The Background
The smart building industry has traditionally focused on new construction, leaving the vast majority of existing buildings disconnected from IoT technology due to complex installations, high costs, and invasive infrastructure requirements. This has created a significant market gap where facility managers struggle with operational blind spots, reactive maintenance, and fragmented management systems relying on paper processes and disconnected tools.
SPE Schär & Partner Engineering, a Switzerland-based technology company, emerged to address this retrofit challenge through wireless, non-invasive IoT solutions. The company combines LoRaWAN sensor technology with real-time monitoring & centralized facility management without requiring structural modifications. Their vendor-independent approach and flexible rental model eliminate traditional adoption barriers, making smart building technology accessible to existing infrastructure while maintaining operational continuity.
For each of their projects, SPE showcases the power of collaborative work, technical expertise, and forward-thinking to create a lasting impact.
The Challenge
SPE recognized that most building automation providers focused exclusively on new construction, leaving a massive gap in the market for retrofit solutions that could deliver smart building capabilities without operational disruption.
SPE works in a region with many existing buildings so upgrades were costly, slow, and disruptive. Conventional tech didn’t fit real conditions, and
facility teams lacked visibility & control. SPE saw the need for retrofits to be quick and simple.
Traditional IoT Required Invasive Renovations
Existing buildings faced insurmountable barriers when attempting to implement smart building technology, as conventional solutions demanded extensive rewiring and structural modifications.
Facility Managers Operated Reactively
Property managers across industries struggled with operational blind spots, discovering problems only after they became critical issues requiring emergency repairs or creating safety hazards.
Operational Inefficiencies
Facility management relied heavily on paper-based processes, endless email chains, and disconnected spreadsheets that made it impossible to maintain centralized oversight.
We realized that asking existing buildings to undergo major construction just to add sensors was completely backwards – the solution needed to adapt to the building.
Manuel Schär, Managing Director, Schär & Partner Engineering GmbH
The Solution
SPE decided on a goal of offering an IoT platform to power their FM+ facility management solution. By working closely with their customers in Switzerland, SPE built a powerful monitoring system based on IoT sensors and analytics for buildings across sectors.
Real-Time Data Visualization
SPE provided live sensor data visualization for critical building parameters including temperature, water usage, electrical flow, and leak detection.
Digital Task Management
TagoIO's platform supported SPE's digital transformation of facility management processes, eliminating paper stacks and spreadsheet chaos.
Automated Monitoring & Alerts
TagoIO's alert system enabled SPE to detect disruptions early, automatically triggering alarms for critical events such as leaks, power surges, or temperature anomalies. This proactive monitoring helps prevent damage and reduce response costs.
SPE now delivers smart building oversight without invasive infrastructure upgrades.
FM+ improves response times and reduces cost through real-time data and automation.
The Results
Through the use of TagoIO tools, SPE successfully delivered their FM+ solution across municipal, commercial, and agricultural sectors, achieving significant operational improvements and cost savings for their clients while establishing a scalable IoT platform for facility management. For more information, please visit fmplus.ch
1. Rapid Wireless Retrofitting
SPE achieved faster installation times for facility management systems by leveraging TagoIO to support wireless LoRaWAN sensors, eliminating the need for invasive construction work.
2. Proactive Maintenance Prevention
An early warning system reduced emergency maintenance incidents. FM+ alert capabilities enabled proactive detection of leaks, power surges, and temperature anomalies.
3. Streamlined Digital Operations
Digital task management capabilities eliminated administrative overhead by replacing paper-based processes and Excel spreadsheets.
4. Scalable Multi-Building Management
SPE expanded their market reach to serve diverse building types, from single-family homes to industrial complexes. TagoIO capabilities enabled seamless management of multiple buildings.
5. Enhanced Energy Monitoring
Real-time sensor monitoring improved energy efficiency across client facilities through optimized heating, lighting, and ventilation control.
6. Improved Customer Satisfaction
Client satisfaction increased due to improved transparency and control over building operations. FM+ provided facility managers with unprecedented visibility into their buildings’ needs.
