Live Equipment Monitoring & Fault Detection: Continuously tracks asset conditions, detecting performance anomalies and faults for proactive issue resolution.
• AI-Powered Performance Analytics: Uses machine learning algorithms to analyze historical trends, improving equipment lifespan and operational efficiency.

Best Suited For: Organizations seeking to enhance BMS capabilities with advanced fault detection and AI-powered performance insights.

Strengths:

• Enhances BMS with AI-Driven Insights: Converts raw BMS data into actionable intelligence, helping teams prioritize critical maintenance tasks.
• Energy Consumption Optimization: Identifies energy inefficiencies and suggests corrective actions, reducing operating costs and carbon footprint.

Limitations:

• Heavily Dependent on BMS Data Quality: Effectiveness relies on the accuracy and completeness of existing BMS data sources.
• May Require Additional Modules: Deeper diagnostic capabilities might necessitate extra software components, increasing setup complexity.

4. Clockworks Analytics

Clockworks Analytics delivers an automated FDD solution designed to process vast amounts of building data, enhancing facility performance and operational efficiency.

Key Features:

• Cloud-Based Analytics for Large-Scale Operations: Continuously processes data from over 400 million sq. ft. of facilities, identifying faults and inefficiencies in real-time.
• Scalable Diagnostics Across Diverse Equipment: Uses advanced fault detection logic to assess and optimize varied building system components.

Best Suited For: Enterprise-scale facility management teams managing large building portfolios that require centralized FDD solutions.

Strengths:

• Proven Scalability Across Multi-Building Operations: Effectively monitors distributed assets, making it ideal for corporate, healthcare, and education portfolios.
• Automated Energy Modelling & Fault Prioritization: Quantifies energy impact and cost savings, helping teams allocate resources efficiently.

Limitations:

• High Implementation Costs for Smaller Facilities: Initial investment and operational expenses may be prohibitive for SMBs with limited budgets.
• Complexity Requiring Additional Training: Advanced data analysis and reporting features may demand specialized training for optimal use.

5. ICONICS FDD

ICONICS FDD is an AI-driven diagnostics platform that seamlessly integrates with SCADA, IoT, and automation systems, providing real-time fault detection and predictive analytics.

Key Features:

• Machine Learning-Based Fault Detection: Continuously analyzes real-time operational data to identify anomalies and system inefficiencies before they escalate.
• Customizable Dashboards & Alarms: Provides interactive dashboards and real-time alerts, allowing engineers to monitor asset health efficiently.

Best Suited For: Engineering teams in industrial, commercial, and utility sectors requiring a scalable, AI-powered FDD solution for automated fault detection.

Strengths:

• Highly Adaptable Across Multiple Industries: Compatible with SCADA, IoT, and automation platforms, making it ideal for diverse operational environments.
• Real-Time AI Processing for Faster Fault Detection: Uses advanced AI algorithms to process large data sets, ensuring accurate and proactive issue identification.

Limitations:

• Requires Strong Data Infrastructure: Needs robust connectivity and data processing capabilities for smooth deployment and optimal performance.
• Higher Upfront Costs vs Traditional FDD Systems: AI-based analytics and real-time processing may demand greater initial investment than rule-based alternatives.

How These Tools Compare to Xempla’s Agent for FDD

Most of the existing top-rated FDD tools on the market focus on identifying faults and inefficiencies, but they often require manual intervention for diagnosis and resolution. Xempla’s AI Agent for FDD goes beyond detection by providing context-aware, AI-driven recommendations and automated workflows that help engineering teams make faster and smarter maintenance decisions and effectively close the loop from fault to fix. Here’s how these tools fare against Xempla:

1. Xempla vs Building Logix

Building Logix primarily relies on Building Automation Systems (BAS) data for fault detection, requiring manual rule configuration and historical trend analysis to identify inefficiencies. While effective for BAS-integrated facilities, it lacks a fully autonomous AI-driven diagnostic layer.

Advantage of Xempla: Xempla’s AI Agent eliminates the need for manual rule-setting by using adaptive AI models that dynamically learn from operational data. Unlike Building Logix, which is heavily dependent on BAS inputs, Xempla’s AI Agent provides cross-system intelligence, detecting faults even in non-BAS environments while offering prescriptive insights to accelerate root cause analysis and corrective action.

2. Xempla vs Bueno Analytics

Bueno Analytics focuses on data-driven maintenance programs and predictive analytics for fault detection and operational efficiency. However, it still relies on historical trends and pre-set rules, and requires extensive manual / human investigation of issues and lacks automation to quickly run through the next steps.

Advantage of Xempla: Xempla’s AI Agent eliminates the need for manual triaging by delivering intelligent, automated diagnostics that pinpoint root causes and recommend corrective actions. Unlike Bueno, which operates primarily as a data analytics platform, Xempla’s AI Agent functions as a decision-making assistant, streamlining engineering workflows and reducing cognitive load for reliability teams.

