When people think about aviation, an image that comes to mind is of the pilot in the cockpit–think Tom Cruise in Top Gun! But no mission succeeds on the strength of the pilot alone. Every flight depends on the teams on the ground who monitor systems, track signals, and help coordinate each move. Air traffic control, mission control, and their counterparts exist because no one in the cockpit can adequately divide their attention across a dozen competing priorities. If something is wrong with the flight plan for instance, pilots rely on their team to highlight an issue, resolve it, and keep the mission steady—all while the flyer stays fixed on the target ahead.

At ACE IoT, we’re bringing that same principle to Smart Building Support. Across projects and clients, we’ve seen that there are often only a couple of people (sometimes just one person!) who have a very wide range of operational technology (OT) issues they need to operate, monitor and troubleshoot. Over these past 7-years, we’ve built software tools to help small teams accomplish their goals. This year, we have launched a software-enabled service called ACE Ground Control to provide even greater support for facilities teams working to implement, support and operate smart building applications.

ACE IoT customers rely on ACE Ground Control to:

  • Monitor the performance of OT networks
  • Identify root cause for OT network-related problems
  • Scope a recommended fix once the root cause is identified
  • Validate and confirm that the fix has resolved the problem

Ground Control isn’t just another SaaS product. Instead, it is a structured way to engage ACE IoT’s Customer Success team. Via ACE Ground Control, ACE IoT customers get access to the expertise, tools, and experience of the ACE IoT team. Working with ACE Ground Control, our customers can stay focused on their forty or fifty jobs other than making certain the OT network is operating effectively!

Why Ground Control Matters in Buildings

Smart building networks are rarely straightforward. Devices, protocols, and contractors overlap, leaving building owners and operators struggling to keep track of who is responsible for what. From owners and operators, ACE IoT has heard frustration with tools (SaaS tools, in particular) that aren’t able to take insights all the way to resolution. With ACE Ground Control, we aim to resolve problems with OT networks. With a single coordinated partner, building owners and operators know exactly where to turn—whether it’s for day-to-day troubleshooting, long-term planning, or preparing a new project for success.

We have seen it. Situations where building owners and their vendors apply SaaS tools on top of SaaS tools but never quite solve the issue. #SaaS-creep. Use ACE Ground Control to engage an independent partner focused on solving problems rather than on software tools.

What ACE Ground Control Delivers

  • Troubleshooting and Resolution: Identify the root cause of network issues and deliver a fix that holds.

  • Solution Scoping: Define the work needed once the issue is clear—ensuring resources aren’t wasted.

  • Design and Architecture Review: Spot flaws before they become failures, and strengthen networks for long-term use.

  • Capital Project Support: Help prepare RFPs and scope new investments so bids are accurate and competitive.

  • Adaptive Expertise: Address the unexpected findings that emerge once the network is opened up.

Example in Action

When ACE partnered with a large K-12 school district, their facilities team had faced recurring blind spots in a large BACnet network. Points were disappearing, devices conflicted, and fixes from different contractors didn’t hold. Via an ACE Ground Control engagement, the ACE IoT Customer Success team conducted daily scans of the OT network, pinpointed misconfigured devices, and recommended a fix. With the noise reduced and accountability established, the school district’s facilities team can expand their successful Monitoring-based Commissioning (MBCx) initiative to a facility with OT network issues.

Keeping Your Eyes on the Mission

ACE Ground Control offers a steady presence—monitoring, identifying, and resolving OT network issues so you can focus on performance, compliance, and delivering value to your building’s occupants and clients.

With ACE Ground Control, gain a mission partner for your OT network.

Interested in how an engagement with ACE Ground Control could resolve your OT network issues once and for all? Contact Bill Maguire at bill@aceiotsolutions.com.