New Study Finds Johnson Controls OpenBlue Smart Building Platform Drives Efficiency and Cost Savings for Customers

Rhea-AI Summary

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) released a Forrester Consulting study demonstrating the economic impact of its OpenBlue smart building platform. The study reveals that organizations implementing OpenBlue could achieve up to 155% ROI over three years with an 8-month payback period.

Key benefits include:

• Up to 10% energy savings
• 67% reduction in chiller maintenance, saving $1.5 million over three years
• 7% rental premiums, resulting in $3.2 million three-year present value

The platform's recent AI expansion includes generative AI tools for energy savings recommendations, improved user experience, and enhanced indoor air quality monitoring. The integration with FM:Systems solutions provides real-time data visibility and strategic real estate insights.

Positive

• 155% ROI over three years with 8-month payback period
• 10% reduction in energy costs
• 67% reduction in chiller maintenance costs ($1.5M savings)
• 7% rental premiums generating $3.2M in value
• Integration of advanced AI capabilities enhancing platform functionality

Negative

• None.

Insights

Technology Analyst

Johnson Controls' OpenBlue platform validation through Forrester's study demonstrates quantifiable ROI in the increasingly competitive smart building market. The 155% three-year return represents significant validation for JCI's digital transformation strategy, particularly in an industry where proving technology investments' financial impact remains challenging.

The technical capabilities highlighted show meaningful operational improvements: 10% energy savings, 67% reduced chiller maintenance, and an 8-month payback period represent metrics that translate directly to customer CFOs' language. The November 2024 AI expansion introducing generative AI recommendations for energy savings projects represents a strategic evolution from descriptive to prescriptive analytics - moving beyond just reporting problems to actively suggesting solutions.

Most compelling is how OpenBlue's integration with FM:Systems creates a unified ecosystem connecting building systems (HVAC, security) with workplace management. This convergence of operational technology with information technology positions JCI ahead of competitors still offering siloed solutions. The enhanced user experience improvements and accessibility standards compliance indicate maturity in the platform's development cycle, as does the indoor air quality monitoring integration - a feature with heightened importance following pandemic-era facility requirements.

Financial Analyst

This Forrester study offers compelling third-party validation for JCI's OpenBlue platform with metrics that should capture investor attention. The 7% rental premium achievement ($3.2 million present value over three years) demonstrates how smart building technology directly enhances property revenue potential - not just cost savings. Meanwhile, the $1.5 million three-year maintenance savings from 67% reduced chiller maintenance points to significant operational efficiency.

The 8-month payback period is particularly noteworthy in the current economic environment where capital allocation scrutiny remains high. This rapid ROI strengthens JCI's value proposition when competing for budget-constrained customers and should support sales cycle velocity.

Beyond the headline metrics, this study strategically positions JCI's substantial R&D investments ($3 billion over the past decade) as delivering measurable customer outcomes rather than speculative innovation. The generative AI capabilities introduced in November 2024 represent the monetization of these investments through feature differentiation.

The customer testimonials citing 10% energy savings and $17,000 per floor lighting cost identification demonstrate how OpenBlue provides actionable intelligence rather than just data collection. This positions JCI to capture recurring revenue while strengthening customer retention through demonstrated value - critical factors for sustainable growth in the building management sector.

MILWAUKEE, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy, safe and sustainable buildings, today released a new commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting  quantifying the Total Economic Impact™ and benefits of its OpenBlue platform. In the study, Forrester found that a model organization representing a composite of interviewed customers from multiple industries deploying OpenBlue, including FM:Systems solutions, could achieve up to a 155% return on investment (ROI) over three years.

OpenBlue is an award-winning, AI-optimized smart building ecosystem of connected solutions and services. OpenBlue allows customers to unlock the performance of their buildings and workplaces with near real-time data visibility. Leveraging enhanced AI, OpenBlue provides tailored energy-saving recommendations based on usage and weather data, helping customers reduce operating costs and move toward more autonomous buildings. OpenBlue is now integrated with FM:Systems solutions, expanding real time data visibility, creating high-performance workplaces and bringing additional clarity and vision to strategic real estate decisions.

