Technology is transforming the way we learn and teach, and the facilities management industry is no exception. In recent years, higher education facilities professionals have been grappling with limited budgets and the need to do more with less. To address these challenges, the industry has been turning to technology to improve efficiency and reduce costs. In this blog, we will explore three key tech trends that are revolutionizing the education facilities management industry. So, buckle up and get ready to discover the latest innovations that are reshaping this vital sector.
3 Trends Impacting Facility Management Technology and Education Right Now
When we attended the NACUBO Annual Meeting last August, we learned that the biggest concern among higher education facilities professionals was the issue of limited budgets: Do more with less while making your university its best! Yet, such funding cuts make the need to strictly budget time, money, and staffing more urgent than ever.
In 2019, it was predicted that the higher education sector would continue to face significant challenges, requiring it to review its operations and product portfolio to improve profitability and maintain the industry's health. Here, we examine the three key tech trends that are transforming the education facilities management industry.
Discover key takeaways from the APPA Leadership in Educational Facilities Conference.
Re-Imagining Where Learning Takes Place
In a recent study conducted among management-oriented higher education associations in the United States, an increasing number of higher education leaders identify challenges associated with "aging and expanding" facilities as one of the field's change drivers. This concern was exceeded only by insufficient financial resources, changes in IT, and student demographics.
Find out how software helps higher education plan for aging buildings.
In the same report, "insufficient facilities" were also cited as"among the critical issues impacting the success of higher education facilities. The study concludes by acknowledging that leadership is "a key ingredient" that will ensure higher education mitigates its threats."
As teaching delivery models evolve, so do the spaces needed for learning. For example, the need for traditional lecture halls has decreased with the rise of smaller class sizes, which increases collaboration. Now, it is more likely that the lecture hall will sit empty while professors take their students into smaller classrooms more accommodating for interactive and collaborative learning.
Find out how the physical environment impacts student success.
This change in how students and educators interact has encouraged schools to re-imagine how they use their existing spaces to meet these evolving needs. Unsurprisingly, many universities are conducting space utilization case studies to discover how to use existing space more effectively rather than building new facilities.
Transforming the Campus into a Strategic Asset with Technology
One of the most efficient ways to cut costs is to stay updated using data and insight tools to improve facilities, maximize the institution's physical assets, and plan capital investments. A strategic software solution like FOUNDATION-Plans will help your institution develop accurate and transparent capital improvement plans that prioritize capital investments and mitigate risks.
In addition, FOUNDATION allows facilities teams to manage deferred maintenance with a clear understanding of immediate versus long-term improvements. With a powerful software solution like the FOUNDATION Solution, facility managers can leverage building and asset data into actionable insights.
Education Facilities are Environmental Innovators
Owing to past Environmental Protection Agency regulations and compliance requirements, education institutions have become leaders in pursuing environmental and sustainability goals. Increasingly, institutions are identifying areas where they can go beyond mere compliance and evolve into proactive management to support more progressive campus-wide ecological and sustainability goals.
Since 1996, industry associations APPA and CSHEMA have collaborated to publish an annual environmental management guide to help facility managers go above and beyond. Environmental compliance requirements are continually evolving and becoming increasingly complex. Therefore, it’s essential to have a continuous improvement mindset to effectively protect a university's reputation.
Today, higher education institutions are expected to be good stewards of the environment, ensure compliance, and become sustainability innovators. A strategic software solution like FOUNDATION, a full-service platform that collects data and insights from conditions assessments to capital improvement plans, can reveal new ways of empowering higher education facility professionals to find hidden value and maximize resources.
Innovative Technology for Higher Education Facility Managers
The good news is that Intellis's innovative facility management software is a technology platform that empowers universities and colleges to work smarter and more efficiently. Whether the educational institution is growing in enrollments, shrinking its on-campus presence, or facing aging buildings, Intellis' platform offers an intelligent, affordable, adaptable solution for facilities and business officers.
Learn how our solutions are designed to meet the needs of today's education facilities
Technology should empower your team to improve efficiency and workflow. Staying updated on using data and insight tools for facilities management and capital is an easy way to cut costs. With the help of enterprise software like FOUNDATION, facility managers can leverage building data and turn it into actionable insights.
With robust, data-centric work systems tailored to your needs, you won't have to waste the opportunity to achieve more for your institution. At Intellis, we look forward to seeing educational institutions progress across these areas. We're proud to be an ally in helping higher education institutions work smarter to reach new levels of success!
