Busting the Myths of Workplace Management Technology Adoption

Workplace management technology has become mainstream, and it’s easy to see why. A recent Johnson Controls study, conducted by Forrester, found that deploying OpenBlue can cut energy expenses by 10% and chiller maintenance costs by 67% within three years. The same study revealed that using OpenBlue to optimize utilization of owned space can enable companies to reduce leased real estate costs by nearly 22%.

Given the substantial and well-documented benefits workplace management solutions can deliver, it’s not surprising that 85% of organizations are using one, according to our 2025 Inside the Workplace survey. What is surprising is that 15% aren’t.

What’s holding these companies back? In many cases, it’s just a misunderstanding. Any technology that has the power to transform how businesses operate will inevitably foster misconceptions, and these myths can slow adoption.

Let’s debunk a few of them.

Myth #1: Smart Building Systems Aren’t Secure

Some organizations have resisted adopting workplace management and smart building technology out of concern that doing so will make them more vulnerable to cyberattacks. This concern is not entirely unfounded, as some systems may not provide a holistic approach to cybersecurity that secures the entire building ecosystem. For example, a platform may incorporate robust endpoint security but fail to detect threats in real time across the network.

OpenBlue integrates advanced cybersecurity features into its smart building solutions, offering complete protection for interconnected systems. These features include:

End-to-end encryption that ensures the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information.
Real-time threat detection that uses AI-driven analytics to automatically flag anomalies in network or device behavior that could indicate a cyberattack.
Zero trust architecture that requires every access request to be verified and authenticated.
Compliance with global security standards, including ISO 27001 and NIST.
Secure remote access for facility managers and technicians.

OpenBlue sets the industry standard for cybersecurity. But don’t take our word for it – two of our solutions, OpenBlue Workplace and OpenBlue Employee, have received Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) approval, which clears the way for them to be implemented by U.S. federal agencies.

Myth #2: Connected Workplace Management Technology Increases Risk and Liability

In addition to cybersecurity fears, business leaders may worry that overreliance on sensors, integrations and automation could put people and assets at increased risk in the event something goes wrong. For example, do access control systems fail if the power goes out? The answer: No, when implemented properly these systems rely on battery backups to maintain functionality. While these concerns are understandable, the fact is that the real risk lies in continuing to operate complex facilities with outdated tools.

OpenBlue Workplace leverages data from Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to give facility managers visibility of factors that impact indoor air quality, including temperature, humidity and particulates. Maintaining a safe and healthy environment not only improves employee wellbeing and productivity, it also reduces HR-related liabilities like negligence lawsuits and violations of safety regulations.

By enabling predictive maintenance and giving facility managers early warning of potential problems, OpenBlue Insights allows them to address minor issues before they can potentially endanger occupants. Dealing with problems more quickly decreases the risk of injury-related lawsuits, while making it less likely you’ll have to undertake costly and disruptive remediation that can add more risk and liability.

Finally, by automating visitor management, OpenBlue Employee limits unauthorized access and aids in emergency response, bolstering the physical safety of occupants. Security and access control system integrations can also deter crime and fraud and provide a digital trail to aid in investigations and insurance claims.

Myth #3: Smart Building Technology is Only for Large Corporations with Massive Budgets

When some business leaders think about adopting workplace management technology, they envision the need for huge investments in on-site infrastructure and hardware, like expensive servers and miles of network cabling. They may also assume that they’ll be forced to pay a premium, either for expensive, complex systems with features they don’t need, or for customizations that will make the solution fit their needs.

But cloud computing and high-speed Wi-Fi connections have eliminated the bulk of those infrastructure and hardware costs, while increased competition has brought down the price of workplace management and smart building platforms overall. The fact is that, even for large corporations with massive budgets, the up-front investment required to deploy this technology is less than it used to be. At the same time, the benefits and capabilities have increased.

What’s more, while there are plenty of providers in the market who would be happy to sell you a system that’s more complex than you need, or charge you for customizations, that scenario is certainly avoidable with the right partner. OpenBlue solutions are modular and scalable, allowing smaller and mid-size organizations to start with one or two use cases, like streamlining visitor management or monitoring indoor air quality, and expand gradually from there. And we don’t charge extra for helping you find the configuration that’s right for you.

While the initial cost of implementing workplace management solutions may still seem substantial, that investment must be weighed against the long-term savings in energy, maintenance, and space optimization. The Johnson Controls/Forrester study found that organizations deploying OpenBlue solutions could achieve up to a 155% return on investment (ROI) over three years. The question business leaders should be asking themselves is not, “How can we afford to adopt these solutions?” but rather, “How can we afford not to?”

Don’t Let Myths Keep Your Workplace and Workforce Stuck in the Past

Every company is different and every business leader has to make the decisions they feel are right for their particular organization. There may be some valid reasons why your company has resisted adopting workplace management technology. But talking with a workplace management provider about those reasons is the best way to figure out if your concerns could be addressed by technology, enabling your organization to start benefiting from smart building technology the way so many others already are.