Key Building Security Trends From the 2025 Honeywell Users Group

The 2025 Honeywell Users Group (HUG) conference in Phoenix brought together security professionals, facility executives, technology partners and Honeywell leadership for three days of discussion, innovation and collaboration. Held June 9-11, the event served as a platform for customers and industry leaders to explore the latest advancements in building automation, security and operational intelligence, while sharing real-world use cases and strategic insights.

Among the many highlights was a panel discussion moderated by Jeff Stanek, president of Honeywell Security & Access Solutions, which explored how organizations across verticals — including museums and sports arenas — are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), mobile technology and integrated systems to enhance building security and performance.

Panelists included Ronnie Bryant, senior vice president and CIO for the NBA’S Charlotte Hornets; Ewa Pigna, vice president and CTO, security & access solutions, Honeywell; and Rene Saldana, director of technical services at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Together, they delivered a clear message: Security is no longer siloed. It’s a connected, intelligent and an increasingly essential part of the modern built environment. Following are highpoints from the wide-ranging discussion.

Smarter security with AI and automation

The panel began by addressing one of the most talked-about themes at HUG 2025: the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in security operations. Each panelist offered concrete examples of how AI is being used not as a futuristic add-on, but as a real-time operational tool.

Saldana described how his museum has embraced AI and rules-based workflows to overcome staffing shortages and prioritize alerts. “We use AI and workflows to focus only on what’s important,” he explained. “That allows us to respond to the relevant alarms and conditions.” He noted that the museum also uses people-counting data and analytics to anticipate foot traffic and allocate staff more efficiently, an important consideration when labor is one of the facility’s largest cost drivers.

Pigna emphasized the importance of focusing on outcomes rather than just the technology. “It’s really about the operational efficiency within a security operations center,” she said. She described Honeywell’s “See, Think, Act, and Learn” AI framework as a pathway to both greater security and organizational resilience. “We’re introducing AI agents behind building systems and integrating HVAC controls, video surveillance and alarm data to deliver outcomes that matter — whether it’s faster response, improved forensic capabilities, or better coordination with law enforcement.”

For Bryant, AI-enabled video surveillance has become a critical tool for managing crowd flow during high-traffic events. By monitoring real-time activity, staff can redirect guests to less congested entrances and improve the overall entry experience. “If Bon Jovi’s going on stage at 9 p.m., we might have 5,000 people show up at 8:50,” he said. “With our CCTV system, we’re able to redirect them to doors with shorter lines. It’s a game changer for guest experience and safety.” Combined with weapon detection systems, these technologies also help reinforce a sense of security for attendees, he said. 

Redefining access with mobile ID

Mobile access credentials and digital identities also emerged as critical tools in modernizing security and simplifying workflows.

Bryant described a “frictionless experience” created for athletes and staff using biometric access and license plate recognition (LPR). “When our players arrive, the system recognizes their vehicles. They can park, scan their fingerprint, and head straight to the locker room without delay,” he said. “It's fast, it's secure and it’s something they appreciate.”

Pigna took the idea a step further by introducing the concept of “digital trusted identity” as a broader industry trend. “We’ve all got plastic cards and phones, but this notion of a trusted identity — knowing for sure that the person entering your facility is who they say they are — is going to be a game changer,” she said.

This theme ties into the broader cybersecurity conversation Ewa Pigna raised during the panel, as she emphasized the increasing need to protect edge devices — such as readers, panels and biometric sensors — that now sit on open networks and are subject to the same zero-trust principles traditionally applied to IT infrastructure.

Converging building systems for smarter operations

Panelists spoke to the powerful efficiencies being gained when building automation, environmental controls and physical security systems operate as one ecosystem.

Pigna noted a strong push toward “data fusion” — integrating data from disparate systems and turning it into actionable insights. “It’s not just about presenting the data,” she said. “It’s about automating workflows — so when something triggers in one system, the other system knows and responds. Whether it’s a technician being alerted or a SOC operator being informed, this integration drives smarter decision-making.”

Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets, exemplifies this integration. The arena seats around 19,000 for NBA games but can be expanded to more than 20,000 for college basketball games and other events. Bryant described how the facility uses environmental sensors to monitor refrigeration systems and maintain air quality without requiring physical walk-throughs every four hours. “When you’re open 24/7 for basketball games, concerts, and family shows, you need automation to maintain standards without overburdening staff,” he said.

Security systems driving measurable business value

Beyond risk mitigation, the panelists agreed that modern security systems now contribute directly to operational and financial goals.

Bryant offered several examples of how the Spectrum Center extracts business value from its security infrastructure. Using heat maps and video analytics in the team’s fan shop, staff can track product interactions and reposition merchandise to boost sales. “If [a patron] picks up a pair of Jordan shoes and doesn’t buy them, we want to know — was it the color? The size?” he said. “We can make those adjustments to improve revenue.”

Saldana highlighted the impact of Honeywell’s infrastructure on insurance premiums and exhibit partnerships. “When we host artwork that doesn’t belong to us, the lending institution audits our security setup,” he said. “Thanks to our Honeywell-backed systems, we always meet expectations. And we’ve consistently reduced our insurance premiums year-over-year as a result.”

Collaboration as a catalyst for innovation

As the panel wrapped, a consistent message emerged: the most impactful security technologies are those that align directly with operational needs and measurable outcomes. Whether through AI-driven automation, mobile credentials or integrated analytics, success depends on applying the right solutions to solve real-world challenges.

“It’s really focusing on the outcome that the AI can generate,” said Pigna, citing operational efficiency and situational awareness as top priorities. She emphasized that systems must support both faster decision-making and improved coordination across building operations and security teams.

Saldana reinforced this outcome-driven mindset from a staffing perspective. “We use AI and workflows to focus only on what’s important,” he explained. “Our staffing optimizations are huge when it comes to value — we measure our savings in millions.”

Even fine-tuning existing systems can deliver unexpected returns. “The right settings can make a huge difference in the quality of your recordings and your storage capacity,” Saldana added, referencing lessons learned after optimizing video performance across more than 850 cameras.

Bryant — reflecting on his team’s work with Honeywell in developing a new $100 million performance center adjacent to the Spectrum Center — underscored the value of designing with integration in mind from the start.

“Being able to have building automation, security and all the environmental sensors… has been a game changer for us,” he said.