Explore the key trends and topics that FM teams across the globe should be focusing on in 2022, from the continued adoption of hybrid working, through to a greater adoption of the IoT and AI.<\/p>\n
Every year the boundaries of the facilities management industry noticeably shift. As new technologies emerge, expectations change and working practices evolve, this industry must react to successfully meet these.<\/p>\n
With the digital transformation of the sector showing no signs of slowing,\u00a0facilities management software<\/a>\u00a0is steadily being accepted as a core business tool in organisations of all shapes and sizes. But this software is just one aspect of FM that has greatly changed over time \u2013 something that will continue for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n It is remarkable to consider how far the facilities management industry and\u00a0FM software<\/a> has progressed just in the past few years.<\/p>\n Building managers are no longer bound to spreadsheets and T-Card systems to manually oversee operations. The power of a robust CAFM system can be held in the palm of engineers\u2019 hands. Smart building technology is enabling teams to create the most comfortable environments possible for employees, residents and customers.<\/p>\n The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a noteworthy impact. Approaches to on-site working shifted dramatically, and the FM sector needed to adapt accordingly. Technology and techniques have needed to become increasingly mobile and flexible, and there is a heightened expectation from today\u2019s workforces about their wellbeing at work.<\/p>\n As an industry, facilities management has always adjusted in response to changes in society, demographics and technology \u2013 2022 will be no different. Below we discuss 7 of the standout trends that FM professionals should keep in mind for the year ahead.<\/p>\n While it is hard to take away positives from the pandemic, this significant shift did place the efforts and duties of FM teams in the spotlight like never before. Previously working in the shadows, these professionals were pushed to the forefront to ensure the wellbeing of employees, residents and others was secured in these challenging circumstances.<\/p>\n Whether it was keeping workplaces clean and disinfected, organising safe maintenance routes, or reconfiguring space, FM professionals were more visible than ever across all types of facilities.<\/p>\n 2022 will concentrate on FM teams consolidating this visibility, and not let things revert back to the way they once were. With more people aware of the role these teams play to keep everything in working order, we anticipate that they will be more frequently referred to for their insight when forging company-wide strategies.<\/p>\n As organisations increasingly rely on data-driven decisions, the expertise of FM professionals, and the information gathered by their software solutions, will be relied upon more than ever to guide companies forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n One trend spurred forward by the pandemic that will continue to gather steam in 2022 is\u00a0hybrid working<\/a>:<\/p>\n As this approach to working becomes widespread, with the growing adoption of flexible hours and hot-desks, FM teams must be prepared to implement these without impacting on the quality of their output. This may include the facilitation of co-working and managed workspaces, or introducing mobile apps that enable teams to work effectively regardless of where they are.<\/p>\n If your company is not yet set up for hybrid working, this year is the time to start. Looking into\u00a0smart building technology, enhanced\u00a0space management\u00a0and mobile solutions will put you in a strong position to reap the full benefits of hybrid working in your organisation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Due in part to the shift towards hybrid and remote working, many organisations in 2022 will be seeking to reduce the scale of their real estate. Rather than pay over the odds for expensive office space that is no longer required due to a reduced number of employees on-site, steps will be taken to cut out these costs.<\/p>\n However, these actions will require FM teams to review how their buildings are configured to accommodate everyone on-site comfortably. Space and move management will be top of the agenda, so smaller layouts can serve larger groups of people when necessary, and create environments more suitable for hot-desking and collaborative working.<\/p>\n Companies will find themselves increasingly reliant on robust facilities management solutions to ensure that their organisations can adapt to a more compact environment, with no decrease in their employees\u2019 quality of life or their day-to-day productivity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n 2021 arguably brought environmental issues and climate challenges to the forefront more than any year prior. People are increasingly conscious of the need to turn the tide to protect the health of our planet, and regulations are being \u2013 and will continue to be \u2013 introduced in response to this.<\/p>\n These regulations will no doubt impact all forms of buildings and organisations, which will need to take strides to reduce their carbon footprint. So, we anticipate many FM teams to start moving in this direction in 2022, harnessing their software solutions to address energy consumption. This could include:<\/p>\n Each year brings with it a flood of new rules, regulations and standards that facilities management teams must get to grips with, and 2022 is no different.<\/p>\n For instance, in the UK the\u00a0Building Safety Bill<\/a>\u00a0will change the health and safety processes surrounding high-rise residential buildings and hospitals. Responding to the events of the Grenfell tragedy, this sets new responsibilities for the \u2018Accountable Persons\u2019 to ensure all mandatory safety measures are in place in a built environment.<\/p>\n This is just one of numerous updates that will be introduced across the year, and as ever FM teams will need to stay informed of these in order to avoid compliance-related penalties.<\/p>\n This makes a solution like our distinct\u00a0SFG20 module\u00a0beneficial. Because it automatically performs updates to the latest SFG20 standards, companies can rest assured that facilities maintenance is being conducted compliantly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n While the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) have been available to the facilities management industry for a while, every year this technology continues to evolve and become more readily accessible to organisations globally:<\/p>\n 75.44 billion IoT devices are anticipated to be installed worldwide by 2025 (<\/em><\/strong>Statista<\/em><\/strong><\/a>)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Yet, while this technology is now more available than ever, relatively few businesses are reaping its benefits. We expect this balance to be addressed in 2022 as awareness of these devices and sensors continues to grow.<\/p>\n For example, AI-based facilities management systems can automatically generate maintenance schedules, repair reports, replacement requests and more without any human involvement. This can greatly improve efficiency and productivity, particularly when these tools can perform outside working hours.<\/p>\n IoT and connected devices\u00a0will also empower FM teams to maintain quality, comfortable workplace environments remotely. Whether this is automatically adjusting climate control settings, or capturing data from entry points that can steer crucial operating decisions, this technology will be relied upon more heavily this year than any year before it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Finally, we anticipate 2022 to be another massive step towards the adoption of predictive maintenance or\u00a0planned preventative maintenance (PPM)<\/a>.<\/p>\n It is still the case that too many organisations rely on reactive maintenance practices, which are more costly and less efficient than planning works in advance. By having FM software in place that understands the assets within a building, teams can predict when they need maintenance to keep performing optimally.<\/p>\n Planned preventative maintenance unlocks numerous benefits to any organisation, including:<\/p>\n In addition, AI and IoT technology have a part to play here. By tracking the performance and behaviour of assets over time, this experiential data can inform PPM schedules based on real-life feedback, meaning that over time asset maintenance will only improve.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n 2022 will be an interesting year for the facilities management industry. Still not fully removed from the fallout of COVID-19, we anticipate this year to be an important one for:<\/p>\n To keep your own organisation on course to follow the trends that emerge this year and beyond, it is essential to have a reliable system at the heart of your FM operations.<\/p>\nHow has facilities management evolved through the years?<\/h2>\n
1. FM teams consolidate their visibility<\/h3>\n
2. Continued adoption of hybrid working<\/h3>\n
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3. Shrinking real estate footprints<\/h3>\n
4. Environmental and social responsibilities<\/h3>\n
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5. Addressing new regulations<\/h3>\n
6. Harnessing IoT, AI and connected devices<\/h3>\n
7. Movement towards predictive maintenance<\/h3>\n
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Future-proof your facilities with MRI Evolution<\/h2>\n
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