Top 7 Facility Management Trends For 2022
While vaccination and public health mandates have helped guests, tenants, and employees return to facilities, the effects of the pandemic are still felt across multiple industries. This has fundamentally altered the way virtually every business operates to some degree, and the impact will likely be felt for a very long time. It's also reflected in recent facility management trends, so here's what facility managers will want to know going into 2022:
1. More flexible spaces mean more sensors.
A survey by PwC found that over a third of business owners were looking to reduce their office space, while more than half were actually seeking to increase it. However, this doesn't mean what it might seem to at first blush -- the businesses looking to expand aren't necessarily seeking more home office space. Instead, more and more facilities are adopting a kind of "satellite" model, where the primary office serves as a hub for training, team building, and other collaborative tasks. All of that aside, this leaves a lot of unoccupied desks and offices during off-hours. Facility managers are responding to the changes in space usage with an increase in sensor technology. Room sensors can detect occupants, temperature, lighting, and more, and allow electrical and HVAC systems to automatically adjust as needed.
2. The rise of the "office hotel".
Another trend that businesses are embracing is "office hoteling." In this, employees no longer have assigned desks. With so many people working from home, it no longer makes sense to do so. Instead, employees can reserve desk space on an as-needed basis, just like they'd reserve a room at a hotel. This can give facility managers notice of what areas will be occupied, when, and how they'll be used.
3. Continuing sanitation efforts.
Employees aren't just working from home because they like to -- for many, it seems like the safest option. As a result, business owners all across the board are placing an emphasis on employee health and safety, including sanitation. Facility managers all around the world had to step things up in order to control the spread of the novel coronavirus, and this isn't changing any time soon. Facility managers should still work to make sure tenants and guests are aware of the steps being taken to protect their health.
4. The growth of the Internet of Things.
More companies are investing in smart building technology. IDC predicts that there will be nearly 42 billion connected devices by 2025, and this estimate may increase. The Internet of Things already helped business owners improve energy and employee efficiency before the pandemic, and now has an important role to play in employee health and office flexibility. With more employees working out of the office, the IoT helps take over functions that used to be performed manually. Functions like security, fire protection, climate control, and even parking can all be automated.
5. The rise of proactive maintenance.
Proactive maintenance sounds great on paper -- if you can correct problems before anyone becomes aware of them, then you never have to experience any unscheduled downtime. The only problem lies in the fact that, if nobody's aware there's an issue, the likelihood of it being addressed is pretty slim. That's another thing the IoT can help with. Sensors can keep track of asset performance, while machine learning algorithms determine when a system will need maintenance. As more buildings adopt smart technology, facility management platforms can collect more data. More data means better decisions, and a much easier time performing proactive maintenance.
6. A continued push for sustainability.
The pandemic altered a lot of what we know about facility sustainability. On one hand, facility managers were forced to balance heating and cooling with adequate ventilation in order to control the spread of the virus while also keeping facility occupants comfortable. On the other, lockdowns demonstrated just how much pollution gets produced by businesses and commuters. Facility managers can expect to see sensor technology and the IoT implemented as an energy- and resource-saving measure. Things like occupancy sensors don't just save money, they help cut down on wasted electricity. Data gathering can also highlight where a facility's biggest energy losses occur, so systems can be optimized to prevent waste.
7. Increased use of building information modeling.
While sensor technology is easy to implement when it comes to things like HVAC systems and lighting, there's still one difficult area that should be subject to data gathering: the building itself. Building information modeling software takes a look at a building from its creation to the present day, including design, materials, and ongoing maintenance. It's the best way available to anticipate maintenance needs for existing buildings, as well as build better ones in the future. Facility managers can use this information to plan for expensive, labor-intensive, necessary maintenance. The year 2022 is going to bring some unique challenges, and these facility maintenance trends reflect this. As more and more businesses change the way they handle their spaces, facility managers will need to be just as adaptable to keep up.
If you're an IFMA-LI member, please log in so you can comment on this article.
