Connect-a-thon 2026: Putting Building
Interoperability to the Test
As buildings become more connected, the technology within them is becoming more complex. HVAC systems, controllers, sensors and other building systems increasingly need to communicate across devices, vendors and communication protocols. The real test, therefore, is not simply how well a product performs on its own, but how reliably it works as part of a larger connected ecosystem.
That challenge was at the heart of Connect-a-thon 2026, hosted by Softdel at the UNIDEL Innovation Center in Pune on August 7.
The event brought together more than 25 participants from leading OEMs and the building automation industry for a day of hands-on interoperability testing, technical problem-solving and knowledge exchange.
Taking interoperability out of the lab
Product teams typically test devices extensively within their own development and customer environments. Connect-a-thon created a different setting: a shared, multi-vendor ecosystem where participants could connect products, test communication across protocol networks, and work through challenges together.
The idea was simple: put different technologies into the same environment and see how they communicate under real-world conditions.
Participants were able to test devices under full-load conditions and explore different integration scenarios, providing an additional layer of validation around product performance and resilience. By identifying interoperability issues earlier in the development cycle, such testing can also help teams troubleshoot faster and potentially accelerate product development.
Learning across the ecosystem
But interoperability is not only a technical challenge. Bringing engineers from different organisations into the same room also created an opportunity to compare approaches, understand common challenges and exchange knowledge across the connected-building ecosystem.
“The event provided a valuable opportunity to engage with technical counterparts, exchange perspectives, and gain insights into the different challenges and approaches across the connected building ecosystem. These interactions also highlighted the potential of data, statistical analysis, and AI-driven inference to enable better predictions, improve servicing, and support more efficient energy consumption.”
said Nilay Das, Project Leader – Software Development, Lennox.
The conversations extended beyond the immediate testing environment to emerging technologies and the changing requirements of smart buildings and connected infrastructure. In particular, participants explored how data and AI-driven inference could increasingly be applied to building systems to improve prediction, servicing and energy efficiency.
Building interoperability through collaboration
For Softdel, which has spent more than 25 years working in building automation and communication protocol technologies, Connect-a-thon was also an opportunity to bring different parts of the ecosystem together around a shared engineering problem.
“We were pleased to create a platform for participants to connect, collaborate, and work hands-on with building communication technologies. The exchange of knowledge and experiences throughout the day highlighted the value of coming together as a community to address real-world interoperability challenges and build more connected, future-ready solutions,”
said Sachin Deshmukh, CEO & Managing Director, Softdel.
As connected buildings evolve, interoperability will increasingly depend not only on standards and technologies, but also on how effectively the companies building different parts of the ecosystem can test, learn and solve problems together. Connect-a-thon was a meaningful step in that direction, bringing the industry together to exchange knowledge, strengthen interoperability and build stronger connections. Softdel looks forward to continuing this momentum through future editions.