How technology is changing facilities management

Thanks to the fast-growing and emerging technological developments that facilities management is transforming with each passing year. Over the last few decades, facilities management was much different than how it is today. Now, we can see smart cities, smart buildings as well as IoT technologies everywhere. So, how is this trend affecting facility management?

Well, the evolution of smart cities is pushing the facility managers to transform the integrations of buildings into an eco-system.

Nowadays, organizations are aware of the fact that to get the best from the workforce, it is crucial to provide a working environment that is equally beneficial for the company as well for the employees. According to research conducted by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, it has been observed that an improved work environment has a greater impact on the wellbeing of the employees which in turn affects the organization in a positive way.

Improved workspaces enhance the interactions between staff and colleagues and thus the work process becomes efficient as well as easier to run.

Agility and flexibility

Facility management requires 24/7 attention and focus. You need to be aware of everything that is happening on every floor of a building. That means you need to be present everywhere at the same time.

With the emerging technologies and evolution of smartphones, mobile apps, Wi-Fi, Cloud computing, video calling and many other means of communication, now it is easier for the facilities managers to carry out any task irrespective of their location.

Smart cities and smart buildings

Before the evolution of modern technology, facility management was a pretty frustrating and daunting task. For instance, if an employee left a light on before leaving the office, it kept on wasting electricity till the next day. Likewise, security was also compromised if a door was left unlocked. Thus, there was a need to constant patrols to check every room, every light and every door and still, human error was always there which led to massive amounts of extra work as well as inefficiency.

With technology, this trend has also changed. Now, individual systems such as lighting, security, and heating can be unconventionally controlled and monitored. Thanks to the smart sensors which took all the responsibility of humans. Now, lights don’t turn on unless they are activated by movement sensors. Similarly, notifications are sent through mobile apps if the doors are opened.

Thus, technology has entirely changed the facilities management and it has increased and enhanced our ability to plan, manage buildings and maintain them automatically. However, technology has also brought many challenges for the FM professional as well. Now, it isn’t about repairs only but it is about security, managing customer relationships, sustainability as well as IT.

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