6 Technological Advancements for Facility Maintenance Managers That Will Change the Way You Manage Your Organization

Over the years, many technology solutions have emerged, ranging from mobile applications to highly advanced facility management software integrating AI, remote sensors, and third-party applications. The timing couldn't have been better as companies shift to remote or hybrid workplaces. Today, facility management professionals are tasked with improving operations, reducing costs, and creating a better work environment. The challenge is having the data to make accurate decisions in real time, allowing managers to adapt quickly to changes. 

As data-driven leaders worry about the impact of hybrid work on employee morale, retention, productivity, and the ability to attract top talent, an evidence-based approach to hybrid work is likely needed.

Helping you measure and make decisions is where technology has advanced rapidly. Here are six management technology trends that will have the most significant impact on enhancing your work as a facilities manager.

1) Increase Employee Efficiency with Strategic Space Planning Tools

Priorities have changed to focus more on improving overall space planning which includes utilisation and quality. You can create the best possible experience for your employees, some of whom may not be in the office daily. Employees' greatest needs these days are physical and psychological safety, and Archibus and Archibus Cloud allow you to reconfigure your workspace. With this platform, you can track where your people are sitting, room availability, occupancy and vacancy rates, and more. Employees can generate work requests, allow users to look up and reserve available space, and allow your remote and floating employees to reserve an office when they need to be on-site or are traveling to other offices within your organization.

Keep your employees as productive as possible while enhancing their performance and job satisfaction.

2) Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Improve The Visitor Experience

Imagine a positive visitor experience created by using the tools they use every day. From cell phones to speech recognition, complex tasks that employees once carried out can now be performed by computer systems using AI-based technologies. Speech and face recognition and visual perception tools are excellent for tracking visitor numbers, implementing contact tracing, improving security, and enhancing customer experience. Facial recognition can also eliminate the need for badges, create guest rosters, and hire receptionists or security staff, enabling you to allocate personnel better while providing early detection of potential issues.

The collected, detailed visitor data can be analysed in seconds, allowing faster decisions and replacing many tedious tasks.

3) Make Your Employees Help with Lifecycle Management Through Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Building information modelling allows you to create and manage sophisticated 3D digital models of physical structures and workspaces. The technology was originally developed for architects and contractors to maintain control with a single shared model to prevent duplicate drawings and encourage collaboration. New integrations with other platforms in the space allow facility managers to make data-driven decisions regarding space usage and energy consumption.

It also allows for total lifecycle management of building assets and capital investments using maintenance data and condition assessment to make long-term decisions about the structure.

Using tools like the Archibus Web Central 3D Navigator, professionals from engineering to operations and business can intuitively collaborate on a common operating picture of their organization's buildings and properties.

4) Enterprise Asset Management (EAS) Software Integration with ERP Platforms Provide a 360-degree View of Assets

EAS consists of software, systems, and services needed to maintain and control operational assets and equipment. By optimizing the quality and utilization of assets throughout their lifecycle, companies can increase uptime productivity to reduce capital and operating costs.

Its future is in the cloud, as organizations manage their services and assets from a centralized location. This allows for a 360-degree view of every asset's ownership, value, location, use, lifecycle status, and condition.

The latest in EAS platforms enable staff to quickly inventory assets with mobile apps and integrate with ERP platforms for deep visibility into the location of an asset. It also can fetch data from one table to another (EAS to ERP or ERP to EAS), decreasing human involvement and minimizing the chances of human error.

The better the data quality, the easier it will be for a more accurate cost analysis. Some systems have integrated what-if scenarios that can show the impact of downtime on your sales, help make decisions about whether to rent or lease, and answer how best to extend the life of buildings and equipment.

5) Reduce the Administrative Burden of Measuring Sustainability

Climate change and sustainability are boardroom opportunities and challenges facing businesses today. Preferences have changed among investors and regulators who require businesses to disclose more information on how they impact the climate. Thus measuring performance indicators for reducing an organization's carbon footprint and achieving other environmental goals are needed.

While previous attempts to measure environmental impact seem daunting, today's platforms support sustainable management practices through tracking and managing energy usage, end-to-end waste disposal, and materials management. When it becomes easier to reduce the administrative burden of tracking and managing operations, it provides the opportunity to achieve a more acceptable carbon footprint.

6) Risk Management Begins with Planning for Risk

Companies must monitor and navigate business risks to maintain their strategic goals. Business risks include financial and reputation damage to compliance and cybersecurity issues, all of which can seriously impact a company's strategic plans if managers don't act to minimize them.

Preparing for emergencies can help prevent potentially devastating situations and allow quick responses to recover from an actual disaster. Preparation enables safety procedures to be followed quickly and accurately, property to be safeguarded, and minimal disruption of operations.

Today's solutions help ensure a healthy and safe working environment by managing complex compliance requirements proactively and eliminating the tedious and highly regulated process of identifying and abating indoor environmental hazards.

If an incident does occur, the platform can gain control over workplace safety incidents, personal protective equipment (PPE), training, medical monitoring, and work restrictions. For more urgent incidents, the system can provide important safety information to emergency responders by providing users with a view of exit and occupancy plans, on-site hazards, and safety zones within floor plans.

Absolute Facility Solutions Offers Modern Solutions For Modern Problems

The digital world is evolving rapidly, and Absolute Facilities Solutions is here to assist you. As we move forward, modern facilities management technology will become critical to your success.

For more information about how we can help make your business safer, more cost-effective, and scale to meet future needs, contact Archibus.