Opinion piece: Simplicity, scalability, and sustainability – SaaS energy management for small business
By Thabang Byl, Buildings Segment Lead at Schneider Electric
RETAIL and franchising are fast-paced; a world where margins are tight and expectations sky-high. For those small-format retail outlets and franchise stores which operate in this space, think convenience branches, fast-food chains, and mini supermarkets, expenditure matters a lot.
Electricity bills are right at the top, and stretching kilowatts is paramount. However, efficient energy management is not always within reach of smaller businesses, and unfortunately, those technologies that enable it are reserved for larger organisations, with budgets to match.
The good news is that there are now Building Management Systems (BMS) and Energy Management Systems (EMS) available as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), designed to truly mitigate the need for costly infrastructure upgrades and additional capital outlay, like onsite technical teams. Importantly, it allows retailers and franchises to make their power consumption go that one kilowatt further.
Upfront costs? Not anymore
Historically, deploying building and energy management solutions meant installing servers, LAN networks, and dedicated IT racks. It was complex, expensive, and simply not viable for a small shop. With SaaS, there’s no need; it’s affordable, scalable, and importantly, painless.
Furthermore, the shift from capital expenditure (Capex) to operational expenditure (Opex) makes these solutions more accessible to outlets operating under tighter budgets. Subscription-based pricing removes the financial burden of large upfront investments while delivering measurable returns from day one.
SaaS also mitigates the need for on-site technical teams; an overhead that very few smaller businesses can afford. For example, automated scheduling ensures systems operate only when needed, and cloud-based diagnostics help identify inefficiencies before they become costly problems.
Visibility and management enhanced
One of the standout features of these BMS and EMS SaaS offerings is its multi-site visibility. For example, franchisees managing multiple branches can compare energy performance across locations in real time. This benchmarking capability helps identify underperforming stores, replicate best practices from top performers, and improve budgeting accuracy.
Importantly, these systems aren’t just for new builds. They are retrofit-friendly and vendor-agnostic, meaning they can be integrated into existing infrastructure without overhauling everything.
Indeed, many small outlets might have some systems in place. The intention is not to rip and replace. Whether it’s older HVAC units or IoT sensors from different brands, the platform adapts.
Meeting ESG goals
Apart from the energy savings, SaaS platforms are also powerful tools for achieving sustainability goals; a major plus point for franchisees. Reduced consumption supports lower emissions, while easy-to-access data enhances ESG reporting.
Furthermore, by making green operations more achievable and demonstrable, franchisees gain more than cost savings; they build trust with increasingly eco-conscious consumers.
SaaS platforms undoubtedly provide small retailer and franchises with the means to get a handle on their energy consumption whilst improving operations at the same time. Whichever way you look at it, SaaS reduces complexity, offers faster ROI and scales according to a small business’ unique needs.
It is providing smaller operators with the same digital tools and advantages that the big players have, without the headache.
Scheider Electric EcoStruxure Building Activate, designed for small and midsize buildings, enables energy and asset management without the need for heavy upfront investment in hardware or software licensing.
Users pay a recurring subscription fee, making it more accessible and cost-effective, especially for sectors like retail, hospitality, healthcare, education, and offices.
Key features include:
- Vendor-agnostic and IoT-powered platform
- Integrates HVAC, lighting, refrigeration, and more
- Offers real-time utility monitoring, automation, and sustainability insights
- Accessible via web and mobile interfaces
- Enables simple retrofitting for existing buildings
