Getting Started With Xempla’s Remote Operations Agent: BMS, Data Requirements and More

As the shift towards tech-driven remote maintenance operations picks pace, organizations increasingly seek innovative solutions to streamline their processes. In this shift, the Xempla Remote Operations & Engineering Agent emerges as a game-changer for Remote Operations Center teams, offering hyper-focused, AI-augmented workflows and tools to enhance engineering decisions and automate routine manual tasks. 

This innovative solution leverages the power of Building Management Systems (BMS) and data from various connected systems to enable remote monitoring, fault detection and diagnostics (FDD), and predictive maintenance, ushering in a new era of operational efficiency for Remote Operations Centers.

To leverage its full potential, it is crucial to understand the BMS data requirements and integrations required. In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know to get started with Xempla’s Remote Operations & Engineering Agent, from data prerequisites to setup and beyond.

Understanding Data Requirements for Xempla’s Remote Operations Agent

A Working BMS or Connected Data Source Is Essential

A functional Building Management System (BMS) or connected data source is a prerequisite to benefit from Xempla's Remote Operations & Engineering Agent. This ensures that the Agent receives a steady stream of real-time data, which it can then analyze to identify critical issues and deliver context-rich actionable insights to ROC engineers.

Integration with Work Order Management Systems

If you have your own work order management system, the Agent can easily integrate with it to streamline your maintenance operations in one place. Alternatively, you can use Xempla's Technician App for Work Order Management, which offers additional advantages in terms of enhanced data quality and accessibility.

Different Ways to Connect Your BMS

There are multiple ways to connect your BMS data to the Agent, depending on your existing infrastructure and our integration capabilities:

• Historian DataBase: If your BMS trends historical data and has remote access, Xempla can deploy a software connector that securely interacts with the BMS database and transmits data to our cloud server. The connector will have read-only access to the database, ensuring no interference with BMS controls.
  
  Steps to Connect:
  
  1. You provide remote access to our team
  2. We configure the connector and test the connection.
  3. Once configured, your facility will be up and running in 7 days with the Agent acting as your virtual engineer for remote monitoring, fault detection diagnostics, and more.
  
• Open Communication Protocol: Third-party gateways like WattSense and similar products can be used to stream BMS data to Xempla’s cloud servers directly or via APIs. This approach offers flexibility and compatibility with a wide range of BMS systems. 
  
  Steps to Connect:
  
  1. Procure the gateway device and place it within your network.
  2. Share the API keys with us.
  3. Once the keys are provided, the connection will be established and your facility will be up and running within seven days.
  
• OEM APIs: If you’re already using cloud-based BMS solutions from an OEM like Schneider Electric, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, or Siemens, the integration process is simplified. Request the API documentation and API keys from your OEM, and Xempla will handle the rest.
  
  Steps to Connect:
  
  1. Obtain API keys and documentation from your OEM.
  2. Xempla utilizes existing integrations or develops a custom connector if needed.
  3. The facility becomes operational within seven days, ensuring the Agent can start functioning as your virtual engineer.
  

The Onboarding Process: Your First 12 Weeks with the Agent

Once connected, the Agent begins analyzing the BMS data using Xempla’s DIIV (Discover > Investigate > Implement > Verify) Framework. As the core operational flywheel underlying the Xempla platform, the DIIV Framework features powerful tools and workflows to enhance and accelerate the entire cycle from issue discovery to investigation, implementation of corrective action, and finally, verification or assessment of the corrective actions. The world’s top FM and Engineering Service companies (like Engie and Sodexo) use this framework to deliver a proactive, reliability-centred asset performance management strategy. 

Learn more about this framework here. 

Moving on, the Agent progresses as follows over the course of 12 weeks:

• Data Review: The agent evaluates the incoming data to ensure its accuracy and completeness.
• Insights Generation: Initial insights and recommendations are provided for the onsite Facility Management (FM) team.
• Onsite Investigations: Specific areas are flagged for investigation, leading to 4-5 focused inspections or interventions in the first few weeks.
• Gradual Adjustment: This period allows your FM team to adapt to the new, proactive operating model with minimal changes / disruptions. 

By the end of this phase, your facility will be operating at an enhanced efficiency level, guided by data-driven insights from the Agent.

Reaping the Benefits: Unmatched Efficiency, Cost Savings & More

The introduction of the Xempla Remote Ops Agent into your existing regime promises a paradigm shift in engineering efficiency and maintenance outcomes:

• Reduced Operational Costs: Automated triaging and AI-enhanced fault detection and diagnostics cut out false alarms and one-off issues, reducing the number of tickets generated and minimizing unnecessary maintenance visits, repair expenses, and staff costs.
• Improved Asset Performance and Reliability: Predictive and condition-based maintenance insights powered by the Agent lead to better decisions and timely resolutions, optimizing asset performance and improving reliability. 
• Standardized Service Delivery: Engineers follow standardized workflows and best practices, ensuring consistent service quality across all sites. This uniformity enhances customer satisfaction and improves the scalability of remote operations.
• Increased Transparency and Accountability: The Agent's reporting and analytics capabilities provide engineers and facility managers with greater transparency and accountability, enabling them to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate the value of their efforts.

Our customers are driving significant productivity gains, cost savings, and better asset performance / reliability outcomes while running a much more optimized maintenance operations model:

Click here to discover how Xempla powered Sodexo’s success story at the Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, UK’s largest critical healthcare complex.

How You Pay: Flexible Pricing to Suit Your Needs

Xempla offers a range of flexible pricing options for the Remote Operations and Engineering Agent to suit your organization’s needs:

• Subscription Model: Pay a fixed monthly or annual fee.
• Hybrid Model: Combine subscription fees with outcome-based pricing.
• Outcome-Driven Model: Pay based on the results driven by the Agent.

Talk to our solutions expert to determine the best option for your organization.

Embrace the Future of Remote Maintenance Operations, Start Your Journey Today

Xempla’s Remote Operations and Engineering Agent represents the future of remote operations and maintenance management. Organizations like yours can revolutionize your facility management processes, combining your existing Building Management System with advanced AI-powered tools and insights to unlock unparalleled efficiency. By meeting the data requirements and connecting your BMS through one of the outlined methods, you’ll be well on your way to embracing a smarter, more optimized approach to remote maintenance operations.

Take the first step, connect with Xempla’s Agent, and discover a world of new possibilities in remote maintenance operations. Book your demo today or schedule a call with our expert to learn more.