Glossary

Gateways are hardware or software components that collect data from technical building equipment (TBE), and securely transmit it to higher‑level systems such as cloud platforms. They connect different protocols such as BACnet, Modbus, or M‑Bus, thereby enabling access to systems that would otherwise not be digitally readable without additional connectivity. Gateways thus create a unified data foundation and enable the integration of older or heterogeneous building technologies.

In the building sector, gateways play a key role because many existing buildings consist of a wide variety of systems and manufacturers that do not communicate natively with one another. Gateways solve this problem by aggregating data from HVAC systems, building automation, sensors, or energy systems, making it readable in real time and available for monitoring, analysis, and optimization. They thus form the technical foundation for digitalization, energy efficiency, and scalable operations across entire portfolios.

aedifion uses gateways to connect buildings quickly, securely, and independently of manufacturers to its cloud platform. The gateways transmit operational and measurement data to the data lake, where it is automatically structured and used for AI‑based analyses and optimizations. This enables seamless digital building operation even in existing buildings, regardless of age or technological maturity.