Susanne Seitz is CEO of Buildings Smart Infrastructure at Siemens. Opinions are the author’s own. Walk through almost any city in the world — from Madrid and Singapore to Chicago — and you will notice something remarkable: the vast majority of the buildings around us today will still be standing 25 years from now. That's both our industry's greatest challenge and one of its biggest opportunities. While technology continues to evolve, most existing buildings have yet to begin their digital transformation. Only 10-15% of medium-sized buildings and fewer than 5% of smaller buildings have a building management system installed. The opportunity before us isn't simply about creating smarter new buildings — it’s about transforming the millions of buildings that already exist. But no one organization can achieve that alone. The next competitive advantage in buildings won't come from technology alone — it will be the strength of the partner ecosystem behind it, anchored by the professionals who manage the buildings’ systems. If we're serious about creating buildings that are more intelligent, more efficient and more resilient, partnerships are no longer a nice-to-have. They are fundamental to how we will modernize the built environment and deliver meaningful outcomes for customers. Why partnerships matter now more than ever The conversation around buildings has changed. Customers are no longer asking for individual technologies — they are asking for solutions to increasingly complex business challenges. They want to reduce energy consumption while improving occupant comfort. They need to meet ambitious sustainability targets, manage aging infrastructure, address workforce shortages and prepare for a future where AI and automation play a much greater role in building operations. These aren't challenges that can be solved through technology alone. They require collaboration between technology providers, systems integrators, facilities managers and other partners who understand both the technology and