Enhance energy savings and efficiency gains by streamlining your operations with APIs
Most in the facilities management business strive daily to reduce energy costs and increase operational efficiency. They recognize that both aims are table stakes components to achieving success. But there’s another equally important step that can be taken in that direction, and it’s often overlooked. That is, leveraging APIs to streamline business operations.
Although we’ve covered APIs in some detail in other blogs, let’s quickly remind ourselves what they are. An API, or application programming interface, is a means of communicating with a software process or device from another program. An increasing number of applications, devices and processes now have APIs that enable them to be easily and quickly integrated with their counterparts or controlled from a remote server. APIs are typically published in a user-friendly language, such as REST and allow asynchronous functionality – so, for example, data can be requested from a service, at periodic intervals.
Now to the point of this blog, APIs can significantly streamline a company's operations by enabling seamless integration and communication between different software systems, services, and applications. There are several ways they can do this, and it’s worth digging into some detail:
- The sum is greater than the parts. APIs enable disparate systems to communicate with each other and share data automatically. This paves the way for companies to automate numerous tasks and processes, reducing manual intervention, minimizing errors, and saving time and resources. For example, you could use APIs to automatically create a service ticket in your work order software of choice based on conditions set in your EMS/BMS.
- Leveraging data. Different software applications are often not designed to work together. APIs allow data to be exchanged between them despite this. This enables data from different sources to be collected, aggregated, and analyzed providing a far more comprehensive view of operations. And you can’t streamline what you can’t see.
- Offer a better customer experience. Streamline operations by integrating your CRM system with your website and collect real-time information about customer interactions, preferences, and history which can enable you to deliver far more personalized client service.
- Save money. You knew this was coming! When you integrate third-party services via APIs, you can extend functionality without the costly development and maintenance associated with relying on in-house solutions. For instance, you can use APIs for geolocation services, Cloud storage, or payment processing in ways that are more cost-efficient and scalable.
- Upgrade communications. APIs make it easier for your company to communicate between departments, teams, and locations. Information can flow where and when needed, more seamlessly across the enterprise.
- Scale up. APIs allow you to scale your operations quickly and easily. As the business grows, or as you add new software solutions, services, sensors, and more you can do so without having to overhaul your entire technology stack.
- Develop the future. Agility is a word you hear a lot, and it means being able to change to keep up in an evolving market. APIs enable you to do this by providing pre-built functionality your developers can use to add new features and services more quickly when there’s a reason or opportunity to do so.
- Security. Always important, APIs can enhance security by allowing controlled access to data and functionality, restricting sensitive information, and supporting advanced authentication methods.
To summarize, there are a lot of ways that APIs can enable you to improve and streamline your operational infrastructure. Think of them as a common integration layer within your company’s tech stack, allowing the parts to work together in pursuit of greater value. As we’ve seen, APIs promote efficiency, reduce operational friction, and provide opportunities for innovation, all of which contribute to streamlining operations and enhancing overall competitiveness.
APIs and NexRev
At NexRev, we believe that APIs are critical elements within modern Building Management Systems (BMS). Linking different systems, devices, and applications within a BMS is critical as technology continues to evolve rapidly and interoperability and functionality must be maintained. By leveraging APIs, a BMS can gain real-time insights into building operations, enabling more efficient management, predictive maintenance, and energy optimization. Their effective implementation can unlock the full potential of a modern BMS, fostering smarter, more efficient, and sustainable buildings.
About NexRev
At NexRev, we’ve been unlocking the power of facility and energy management data with over a million connected devices across North America. Our team of experts is focused on helping you deliver more with your budgets, infrastructure, and assets to create sustainable savings in operations and energy, reducing your risk and increasing operational confidence.
To begin a discussion on how we can help you to reduce energy waste please email us at