3. Xempla vs CIM’s PEAK Platform

CIM PEAK serves as a BMS-enhancement tool, relying heavily on BMS data quality to optimize building performance. It offers monitoring and energy efficiency analytics, but its effectiveness depends on pre-existing BMS infrastructure and often requires additional modules for deeper diagnostics. It’s also less effective for asset-intensive industries beyond buildings.

Advantage of Xempla: Xempla’s AI Agent is not limited to BMS environments — it ingests and analyzes multi-source operational data, providing deeper, AI-powered insights beyond just energy efficiency. Unlike CIM’s PEAK, Xempla’s AI Agent acts as an autonomous decision-support system for engineering teams, offering more holistic fault diagnostics and actionable recommendations. It’s also ideal for engineering teams managing diverse asset portfolios.

4. Xempla vs Clockworks Analytics

Clockworks Analytics excels in large-scale facilities and portfolio-wide diagnostics, making it a powerful fault detection solution for enterprise teams. However, its complexity and high implementation costs along with the need for specialized training make it less accessible and scalable for lean maintenance teams seeking AI-driven solutions.

Advantage of Xempla: Xempla’s AI Agent provides enterprise-grade diagnostics without the overhead of complex implementation. While Clockworks is great for identifying faults across portfolios, it doesn’t offer the same level of automation, AI-driven decision-making, and contextual recommendations that Xempla does. With Xempla, engineering teams don’t just get alerts—they get actionable solutions, improving efficiency without extensive training or high costs.

5. Xempla vs ICONICS FDD

ICONICS FDD focuses on AI-powered fault detection for industrial automation and SCADA-integrated systems. It provides customizable dashboards and real-time anomaly detection, but it requires a strong data infrastructure and involves higher upfront costs compared to traditional FDD solutions, making it less practical for organizations with budget constraints or decentralized operations.

Advantage of Xempla: Xempla’s AI Agent is designed to be industry-agnostic, providing intelligent diagnostics across a wide range of asset environments without the extensive infrastructure upgrades. The Agent adapts dynamically to operational changes, ensuring that maintenance teams always receive contextually relevant insights without the need for manual customization. While ICONICS focuses on anomaly detection, Xempla goes further by ensuring real operational impact rather than just alerting teams to issues.

Why Xempla’s FDD Agent Stands Out for Remote Operations and Reliability Engineering Teams

Xempla is uniquely positioned to serve reliability and engineering-focused teams such as those in Remote Operations Centers. Xempla's Remote Ops Agent provides:

• Intelligent fault filtering and ranking to minimze false alarms and prioritize critical issues.
• Deep diagnostics powered by AI, tailored to asset performance and fault investigations.
• Prescriptive recommendations for corrective actions, ensuring faster decision-making.
• Ease of use with a hyper-focused user-friendly interface designed for O&M workflows.
• Seamless collaboration with onsite teams through in-built messaging and instant notifications.
• Automated impact assessment and feedback loop for continuous optimization.

1. AI-Augmented Engineering Expertise

Unlike traditional FDD software that flags issues without guidance, Xempla’s AI Agent thinks like an expert engineer—analyzing faults, diagnosing root causes, and providing clear, prescriptive recommendations tailored to your operational context.

2. Intelligent Automation for Engineering Teams

Xempla eliminates manual data analysis, rule-based triaging, and repetitive fault management by offering automated diagnostics and workflows that keep your team focused on high-value tasks. Instead of sifting through alerts, engineers can rely on Xempla’s AI to pinpoint the critical issues that demand attention.

3. Adaptive, Not Just Predictive

Most FDD tools rely on static rule-based systems or predefined fault libraries that struggle to adapt to dynamic asset conditions. Xempla’s AI Agent continuously learns and evolves, ensuring that your maintenance strategies remain ahead of operational changes—delivering real-time, precision-driven insights when they matter most.

4. No Complex Integrations, No Heavy Lift

While many FDD solutions require custom configurations, extensive training, or complex integrations with BMS and SCADA systems, Xempla’s plug-and-play AI-driven platform ensures seamless deployment across diverse asset environments, minimizing setup friction and operational disruption.

5. Designed for Lean & High-Performance Operations

For O&M and ROC teams looking to do more with less, Xempla’s AI Agent optimizes engineering bandwidth, helping teams manage more assets, resolve more issues, and drive higher reliability—without increasing headcount or workload.

Seize the Future of Reliability with AI Agents for FDD

Choosing the right FDD software is crucial for minimizing downtime, enhancing efficiency, and optimizing maintenance strategies. While the top five FDD tools offer powerful fault detection, many still rely on manual interpretation and intervention. 

Xempla’s AI Agent is not just an alternative to some of these more widely used fault detection diagnostics tools but a significant advancement with its O&M-specific focus, intelligent automation, and AI-driven workflows tailored to ROC engineers. By reducing manual workload and improving response time, it empowers engineering teams to achieve greater reliability with less effort.

Book a demo of Xempla today and experience the future of reliability with AI Agents for FDD.