The facility management market is growing rapidly and facility managers have no alternative other than to keep up with the fast-changing trends. They must think about how to achieve their strategic goals and stay afloat in the face of these changing trends. More often than not, most of these changes do not happen overnight and it might take you an entire year to notice them. As we continue to emphasise the importance of enhancing the customer experience, facility management companies are constantly innovating and transforming to increase their competitiveness. Here are some of the future trends predicted to change the face of facility management in the near future.
Data Analytics
Data analytics is predicted as a critical part of energy saving, sustainability, reduction of lifecycle costs and business efficiency, which the future of facility management is geared towards. Data helps in measuring the key drivers of performance for both property and people and how they are interlinked. Facility management is using the collaboration and analysis of data to streamline their operations and they are making it an integral part of their services.
Outsourcing
Facility management outsourcing has grown over the years and it is predicted that the growth will continue into the future. There’s an increased demand for integrated facility management which has seen an increase in outsourcing demands. Companies choose to outsource their facility management services so that their in-house team can focus on enhancing user experience. Positioning your FM organization to cater for the society’s outsourcing needs is a future trend which will make your company always in demand.
Globalization
While globalization tends to make us more alike, it also makes us more aware of our local differences. Multinational facility management organizations have started operating on an international scale by adapting their products and services to local markets. This strategy, which is commonly referred to as “Glocalization”is making facility management companies navigate between emerging markets and different culture.
Health and wellness in the workplace
Health and wellbeing are growing in importance in the workplace. Companies offering wellbeing services will be a preference when it comes to recruiting and they will be in a better position to retain employees. A holistic healthy working environment in addition to a presentable workspace is what all employers must strive to provide.
As new technologies and standards emerge, architects are designing buildings with a focus on people and their health. Popularly known as the “Wellness Architecture”, this is one of the most influential trends predicted in the world of facility management. Healthy workspaces will be in high demand in the future and facility management companies that adapt to this growing trend will be in a better position to succeed.
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence has become a reality as we have seen robots handling everything from simple jobs to complex operations. High automation and smarter robots are expected to progress in the near future. AI is increasingly improving in quality and reducing in cost and it is predicted that it may replace low-quality labour. Facility management service providers who will utilise AI to enhance the customer experience will be highly sought after.
Flexible workspace
Working from home and having a co-working space are trends which are fast becoming very popular. More and more people are working out of their offices on a regular basis or using flexible work or meeting places. Several flexible workspaces have emerged like hot desking, where workers take any available desk instead of having a permanent desk, coworking spaces, communal lounges and round tables where employees can sit and work. Facility management companies that encourage and stimulate the discourse on this emerging trend will eventually own the market space for service provision.
In Conclusion, these future facility management trends are focusing on connecting the FM companies with those who will be impacted by their services. If facility management companies refuse to remain stagnant and embrace these trends, they will birth a new future for service delivery.
