Johnson Controls OpenBlue smart building platform drives efficiency and cost savings for customers

Johnson Controls, the global provider for smart, healthy, safe and sustainable buildings, has released a commissioned study* conducted by Forrester Consulting that quantifies the Total Economic Impact (TEI) and benefits of its OpenBlue platform. 

OpenBlue is an AI-optimised smart building ecosystem of connected solutions and services which provides near real-time data visibility of the performance of buildings and workplaces. OpenBlue provides tailored energy-saving recommendations based on usage and weather data, and is integrated with FM:Systems solutions. Johnson Controls is FM:Systems' parent company.

In the study, Forrester found that a model organisation representing a composite of interviewed customers from multiple industries deploying OpenBlue, including FM:Systems solutions, could achieve up to a 155% return on investment (ROI) over three years.

Other key findings for the composite organisation included: 

- Up to 10% energy savings.

 - Up to 67% reduction in chiller maintenance, saving nearly US$1.5 million over three years.

- Seven percent rental premiums, resulting in three-year present value of US$3.2 million.

 - An 8-month payback period based on the total costs and net benefits. 

“We believe the findings speak for themselves: Our OpenBlue and FM:Systems solutions not only lower operating costs, but also optimise energy use – a win, win. By enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, we’re helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals and also improve their bottom line,” said Vijay Sankaran, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Johnson Controls. 

“As global companies face pressure to save time and money, our capabilities stand out in delivering both environmental and financial returns.” 

According to a customer interviewed for this study, “OpenBlue has saved us up to 10% on our energy costs. We did some other work to reduce these costs but, as an example, OpenBlue showed us out-of-hours lighting was costing US$17,000 per floor of our buildings. Without that insight, we wouldn’t have been able to take action to reduce those expenses and that energy waste.”

Another customer interviewed stated, “Not only is Johnson Controls supplying the critical, backbone items of facilities management, like chillers, fire, security, and automation, but by adding a management layer on top of these, they have provided consistency and solid support.”  

In November 2024, Johnson Controls significantly expanded the AI capabilities in its OpenBlue Enterprise Manager suite of digital solutions, part of the OpenBlue digital ecosystem. The updates included OpenBlue’s first customer-facing generative AI application, more autonomous building controls, and a significantly improved user experience.

The expanded features in OpenBlue provide clearer insights and better performance, including:  

- Integrated generative AI tools that proactively recommend impactful energy savings projects.

- Major upgrades to the user experience with a focus on personalisation, improved design, and compliance with a higher level of accessibility standards.

- Enhanced indoor air quality monitoring and sensor analytics to support smarter and healthier buildings.

FM:Systems has also added generative AI to its FMS:Insights Analytics platform, enabling users to ask natural language questions about occupancy and utilisation data across their real estate portfolios.

Details

Read the study at https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/insights/2025/case-studies/openblue-total-economic-impact-study.

*To better understand the benefits, costs, and risks associated with an OpenBlue investment, Forrester interviewed five decision-makers with experience using OpenBlue and FM:Systems solutions. For the purposes of this study, Forrester aggregated the interviewees’ experiences and combined the results into a single composite organisation that is a real estate investment and development organisation with 1,800 total employees and 50 million sq ft of assets under management. 

From the information provided in the interviews, Forrester constructed a TEI framework for those organisations considering an investment in OpenBlue and FM:Systems solutions. The objective of the framework is to identify the cost, benefit, flexibility, and risk factors that affect the investment decision. 

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