EXCLUSIVE: Lids remotely monitors HVAC equipment
Sports apparel and headwear retailer Lids is ensuring it has an accurate understanding of how its HVAC systems are operating.
In an exclusive interview with Chain Store Age, Nicanor Lucero, director of store planning and construction for Lids, explained the challenges the retailer had been facing with monitoring its HVAC equipment how it selected and deployed the Nebula Facilitated Provider Platform AI-enabled asset monitoring solution from Impact Service Group. He also discussed the benefits the company has been receiving since implementation.
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"We always face cost challenges and the ability to stay connected to our HVAC systems at 100%," said Lucero. "Having to make a request for a third-party vendor to make service calls due to HVAC system reading inaccuracy had been causing us to spend unnecessary funds."
Lids decided to conduct an investigation of automated HVAC equipment monitoring systems. Ultimately, the retailer selected the Impact Service Group Nebula Facilitated Provider Platform.
"We made the selection due to the Nebula solution’s easy installation, cost, and overall data management capabilities," explained Lucero. "There is no need to implement a solution from a separate computerized maintenance management system software provider; everything is handled by Impact Service Group.”
The Nebula solution is wired directly to a store’s thermostat and is installed on or near the location’s mechanical units. From there, it wirelessly connects to the HVAC system via a cellular feed, with equipment data collected through a web-based portal.
Leveraging Nebula, Lids continuously tracks its HVAC system performance and collects real-time data on temperature, energy usage, and operational efficiency. With live monitoring, facility managers receive instant alerts for anomalies, allowing for faster issue resolution and reduced unexpected failures.
The company can also utilize the solution’s AI-driven diagnostics to forecast equipment failures, as well as optimize maintenance schedules based on real-time usage data.
Lids is currently performing data collection and analysis of the Nebula system’s performance. Looking ahead, Lucerno said the retailer will continue to gradually implement the remote HVAC equipment monitoring technology in select locations over the next year.
“Lids plans to roll the Nebula solution out primarily to our flagship stores and we will continue to aggressively test out a small program of the technology during calendar year 2026,” he concluded.
Indianapolis-based Lids Sports Group operates more than 2,000 retail locations under various banners across North America, Europe and Australia.
