Twinview vs CAFM Systems: Key Differences in Building Data and Operations

What is a CAFM System?

CAFM systems are widely used to:

• manage planned and reactive maintenance
• track assets and equipment
• schedule and monitor work orders
• support compliance processes

They provide a structured approach to facilities management and remain a core part of operational workflows. 

However, CAFM systems are generally designed around facilities management workflows rather than connecting information across multiple operational systems. As a result, important data often remains distributed across separate platforms, making it difficult to gain a complete picture of building performance. 

What is Twinview?

Twinview is a building intelligence platform that connects data from systems such as BMS, BIM, IoT devices and CAFM platforms.

It enables:

• a single, unified view of building information
• improved accessibility of asset and operational data
• better context for decision-making across estates

Rather than replacing CAFM systems, Twinview works alongside them, helping teams understand how their buildings perform.

Key Differences

Focus

• CAFM systems focus on tasks, workflows and records
• Twinview focuses on data relationships, context and insight

Data Integration

• CAFM systems often contain partial views of an estate
• Twinview brings together data from multiple systems into a coherent structure

Visibility

• CAFM systems provide visibility within their own environment
• Twinview provides visibility across systems and across buildings

Use Across Estates

• CAFM systems are effective for operational control at site level
• Twinview is designed for portfolio-level understanding and coordination

Example: Investigating an Asse Issue 

Consider a facilities manager investigating an air handling unit (AHU) that is generating occupant complaints. 

Using a CAFM System 

The facilities manager may: 

• locate the asset record 
• review maintenance history 
• create or assign a work order 
• review previous service activities 

Using Twinview 

The facilities manager can: 

• locate the asset within a BIM model 
• view associated documents and O&M information 
• access live BMS and sensor data 
• review maintenance history from the CAFM system 
• understand relationships with connected systems and spaces 

This provides a broader operational understanding that helps teams identify and resolve issues more quickly. 

When to Choose a CAFM System

CAFM systems are well suited where:

• the primary requirement is managing maintenance and work orders
• operational processes are already well-defined
• estates are relatively contained or less complex

When to Choose Twinview

Twinview is most valuable where:

• data is distributed across multiple systems and formats
• there is a need for a single, trusted view of the estate
• decision-making depends on combining operational, asset and building data
• estates are large, complex, or geographically distributed

Why Organisations Use Both Twinview and CAFM 

Many organisations have already invested heavily in CAFM platforms and established maintenance processes. 

Rather than replacing these systems, Twinview extends their value by connecting them with: 

• BIM models 
• Building Management Systems (BMS) 
• IoT sensors 
• Energy monitoring platforms 
• Compliance documentation 
• Asset information repositories 

This allows facilities teams to continue managing work orders and maintenance activities within their CAFM platform while gaining a more complete operational view of their buildings and estates.