Interview with Susanne Seitz, CEO Of Siemens Buildings On Combining The Real And Digital Worlds

Tell us about Siemens Buildings

Siemens Buildings sits at the heart of Siemens Smart Infrastructure, uniting building-related technologies in its portfolio. The business develops products, software and digital services that transform the way buildings are designed, operated, and experienced. From automation and energy management to fire safety and security, Siemens Buildings enables safer, more sustainable and human-centric environments. The business helps customers optimize performance, reduce emissions, and enhance comfort for occupants. With a footprint in more than 60 countries, Siemens Buildings supports sectors including healthcare, data centres, pharma, life sciences, and education.

What do you think makes this company unique?

At Siemens, we create technology that transforms the everyday. What makes us unique is our ability to combine the real and digital worlds. We are uniquely positioned at the intersection of hardware, software and services. This allows us to leverage decades of operational technology expertise alongside next-generation digital platforms like Building X, which enables customers to manage and optimize their buildings in real time. The combination of a full-stack portfolio, global reach and deep industry knowledge means we can help clients in a unique way.

What is your advice to aspiring leaders?

My advice to aspiring leaders is to focus on solving real problems that matter to customers. In the buildings sector, the biggest challenges are often around cost, maintenance, and energy performance. Many facilities still rely on outdated systems that are expensive to run and difficult to integrate. The opportunity to innovate is huge. Whether you’re developing software, services, or partnerships, stay close to the end user, think in ecosystems, and prioritise measurable outcomes. The most resilient and impactful businesses are those that build with purpose, deliver tangible value, and scale effectively through collaboration.

What most excites you about Siemens Buildings right now?

What truly excites me is how Siemens Buildings is now operating as an integrated business unit, bringing together hardware, services, and software into one connected ecosystem. This means we can deliver smarter, more responsive solutions that help customers optimize building performance, reduce operational costs, and improve occupant comfort. Our Building X digital platform is one part of that story – enabling data-driven insights and automation – but it’s complemented by on-the-ground service expertise, from energy optimization to lifecycle management. Together, this blend of technology and human know-how is helping customers move towards efficient, AI-enabled buildings that are sustainable, user-focused, and ready for the future.

How has the company evolved over the last couple of years?

The transformation within Siemens over the past few years has been truly significant. We have shifted from a systems and products organization into a digital-first technology business. Our investments in AI, cloud-based services and building performance analytics create more value for customers. Internally, we have embraced more agile ways of working and honed our skill development across our global teams.

What can we hope to see from Siemens Buildings in the future?

Human-centric autonomous buildings are the next revolution in how buildings behave, delivering the best possible human experience for users, owners and operators. That entails continuously advancing AI capabilities, strengthening cyber-secure operations, and ensuring open interoperability across platforms. We are committed to helping our customers operate more efficiently, decarbonize faster, and ultimately provide superior experiences for everyone who uses their buildings every day. The future of buildings is digital and adaptive, and Siemens Buildings is actively building that future right now.