Other key findings for the composite organization include:

• Up to 10% energy savings: Enhancing overall efficiency.
• Up to 67% reduction in chiller maintenance: saving nearly $1.5 million over three years.
• 7% rental premiums: Resulting in three-year present value of $3.2 million.
• 8-month payback period: Based on the total costs and net benefits.

"We believe the findings speak for themselves: Our OpenBlue and FM:Systems solutions not only lower operating costs, but also optimize energy use – a win, win. By enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, we're helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals and also improve their bottom line," said Vijay Sankaran, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Johnson Controls. "As global companies face pressure to save time and money, our capabilities stand out in delivering both environmental and financial returns."

According to a customer interviewed for this study, "OpenBlue has saved us up to 10% on our energy costs. We did some other work to reduce these costs but, as an example, OpenBlue showed us out-of-hours lighting was costing $17,000 per floor of our buildings. Without that insight, we wouldn't have been able to take action to reduce those expenses and that energy waste."

Another customer interviewed stated, "Not only is Johnson Controls supplying the critical, backbone items of facilities management, like chillers, fire, security, and automation, but by adding a management layer on top of these, they have provided consistency and solid support."

Expanded Artificial Intelligence (AI) Capabilities

In November 2024, Johnson Controls significantly expanded its AI capabilities in its OpenBlue Enterprise Manager suite of digital solutions, part of the OpenBlue digital ecosystem. The updates included OpenBlue's first customer-facing generative AI application, more autonomous building controls, and a significantly improved user experience, paving the way for additional AI enhancements this year.

The expanded features in OpenBlue provide clearer insights and better performance, including: 

• Integrated generative AI tools that proactively recommend impactful energy savings projects.
• Major upgrades to the user experience with a focus on personalization, improved design, and compliance with a higher level of accessibility standards.
• Enhanced indoor air quality monitoring and sensor analytics to support smarter and healthier buildings.

FM:Systems also added generative AI to its FMS:Insights Analytics platform, enabling users to ask natural language questions about occupancy and utilization data across their real estate portfolios.

These findings underscore Johnson Controls' 140-year legacy of innovation. The company continues to lead with more than 8,000 active patents and $3 billion invested in engineering, research & development over the past decade, driving the next era of smart, sustainable and autonomous buildings.

To learn more about the complete study, visit our website: https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/openblue/total-economic-impact-study.

About the study

To better understand the benefits, costs, and risks associated with this investment, Forrester interviewed five decision-makers with experience using OpenBlue and FM:Systems solutions. For the purposes of this study, Forrester aggregated the interviewees' experiences and combined the results into a single composite organization that is a real estate investment and development organization with 1,800 total employees and 50 million square feet of assets under management. From the information provided in the interviews, Forrester constructed a Total Economic Impact™ framework for those organizations considering an investment in OpenBlue and FM:Systems solutions.

The objective of the framework is to identify the cost, benefit, flexibility, and risk factors that affect the investment decision. Forrester took a multistep approach to evaluate the impact that OpenBlue and FM:Systems solutions can have on an organization.

To learn more, visit: www.johnsoncontrols.com

About Johnson Controls: 

At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet.  

Building on a proud history of 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering.  

Today, Johnson Controls offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry.  

Visit www.johnsoncontrols.com for more information and follow @Johnson Controls on social platforms. 

INVESTOR CONTACT:	MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Lucas	Danielle Lee Canzanella
Direct: +1 414.340.1752	Direct: +1 203.499.8297
Email: jim.lucas@jci.com	Email: media@jci.com

 

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SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc

FAQ

What ROI can companies expect from implementing Johnson Controls' OpenBlue platform (JCI)?

According to the Forrester study, organizations implementing OpenBlue can achieve up to 155% ROI over three years with an 8-month payback period.

How much energy cost savings does JCI's OpenBlue platform deliver?

The OpenBlue platform delivers up to 10% energy savings for customers, with specific examples showing significant reductions in out-of-hours lighting costs.

What are the maintenance cost benefits of Johnson Controls' OpenBlue platform?

OpenBlue enables up to 67% reduction in chiller maintenance costs, saving approximately $1.5 million over three years.

What new AI capabilities were added to JCI's OpenBlue platform in November 2024?

OpenBlue added generative AI tools for energy savings recommendations, improved user experience, enhanced indoor air quality monitoring, and natural language processing for real estate portfolio analysis.