AI in Facilities Management - How will the industry change?

How ready is your business for the age of artificial intelligence? My guess is like many businesses across the facilities management sector, it is not quite prepared.

In 2021, research from DMA group found that only 3 in 10 businesses found that their teams were not using technology effectively. It found that many were still relying on manual processes, spreadsheets and modular systems rather than utilising technology to increase effectiveness and productivity.

This in an industry that consistently promotes and promises innovative technology solutions to provide optimised assets, reduced carbon footprint, and more efficient services through data-driven solutions. However the use of spreadsheets and manual process is still very much the reality in the industry

AI has grown in capability exponentially, to a point where its capabilities could soon exceed even the most outlandish expectations forecast in 2021 when the survey was conducted.

When we talk about AI, what do we mean? In essence, AI is the ability of machines to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence. It should remove the need for human beings to perform repetitive tasks and is likely to save businesses time and money.

AI is set to change almost every aspect of the industry, with manual tasks likely to be replaced. Photo Credit: AIA Contract Documents (Google Creative Commons License)

By the end of this decade and into the 2030s, most of us acknowledge that AI will revolutionise the industry, changing it in a way few of us can imagine. But looking ahead, we are able to make some predictions that allow us to prepare to get the best out AI technology as it evolves and become embedded within the sector:

·       Workforce - Inevitably, removing the need for multiple people to perform simple tasks poses a risk for the way in which people are employed and the kind of skills employers will seek as the technology further integrates with the facilities management industry.

·       Property Management – The importance of effective property management has come into stark contrast since the covid pandemic but AI looks set to take that to a new level. We have seen an increase in businesses implementing sensor technology to analyse occupancy and building usage, through AI tools this will become  commonplace with evermore sophisticated occupancy insights, able to analyse date and provide enhanced understanding of usage patterns and indicators for space optimisation.

·       Stakeholder Interactions – AI and the death of a call centre could go hand in hand. AI chatbots are already increasing in prevalence in a variety of industries but in facilities management, this could be a game changer. The technology is already advanced and in a matter of years will be able to interact with clients, staff and guests as a first line of response, able to effectively diagnose problems and direct problems to the right place to improve response times and first fix.

·       Predictive Maintenance  The use of AI in healthcare is often spoken about, with its ability to diagnose potential health issues before being detectable to humans one of the key benefits. In facilities management, this ability will present itself in being able to provide analysis of historical data and repair patterns to diagnose and minimise downtime and prolong asset lifespan.

·       Energy Efficiency – Businesses are constantly seeking ways to achieve net zero targets and bid teams constantly seek innovative solutions to sell how they can support net zero aspirations.  AI could become an invaluable tool for facilities management businesses to finesse and bespoke these solutions. From autonomously adjusting heating, ventilation, and air conditioning based on real-time data to remotely integrating with building management systems, AI will transform the way in which energy efficiency is achieved in facilities management.

Featured Image: AIA Contract Documents (Google Creative Commons License)