Why system switches take so much longer than expected
Switching energy management systems is rarely as straightforward as it sounds. The question is usually not whether you can get your data out – it is how long it will take.
Imagine you have just bought a new home. You have the keys in hand and you are ready to start packing. Then you discover that the sofa will not fit through the door, the moving boxes are too heavy to lift off the floor, and the removal company wants twice the price and six months to get the job done. Who would have thought a simple move could involve so much work? When it comes to data, this is a very real problem that many people do not see coming.
A system switch is rarely straightforward
At a time when everyone talks about open data, it is striking how difficult it can be to move your data from one system to another. Property companies across Europe have grown wary of heavy systems, long lead times, and substantial consultancy fees. We regularly speak with technical managers and system owners who are in the middle of switching energy management systems – and what catches many of them off guard is how long the data migration actually takes, even when they had specified that data portability was a requirement.
Sometimes we speak with someone, let a few months pass, and when we call again they are still in the same situation. A project group has been assembled with the specific task of extracting the data so they can finally move to the new system. And everyone is asking the same question: how can this be so complicated when every supplier markets themselves as open?
Why system switches take so long
Data is complicated. Two factors consistently slow down integration projects: data modelling differences, and the absence of straightforward export functionality.
1. Your data does not fit the new system
Buildings increasingly have meters for temperature, humidity, electricity, water, heat, cooling, gas, and more. More data sources and larger datasets mean more errors and more administrative work to store and structure readings correctly. And that work only grows as the metering infrastructure expands.
Differences in how data has been modelled often mean it does not transfer cleanly between systems. What one system calls “water” another might call “KV” or handle under an entirely different category – and that is where the transfer breaks down. Much like finally getting the sofa out the door, only to find it does not fit in the new living room.
2. There is no straightforward way to export or integrate the data
Complicated data modelling aside, it is rarely a question of whether you can get the data out – it is a question of how quickly you can do it.
The fact that something is theoretically possible does not mean it is technically straightforward, or inexpensive. Few system suppliers would claim to own your data, but equally few talk openly about how you actually move it. If there is no simple export function, the result is the same: high costs and long lead times.
And because a system switch usually means moving from one supplier to a competitor, that can also affect how much effort actually goes into facilitating the move. A bit like giving notice on your flat and then asking your landlord to help with the removal.
Give yourself the best conditions with the right system for the right purpose
It is worth being clear about the difference between a data collection system and an energy management system. An energy management system is designed to help you make decisions based on your data. A collection system is built to gather, structure, and validate the data you want to monitor – and make it available wherever you need it.
An all-in-one solution is appealing. But it works well only as long as you have a single purpose for your energy data. The moment you want to use that data outside the built-in modules of your energy management system, you need to move it. And as many have experienced, that is where things get complicated.
A dedicated collection system like Metry has no reason to exist unless your data can easily be used in other systems. That is why straightforward integrations are part of the core product.
Free your energy data
At Metry, we focus on collection – and leave sustainability analysis, energy management, and tenant billing to the specialists in those areas.
The data you hold in Metry can be integrated directly into the system of your choice, via our open API or through ready-made connections to our integration partners. No consultants required, no six-month projects. If you want to see how it works, we are happy to show you.