As buildings become increasingly complex and performance standards more demanding, traditional commissioning methods struggle to keep pace. For many Commissioning Providers (CxP) and Building Owners, the transition to automated approaches isn't a matter of if, but when. Here are five clear indicators that your current commissioning process is ready for automation.

1. Your Testing Coverage Is Shrinking as Buildings Grow More Complex

Modern buildings have dramatically more control points than facilities constructed just a decade ago. Today's mid-sized commercial building may have 10,000+ control points, while a similar building from 2010 might have had just 2,000-3,000.

The Warning Signs:

• You're testing a smaller percentage of terminal units with each project
• Sample sizes have decreased from 20% to 10% or even 5%
• You've shifted from comprehensive testing to "representative sampling"
• You find yourself hoping that untested units behave like tested ones

The Impact:

A CxP recently shared that their firm had scaled back from testing 20% of VAV boxes to just 8% on large projects due to time constraints. Post-occupancy evaluations revealed that untested areas had nearly three times the comfort complaints and service calls compared to tested zones.

The Automation Advantage:

PingCx can test 100% of terminal units while possibly shortening timelines, ensuring complete coverage regardless of system size or complexity.

2. Your Documentation Time Exceeds Your Testing Time

When CxPs spend more time documenting tests than performing them, it's a clear sign that your process has become administratively burdensome.

The Warning Signs:

• CxPs create spreadsheets to manage their spreadsheets
• Report generation takes days or weeks after fieldwork is complete
• You've hired dedicated staff to handle commissioning documentation or pay expensive documentation software subscriptions 
• Test results are scattered across multiple formats and platforms

The Impact:

One commissioning firm calculated that for every hour spent physically testing equipment, their engineers spent 2.5 hours documenting the process, findings, and recommendations. This administrative burden reduced billable capacity and increased project costs by approximately 40%.

The Automation Advantage:

PingCx not only executes tests but also documents results in real-time, automatically generating standardized or customized reports. This shifts CxP time from documentation to analysis and problem-solving.

3. You're Missing Key Issues Until After Occupancy

If you're consistently discovering issues after building occupancy that should have been caught during commissioning, your manual testing approach likely isn't comprehensive enough.

The Warning Signs:

• Recurring patterns of post-occupancy issues
• "Surprise" findings during the first year of operation
• Multiple service calls for issues that testing should have identified
• Engineers say, "We would have caught that if we had time to test it," or the Controls contractor says, “The project was handed over and signed off.” 

The Impact:

According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's study on building commissioning, the median one-time cost to resolve problems uncovered during post-occupancy was $0.37 per square foot. For a 100,000 square foot building, this represents $37,000 in avoidable costs." (Source: Mills, E. et al., "Building Commissioning: A Golden Opportunity for Reducing Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the United States," Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2009). 

The Automation Advantage:

The comprehensive testing that PingCx provides identifies subtle issues that sampling might miss, including sequence errors, calibration problems, and integration failures. Many commissioning providers report 30-40% more issues identified during automated commissioning than manual methods.

4. Your Timelines Are Extending While Deadlines Are Shrinking

If your commissioning processes are taking longer while project timelines get shorter, you're facing an unsustainable squeeze.

The Warning Signs:

• Projects consistently run longer than scheduled
• You're requesting timeline extensions more frequently
• Teams are working nights and weekends to meet deadlines
• You're declining projects due to resource constraints

The Impact:

Extended commissioning timelines directly impact project completion and occupancy dates. For commercial properties, each week of delay can cost $0.50-$2.00 per square foot per month in lost revenue. For a 200,000 square foot building, a two-week commissioning delay could represent $50,000-$200,000 in financial impact.

The Automation Advantage:

PingCx typically reduces project timelines by 40-60%. Projects that once took 3-4 weeks can be completed in 10-14 days, allowing for earlier occupancy and revenue generation.

5. Your Value Proposition Is Shifting From Technical Expertise to Administrative Efficiency

The most concerning sign is when your competitive advantage becomes your ability to manage paperwork rather than your engineering expertise.

The Warning Signs:

• Clients compare CxPs based on reporting formats
• You're competing primarily on price rather than technical value
• Engineers spend more time managing data than solving problems
• Your team is more stressed about documentation than technical challenges

The Impact:

When commissioning becomes commoditized as an administrative function, margins shrink, staff satisfaction decreases, and the true value of commissioning—ensuring optimal building performance—is diminished. Firms are experiencing margin erosion of 6-8% on average over five years as documentation requirements increase.

The Automation Advantage:

Automation handles the administrative aspects of commissioning, freeing engineers to focus on high-value activities like problem-solving, optimization, and client consultation. This shifts the value proposition back to technical expertise while maintaining documentation excellence.

Making the Transition to PingCx and Lifecycle Commissioning^TM

If you've recognized several of these signs in your own practice, it may be time to explore PingCx’s solutions. The transition doesn't have to be abrupt—many firms begin with a hybrid approach, implementing automation in phases:

1. Start with documentation automation to streamline reporting, which you’ve likely already experimented with. 
2. Add automated testing for standard equipment types like VAV boxes, fan coils. PingCx offers standardized testing sequences that are easy to customize and deploy allowing you to begin testing in as little as 1 hour. 
3. Implement integrated test sequences for complete systems
4. Develop continuous monitoring capabilities for ongoing verification and offer continued services to the Owners you serve. 

The most successful transitions combine technology with process evolution—simply adding software to an outdated process rarely delivers the full benefits of automation.

The Evolution of Commissioning Expertise

It's important to note that automated commissioning doesn't reduce the need for commissioning expertise—it transforms how that expertise is applied. Rather than spending hours manipulating equipment and recording observations, engineers can focus on analyzing results, optimizing systems, and solving complex problems.

One CxP who transitioned to PingCx reported that their senior engineers now handle three times as many projects while delivering better results. "We're using our expertise where it matters most," they explained. "The software handles the repetitive tests and documentation, and our engineers focus on making buildings work better. We now have improved relationships with the General Contractor and the Building Owner"

Conclusion: From Necessary Evolution to Competitive Advantage

For CxPs facing these five challenges, automation isn't just a helpful addition—it's increasingly becoming a necessary evolution. Those who embrace automated approaches are finding they can deliver more comprehensive testing, better documentation, and faster project completion while actually reducing costs and improving quality.

As one early adopter put it: "We resisted automation because we thought it might minimize our expertise. What we found instead was that it amplified it. We're doing better engineering now because we're not buried in spreadsheets and checklists."

In an industry where building complexity continues to increase while project timelines shrink, automated commissioning isn't just a way to solve current challenges—it's quickly becoming the new standard for commissioning excellence.

Is your commissioning practice experiencing any of these warning signs? What's your biggest challenge in today's complex building environment? Share your thoughts and Contact us.