This article was written by Daphne Tomlinson of Tomlinson Business Research. Partnerships and investments can play an increasingly important role in implementing strategic goals, particularly in providing access to the range of innovative technologies being developed for the smart buildings marketplace. While acquisitions are also being regularly undertaken by the building technology players as an alternative vehicle for strategic growth, partnerships are cooperative, negotiated, less risky and not so competitive. They are an attractive option for mainstream suppliers for diverse reasons including: To offer a more integrated solution for commercial and industrial building owners and operators To capitalize on collaborating with IT players To benefit from the innovative software or hardware offered by a technology startup To augment a solution for a specific vertical market or region Recent alliances by the leading suppliers of building automation systems, HVAC equipment and energy services for commercial buildings and homes were analyzed. The table includes those partnerships identified […]