The Future of Facilities Management: Predictions and Insights

As the facilities management industry evolves, facilities management teams will need to innovate and update their strategies. Staying abreast of these changes will ensure that management teams can adapt to the changing needs of their clients and stay ahead of the competition. As a leading facilities management software (FMS) provider, it's no surprise that the future of our industry is of great interest to us. Here are a few of our key insights and predictions we think will contribute to the future of facilities management.  

Facilities Management Key Insights 

Reaching an estimated $5 trillion USD market value by 2032, the facilities management industry is expected to continue with its upward trajectory. 

Despite this optimistic outlook, change is a constant that today's facilities management teams can rely on to disrupt the industry with new innovations, techniques, regulations, and protocols.  

Facilities Management Market Segment Overview 

Facilities management services can be divided into three main categories: hard services, soft services, and other services.  

Hard services are expected to take up the lion's share of the facility management market largely because of the increasing demand for energy-efficient buildings and organisations turning to outsourcing solutions. This division includes maintenance, repair, and operations such as HVAC systems, electrical work, plumbing, fire protection systems and similar areas that require specialised technical expertise.   

The soft services segment is likely to grow at an accelerated rate over the forecast period due to the heightened need for efficient buildings plus companies seeking external help. Soft service covers cleaning duties, security measures and supporting functions like janitorial tasks or landscaping activities.   

Lastly, other services are expected to experience moderate growth during this timeframe due in part to higher consumer interest in energy efficiency regulations as well as lowered environmental impact coupled with rising demand for outsourced solutions. This section contains things like waste management programmes or sustainability consultation programs which have become a necessity in today's world. 

With such uncertainty ahead, it's essential for FM teams to be aware of any trends that could affect their daily work and invest in solutions that generate positive returns.  Recent technological innovations tell us there are exciting times ahead, and now is not the time to get settled in our ways. Here are five predictions we expect to add some turbulence to the facilities management industry in 2023 and beyond.  

1. The Office as a Service

Doing away with the binary choice of either going to work or working remotely is possible with office-as-a-service. This type of strategy will align with the changing desires of many employees to have a more flexible workspace.  

In a similar way that popular SaaS products such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams can create connections without altering other aspects of an employee's job, the modern head office can do something similar. To make this transition possible, facilities management teams will need to create an effective workplace strategy that delivers what employees need from their workspaces. 

2. Getting Your Real Estate Footprint Just Right

As businesses prepare to re-evaluate their leases this year, maintaining just the right amount of square footage will be an excellent way to save money. 

However, management will need to consider their needs carefully to avoid it backfiring. For example, if teams outgrow the space too quickly, overcrowding and sharing of limited resources will lead to a poor employee experience. Such conditions often end with good talent reconsidering their employment options.  

Using data-driven insights to understand how employees are actually using offices will be the key to predicting the organisation's future growth needs. This data will help them make smart decisions when it comes to corporate real estate and maintain cost-efficiency while still providing an excellent working environment.  

3. Data-Driven Sustainability Processes

Did you know that buildings contribute over a quarter of global emissions? It's a significant figure that can be reduced by making more sustainable choices in facilities management. Sustainability has become a necessity rather than a passing trend, and facilities management teams will have a significant role to play in curbing emissions in the decades to come.  

One way to make sure we're not wasting energy on underused areas is to keep an eye on occupancy and facility usage data. With this information, FMs can do things like turn off heating and AC on floors with low traffic or avoid buying more furniture than necessary if there's nobody around who needs it. Every step, no matter how small, can lead to big gains in large organisations, or collectively for a community where SMEs are concerned.  

4. Using Occupancy Sensors to Automate Efficiency 

Occupancy sensors are an excellent feature that can really help a facilities management team make the best use of energy and resources, and they can do more than just turn on lights and utilities. 

They offer an array of data-gathering options that will help you better understand how your space is being used, allowing you to improve efficiency and shape facilities around employee needs. You don't need a ton of complicated hardware for this either – with Wi-Fi-enabled buildings, the same kind of information can be collected without all the extra gadgets.  

5. Embracing Advanced Technologies

The integration of advanced technologies, such as IoT and advanced mobile technology, will become increasingly important for facilities management teams to stay competitive and drive efficiency. These technologies can help streamline operations, automate routine tasks, enhance data analysis, and improve decision-making. They also enable remote collaboration and virtual facility walkthroughs, making it easier for facilities managers to assess building conditions, identify potential problems, and plan maintenance activities. 

Facilities Management Software is Leading the Way  

The future of facilities management is rooted in embracing change and innovation. Staying informed about emerging trends and adopting new technologies is crucial for FM teams to be well-prepared to meet the challenges of this rapidly evolving industry. Ticked Off is a cutting-edge facilities management software solution designed to help your organisation stay at the forefront of innovation in facilities management. 

Ticked Off offers a comprehensive set of tools and managed services that align with the latest trends in facilities management, including data-driven decision-making. This advanced software enables you to monitor and analyse real-time data, optimise energy consumption, schedule maintenance, and streamline routine tasks, all while reducing costs and enhancing sustainability. 

Sophisticated cloud software supports flexible workplace strategies, enabling facilities managers to adapt to the changing needs of the workforce. It also ensures your team can quickly connect with top management to troubleshoot issues from a distance. 

By adopting Ticked Off as your facilities management software solution, your organisation will be well-positioned to navigate the exciting developments and challenges in the industry. Ticked Off empowers your Facilities Management team to create a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient future for your organisation, ensuring you remain at the cutting edge of facilities management innovation.