In the world of Smart Buildings, data is powerful—but building data alone isn’t enough. True efficiency comes when we combine building analytics with real-time human feedback.

Here’s a perfect real-world example of how Solve and Smart Building Data worked together to quickly resolve an issue, saving both time and resources for the facility team. Taken from an office in Dublin January 2023.

The Problem: A Mysterious Spike in Water Usage

The problem took place spanning the Christmas holiday period in a commercial office building which typically works standard business hours 8am to 6pm. The Insights Dashboard (the same platform that logs Smart Building data and Solve reports) was tracking water usage vs. building occupancy.

Everything looked normal—until December 19th, when something unusual happened.

Step 1: Anomaly Detection Spots a Spike

Late on December 19th, the anomaly detection system within the smart building platform fired an alert, flagging an unexpected spike in water consumption. The system was confident something wasn’t right, but it didn’t pinpoint the exact cause.

Step 2: Solve Reports Confirm the Issue

On December 20th, Solve reports started appearing in the same dashboard, this time from actual building occupants. Users reported issues like:

• "Toilet is running"

• "Cistern constantly running"

Because Solve and the building data were integrated, the FM team could immediately connect the dots—the abnormal water usage was not just a data glitch; it was a real problem happening on-site and the could locate it in the large building.

Step 3: Fast Action Saves Resources

With these reports in hand, Arthur, a Facility Manager (FM), went to investigate the issue. He shut off the valve to stop the leak, and as a result, water usage for that floor dropped to zero over the holidays.

Step 4: The Problem Returns—And Solve Catches It Again

Come January, someone unknowingly switched the valve back on before repairs were completed. The issue resurfaced.

Again, Solve reports from building users flagged:

• "Cistern still running constantly—can this be sorted ASAP?"

Because Solve linked directly to the building’s data, the FM team was immediately alerted that the problem had returned.

Step 5: Permanent Fix and Lasting Savings

This time, the FM team called in a plumber to resolve the issue properly. Once fixed, the water usage returned to normal, preventing further waste.

Why This Matters

This is a perfect example of how building data and human feedback together create real impact.

• If we only had the building data, the issue might have gone unnoticed (because who sits looking at graphs all day?).

• If we only had anomaly detection, we’d still struggle to find the source and location of the problem.  

• But by adding simple, real-time feedback from building users, the issue was identified within minutes.

• In a building this size it was surprising that the anomaly detection fired at all. Many buildings only have a single water utility meter making leak detection extremely difficult. The solve report alone saved many m3 of water, man hours and money.

The Bottom Line: Smart Collaboration Saves Time and Money

This case highlights why integrating Solve into a Smart Building ecosystem is so valuable:

• Faster issue resolution → Less wasted time for FM teams (who are often paid per hour).
• Preventing wasted resources → Water consumption costs money per cubic meter. ‍
• A seamless feedback loop → Issues are reported, tracked, and resolved within a single platform.

Solve doesn’t just capture complaints—it transforms them into actionable, data-driven insights that help Smart Buildings become smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable.

Final Thought

Data is essential, but human input is the missing piece in creating truly responsive, efficient buildings. When Smart Building platforms like Solve work together with real-time data analytics, problems get solved faster, resources are saved, and workplaces become better for everyone.

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