FOCUS CAFM / SWG SURVEY
TRENDS IN FM TECH
Gary Watkins, CEO at Service Works Global says an analysis of the key fi ndings from SWG’s
UK )M software survey in partnership with )M-, shows that wherever tech is employed it must
be done strategically to achieve the best results
In November last year, we launched a
survey in partnership with FMJ to ask
people working in FM about their use of
so ware and gather insights on industry
trends. The questions asked respondents
to reflect on both the last 12 months and
the time since the start of the pandemic.
ROLE IN FM - 55 PER CENT
EMPLOYED DIRECTLY AT
PREMISES; 29 PER CENT
FM SERVICE PROVIDER
SPACE MANAGEMENT
Arguably the biggest impact of COVID on the
workplace has been how businesses manage
space. Where before there were people-persquare
foot ratios, now there is much more
thought given to creating workplaces that are
hygienic, healthy, and conducive to work.
This is a trend that respondents believe
is here to stay. When asked about the top
technology trends that will have the biggest
impact in the next 12 months, property
and space management (including flexible
working) was the second highest answer.
Interestingly, workplace wellbeing was a
very close third, tying in neatly with space
management.
Sixty five per cent of respondents have
either made changes to their workplaces
to allow for flexible working or are in the
process of doing so. A further 14 per cent
had already adopted flexible working. When
asked about how FM has changed since
March 2020, the majority of respondents
cited the use of more technology for remote
asset or space monitoring, including
implementing CAFM (Computer-Aided
Facilities Management) so ware, workplace
or sensor technology.
Yet there are a number of challenges that
FMs face. Despite an increased workload in
the last 12 months, budgets have remained
largely unchanged and just 17 per cent
of respondents said that their current FM
so ware was flexible enough to support
changing workplace demands. Furthermore,
when asked about the key challenges for FM
36 MARCH 2022
in the next 12 months, budgetary pressures
and meeting demand for flexible working
ranked in the top three answers.
Space management is clearly a key part of
the FM role, but without the right budget or
support, FMs may not be as e ective as they
would like to be.
ROLE IN PURCHASING FM
TECHNOLOGY - 38 PER
CENT INFLUENCERS; 37 PER
CENT DECISION-MAKERS;
21 PER CENT USERS’
ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND
SUSTAINABILITY
Unsurprisingly, respondents noted energy
management and sustainability would be
simultaneously the biggest trend and the
biggest challenge in the next 12 months.
COP26 sent us all a stark warning about
the need for urgent action to tackle climate
change. Building and construction are
responsible for 39 per cent of all carbon
emissions; 28 per cent of this is from
operational carbon.
Operational carbon includes the energy
used to heat, cool and light a building, and
falls under the remit of FMs. But as we have
already seen, budgetary constraints mean
that FMs have little to no additional funds to
meet this renewed demand for sustainability.
One respondent highlighted the challenge,
saying “technology is great in new or
refurbished buildings but to retrofit systems,
i.e., HVAC Controls, upgrade LED luminaires
to IoT and having the technology to use is
una ordable to the public sector”.
This is perhaps where Building Information
Modelling (BIM) could assist, yet only 12 per
cent of those surveyed are currently using
BIM data. Of those, 20 per cent are using it to
improve environmental performance.
The reasons for lack of BIM adoption
varied, with common themes around lack