At Intellis, we keep a keen eye on the technological developments shaping the future of the Facilities Management Industry. Our mission is to harness the latest tech advancements with our mobile enterprise solutions, such as FOUNDATION, to provide our clients with the best software solutions that will ensure healthy building and infrastructure operations while also reducing costs and improving productivity-boosting sustainability. Here are the top trends that we think will transform the Facilities Management Industry.
1. IoT
IoT, or the Internet of Things, is the collection and exchange of data between physical devices connected via internet protocol; more simply put, it refers to connecting things (machinery, sensors) to the internet. Sensors are now more affordable, and internet connectivity is faster and more reliable than ever, making the IoT sufficiently accessible that industry experts at Manufacturing Automation predict that by 2020 the number of connected devices will top 50 billion worldwide.
IoT allows organizations to collect more information, quickly respond to changes and act on new business intelligence. As we move into a world where everything is connected, a new "smart infrastructure" will need to be implemented, with asset and facility management tools capable of dealing with the scale and lifecycle of dispersed, yet connected, physical assets. For facility managers, this means that issues and potential problems will be much easier to identify in a facility that uses IoT.
2. Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics
Using AI to monitor physical assets and gather intelligence makes it easier to predict the performance lifecycle for an asset before its performance is affected or before the asset fails. This can help facility management teams perform preventive maintenance more effectively and address potential issues before they become problems.
IoT is expanding rapidly, so the critical question for decision-makers is: How is this intelligence actionable? While IoT captures, exchanges, and stores vast amounts of information, it is the AI-driven analytics capabilities of enterprise solutions that will provide the answer to that question. So today, Facilities Management Software must not only accept incoming data from connected devices, but it must also put executives in control of that information and enable them to drill through to determine a course of action.
What's innovative about machine learning is that it does not rely on pre-programmed algorithms, unlike condition-based maintenance (CBM). Instead, it enables the machine to learn from large aggregate data sets to identify patterns, trends, and insights. In addition, because machine learning systems use data collected from IoT-enabled sensors, they can continually refine models used to make analytical predictions on facility performance and efficiency.
3. Big Data
With the proliferation of the Internet of Things comes a requirement for more innovative analytics. Enter Big Data. The advanced analytics with Big Data allows facility managers to gain meaningful takeaways from the information constantly being collected from machinery. The primary benefit is that facility management teams can mine these data sets and easily detect deterioration before it becomes a real problem.
4. Mobile-first
Mobile technology has significantly impacted the enterprise industry, leading to improved communication, on-site access to computing functionality, and accurate data recording.
The facility management industry has joined the mobile technology revolution. With a software solution that Facility Managers can use on smartphones and tablets, inspectors, technicians, and facility managers can bring their software with them in the palm of their hand, wherever their work takes them. The benefits of implementing a mobile-first software solution are clear: It reduces downtime and gives managers greater control over projects with the ability to track work in real-time.
Conclusion
These technologies are transforming the facility management industry in significant ways, and it will be exciting to see how these will grow. When it comes to improvements around quality, production, and longevity of physical assets, digital transformation is an unfolding revolution. The FOUNDATION software platform is part of this revolution, and these exciting new developments will change the facility management industry. With FOUNDATION, you will be well-equipped to be at the forefront of this wave of digital transformation.
Software solutions such as FOUNDATION help businesses better organize their facility management departments, leading to less unplanned downtime, higher productivity, and better overall business performance. When facility managers move from managing inspection and maintenance with paper, pen, and clipboards to implementing software solutions such as FOUNDATION, customers can reduce costs seven to nine times.
Facility managers are tasked with balancing increased productivity demands alongside time and budget constraints. By implementing an enterprise facility management solution such as Intellis' FOUNDATION Solution, managers will improve their organizations' financial and operational outlooks.
Resources
Crease, Hermione. "Sensor Perception." FM World. http://www.fm-world.co.uk/good-practice-legal/explainer/sensor-perception/.
Newman, Daniel, "Why Digital Transformation in Healthcare Needs to Prioritize User Experience." Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnewman/2018/04/20/why-digital-transformation-in-healthcare-needs-to-prioritize-user-experience/#301b7b084bb8.
Zirnhelt, Patrick. "Disruptive Technologies Driving Change in Enterprise Asset Management." Manufacturing Automation Magazine. https://www.automationmag.com/technology/iot-iiot/6844-three-disruptive-technologies-driving-change-in-enterprise-asset-management.
