FMs Still Delaying Smart Tech Adoption

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21 June 2021 | Updated 24 June 2021

A survey from property services specialist DMA Group has revealed some alarming contradictions to the FM industry’s approach to technology.

More than two-thirds of facilities management professionals said they felt confident knowing where smart tech could save money, time, and improve service delivery quality. Yet, only over a quarter reported that their organisation’s FM and property teams are unlocking the full advantages of smart technology in business process automation. 

Additionally, 77 per cent agreed that the FM industry is behind the curve when it comes to adopting smart technology. The survey asked both in-house and outsourced FMs about their knowledge of and experience with ‘smart building’ systems. Respondents were also asked about the extent to which such systems are understood and in use within their organisations.

This somewhat opposes the findings of The Connected Enterprise report, produced by Sigma Dynamics, in partnership with applied futurist Tom Cheesewright, that we looked at back in February. It revealed that 71 per cent of C-suite executives, directors and senior managers are skeptical about the benefits of implementing new business technology.

Just a fifth said that they believe they will have to implement more technology in order to remain competitive. 

ThisWeekinFM then spoke to Mike Green, who has thirty-eight years of experience specialising in FM building services, consultancy and contracting and Kiran Kachela, Managing Director of Continuous Improvement Projects and change management specialist, about this apparent lack of digital adoption.

Watch the video below:

Missing Opportunity

These most recent findings suggest that whilst the majority of facilities managers may understand its benefits, many of their companies are not yet taking advantage of the opportunities that smart technology can offer.  

Steve McGregor, DMA Group Group MD comments: “FM suppliers have a real opportunity to seize technology to drive transformational efficiency gains whilst also delivering great customer service. This is achieved through digitalization and leveraging digital information to re-engineer and automate their business processes.

“The challenges in the industry are as complex as they have ever been, and digital transformation can connect the dots between the vast quantities of data across the built environment. Leveraging the full value of that knowledge, digitalization will provide customers with real-time performance management, from simple dashboards and key performance indicator reporting to the potentially more complex initiation of automated remedial responses.  

“Post-Covid, it is the agile well-run suppliers with a strong technology strategy and an unrelenting focus upon technology-enabled change for the benefit of their customers that will prosper. However, an organisation must decide on the scope of its own digital transformation.”

Digitalization in FM – Have Your Say

Don’t miss your opportunity to take part in valuable research into digitalization in FM and help support the development of the industry.

This research will be used to shape training programmes for future facilities managers across Europe, and inform how technology is adopted throughout the built environment .

The quick, three-minute survey seeks to discover which technologies are most crucial to the industry right now, and predict how that may change in the future.

Picture: a person using a tablet device.

Article written by Bailey Sparkes | Published 21 June 2021

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