In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, having a digitized facility management strategy is becoming less of a luxury and more a necessity for efficient building management. Gone are the days of paper-based systems and manual processes, as digital tools and solutions have quickly become the ideal way to manage facilities.

Embracing these new technologies and adopting modern ways of thinking can lead to operational efficiency, cost savings, and improved occupant satisfaction, while remaining in the past and sticking with traditional technologies can cause major complications down the road.

In this blog post, we’ll go over what the new digital transformations in physical building management are, the benefits of utilizing new technologies in this industry, and some of the challenges that come with it.

Technologies Driving the Digital Transformation

Several key technologies are leading the digital transformation in building management, including:

1. Smart Sensors & iOT Devices: These devices collect real-time data on various building parameters, such as temperature, humidity, air quality, and occupancy levels, which can be used to monitor and control building environments.
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2. Artificial Intellegience: AI can be utilized in hundreds of different capacities, but some of its primary value in building management comes from predicting maintenance needs, optimizing energy usage, and identifying potential issues before they surface.
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3. Cleaning Validation Software: Software that allows custodians to track their cleanings in real-time provides a plethora of benefits for both themselves and their managers. Cleaning maps provide location based data of when and where each of their individual cleanings took place, and the historical data of these cleanings can be used to adjust cleaning routes and frequencies, which ultimately drives cost and time savings. 

It’s important to recognize the underlying theme present in all of these technologies: data. Data is king in the new age of physical building management, and any good piece of digital technology should provide relevant and timely data in some capacity.

Benefits of Embracing The Digital Transformation

Welcoming this digital transformation with open arms can lead to many benefits, which can have a waterfall effect throughout the rest of an organization. Some (but certainly not all) of these benefits include:

1. Worker Empowerment: As mentioned before, utilizing a data-oriented custodial software can lead to major improvements of custodians’ job experiences. However, it can also be used to recognize, reward, and promote top performers, especially lower-level employees who typically receive little-to-no recognition. 
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2. Increased Management Efficiency: By shifting from physical building management technologies to digital ones, building managers can monitor, manage, and adjust their buildings from anywhere, reducing time spent at physical locations. This also grants managers the ability to respond more quickly to service needs and changes in occupancy levels.
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3. Cost Savings: Embracing new technologies can drive major ROI and cost savings. Some companies, including F500 ones, were able to save over $100,000 in less than 60 days by utilizing real-time cleaning maps and analytics.

Challenges Facing The Transormation From Physical To Digital

There will always be resistance to change, especially in building management. It’s important to acknowledge and understand these oppositional points-of-views, as well as recognize obstacles that come with implementing new technologies. Some of the major challenges with this digital transformation are:

1. Investment Costs: New technology can be expensive, and the cost can be even higher when you have to train employees on it and replace existing infrastructure. While the ROI of certain technologies can greatly outweigh the initial setup cost of it, it’s still important to make informed financial decisions.
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2. Data Security & Privacy: As buildings become more connected, the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches rises, making it a priority to protect sensitive data and ensure that digital systems are 100% secure.
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3. Training On New Technologies: It is critical that employees are kept up-to-date with new technology being implemented, otherwise major operational bottlenecks can arise. Ensuring that workers are equipped with the necessary skills to operate new technology and are informed of a well-defined plan for implementation can reduce friction and make the implementation process much smoother. 

The digital transformation of physical building management is an exciting and necessary evolution for organizations seeking to optimize their operations. By leveraging technologies such as iOT devices, AI, and FM software, building managers  can drive many benefits, including cost savings. But, it's also important to recognize and address the challenges associated with this transformation, as it can initially be difficult to integrate into your operations.

With all of this being said, the future of facility management looks bright, with data-driven technologies at the forefront of the industry’s transformation.