FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
With the rapid growth of ChatGPT, it’s time to look at how facilities management can benefit from AI integration says Tom Shrive CEO of AskPorter, who explains the benefits artificial intelligence tools could bring to the sector
Everyone seems to be talking about ChatGPT, a natural language processing tool using AI technology to enable human-like conversations. This sophisticated chatbot can answer questions and help users write text or code. But since it came on the scene at the tail end of 2022 it’s prompted fears of job loss, data privacy breaches, and various other exaggerated outcomes of robot-related doomsdays.
These fears miss out on a critical potential of AI: utilising automation to free up our time from repetitive and menial tasks. This is especially true within facilities management.
Chatbots and AI are already being utilised by nearly every industry, individual and organisations to help lower workloads, improve productivity, and save time. AI integration does not mean machines will be taking away jobs; it just means people will have more time to spend on the tasks that really matter. The strategic, value-adding initiatives that cannot be done by a machine.
Managing residential and commercial assets is difficult, from providing suitable customer service to solving seamlessly endless operational issues. This is why the integration of artificial intelligence into the FM sector is long overdue.
Askporter is an AI property management system using automation to respond to customer queries and handle customer conversations autonomously. This end-to-end communications and task management platform is programmed to autonomously capture, sort, and handle complex issues and processes.
BUT WON’T AI TAKE MY JOB?
The integration of artificial intelligence into facility management ignites the same fears that have been seen across a variety of industries. These worries often include stress over the prospect of automation replacing jobs, a desire for data security, and general questions about the overall effectiveness of the tools. After the impact of automation in fields such as manufacturing, it’s no wonder facilities management professionals are beginning to wonder how AI will affect their jobs.
However, although it is beneficial to be aware of the potential employment impacts of automation, AI only really stands to make jobs easier. AI’s primary use is in automating repetitive tasks, meaning it will take away the mind-numbing tasks that clog up your to-do list and free up your capacity for progressing tasks that really matter.
For example, askporter’s AI management platform can streamline operations and workflows by enabling requests to be autonomously captured and progressed through to completion, providing immense help to facilities managers in organising their priorities.
Another common worry with increased automation is the safety of user data. The data points gathered through artificial intelligence are incredibly valuable when used to predict potential issues, track patterns, and provide insights into potential weaknesses in the workflow.
Careful steps are therefore taken to ensure that all parties involved are given data safety. In the case of askporter, all incoming data is anonymised. Doing so does not compromise the value of the data received and ensures that users’ personal information is not jeopardised.
IS INVESTING IN AI WORTH IT?
The reality is, the facilities management sector needs better AI integration as a crucial element in both commercial and non-commercial organisations. People working within FM have packed schedules every day: ranging from menial tasks, such as answering emails, to larger more complex tasks, like coordinating with vendors and suppliers to maintain security.
For facilities managers, AI can offer a variety of benefits. The use of AI reduces the potential for human error, increases cost savings, and provides invaluable information and data. Most importantly, it saves time on manual repetitive tasks.
For tenants and end users of assets, AI can vastly improve the customer experience. Nothing is worse than needing assistance with a maintenance issue in the middle of the night on a weekend, but with automated web assistant tools, tenants can get answers 24/7.
Facilities managers are often tied up in a variety of tasks, and by getting rid of the tedious parts of their job, tenants are given greater attention when they have a pressing issue.
WHAT DOES AI ACTUALLY MEAN FOR FM JOBS?
It’s quite simple: time. By automating manual facility management tasks, AI integration can free up time to focus on value-adding initiatives, interpersonal engagement, long-term strategy, and new ideas. Many facility managers don’t have the bandwidth to handle day-to-day operations and execute larger strategic initiatives, AI can assist by managing tasks and allowing for increased organisation.
AI will make some tasks obsolete, but most jobs cannot be fully automated, meaning no one has to worry about a robot taking their job. Building managers are busy, and AI integration offers a low-cost solution to free up their time.
Facilities management only stands to benefit from greater automation, and early integration means exponential returns. AI integration will ultimately lead to increased efficiency without extensive human involvement and related costs.
