Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
June 04, 2026
The Costly Blind Spot in Commercial Real Estate: OT vs IT
TLDR
- Owners who separate IT and OT gain cost savings and revenue from building data their competitors ignore.
- OpticWise's framework audits systems, connects them, collects data, and improves performance and profitability.
- Proper OT management prevents waste and detects problems early, making buildings more efficient and comfortable for tenants.
- Most commercial buildings have disconnected systems and redundant networks because no one owns operational technology.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it highlights a pervasive inefficiency in commercial real estate that directly impacts property owners' bottom lines. By failing to distinguish between IT and OT, owners lose control over expenses, miss opportunities for energy savings, and forfeit valuable data that could enhance tenant satisfaction and property value. Understanding this distinction empowers owners to optimize operations, reduce costs, and future-proof their buildings for AI-driven technologies.
Summary
In the commercial real estate industry, a critical oversight is costing property owners significantly: treating Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) as the same. Bill Douglas, CEO of OpticWise, explains that while IT manages organizational infrastructure like servers and cybersecurity, OT runs the building itself—HVAC, lighting, access control, and leak detection. When owners lump both under IT, they leave OT unmanaged, leading to inefficiency and data loss. Vendors often fill the gap, resulting in disconnected systems and owners losing access to valuable operational data. Douglas emphasizes that property managers, IT managers, and asset managers are capable but misplaced; OT requires a dedicated digital strategy and architect. The Peak Property Performance framework helps owners audit systems, connect them, and leverage data for performance and profitability.
The cost of ignoring OT is tangible: utility savings are missed, insurance rates remain high, and tenant experience suffers. Lights stay on in empty buildings, water damage goes undetected, and systems run on default settings for years. Douglas asserts that owners lose control of expenses and the data needed to drive revenue. The data exists, but without a strategic approach to OT, it remains untapped. This is not an IT or property management issue but a strategic one, requiring recognition of OT as its own discipline with its own return on investment.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by Keycrew.co. Read the original source here, The Costly Blind Spot in Commercial Real Estate: OT vs IT
