The True Cost of Custom Integrations in Building Management

In today’s commercial buildings, no two systems are exactly the same. You might have a mix of legacy BMS platforms, smart sensors, and cloud-connected controllers — each with its own language, naming conventions, and data formats. Naturally, when it’s time to unify all that information, the first solution is often a custom integration.

And at first? It seems to work.

Until it doesn’t.

The reality is that custom integrations may solve a short-term problem, but they often create long-term complexity. In this post, we’ll break down the true cost of these one-off connections — and why a vendor-agnostic, scalable solution like Prizm Connect can save time, money, and headaches for good.

The Real Problems with Custom Integrations

Custom integrations are built for one purpose, at one point in time. But your building infrastructure is constantly evolving. What happens when your needs — or your systems — change?

Ongoing Maintenance

APIs change. Devices go offline. Systems are upgraded. Every time something shifts, that custom code needs to be updated — usually by the person or firm that wrote it in the first place. And if they’re not around? You’re stuck rebuilding.

Scalability Issues

Custom integrations are rarely portable. What works in one building won’t always work in another. This means your team spends time duplicating effort and rewriting scripts — or worse, avoiding expansion altogether.

High Upfront Costs

Custom integrations require expensive engineering labor. Even a simple BMS-to-database connection can run into the thousands — and that’s before you add normalization, alarm logic, or redundancy.

Vendor Lock-In

Many integrations are tightly coupled with specific platforms, making it hard to switch vendors or upgrade infrastructure without starting from scratch.

The Smarter Solution: Prizm Connect

Instead of reinventing the wheel every time you need data from your buildings, Prizm Connect acts as a unified data pipeline for your entire portfolio. Whether you’re running WebCTRL in one building, EcoStruxure in another, or Alerton across multiple sites — Prizm Connect can ingest, normalize, and stream your data into one centralized, query-ready database.

No custom code. No one-off APIs. Just structured, usable data.

What You Get with Prizm Connect

• Vendor-Agnostic Integration: Works with all major BMS and OT systems — no platform dependencies.

• Normalized Data: Point names, units, alarm states, and timestamps are standardized across buildings.

• Flexible Deployment: Store your data on-site, in your cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), or on PrizmOne’s hosted TimescaleDB.

• Integration-Ready Outputs: Feed Grafana dashboards, fault detection tools, reports, or analytics platforms.

  
  

Real-World Impact

Customers using Prizm Connect have reported:

• 40+ hours/month saved on manual reporting and data cleanup.

• $3,000+ per site/month in avoided engineering labor.

• Faster alarm correlation and reduced equipment downtime.

• Eliminated custom code and integration upkeep across systems.

  
  

Why Choose a Scalable Solution?

When you opt for a scalable solution like Prizm Connect, you’re not just making a choice for today. You’re investing in the future of your building management. Imagine having the ability to adapt to new technologies without the headache of starting from scratch. That’s the power of a vendor-agnostic approach.

The Long-Term Benefits

1. Future-Proofing Your Systems: As technology evolves, your integration can adapt without a complete overhaul.

2. Cost Efficiency: Save on engineering costs and reduce the need for ongoing maintenance.

3. Enhanced Data Utilization: With normalized data, you can make informed decisions faster.

   
   

TL;DR (for busy facility pros)

• Custom integrations = short-term fix, long-term burden.

• They cost more in time, labor, and ongoing upkeep than most expect.

• Prizm Connect offers a scalable, vendor-agnostic alternative that just works.

  
  

Ready to Simplify Your Data Architecture?

Talk to our team and learn how to deploy Prizm Connect in just a few days — no rewrites required.

In conclusion, the complexities of custom integrations can weigh heavily on your operations. By choosing a solution like Prizm Connect, you can streamline your processes and focus on what truly matters: optimizing your building's performance and efficiency. Why settle for temporary fixes when a lasting solution is within reach?