FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
Only one in five UK businesses (20 per cent) are ‘wholeheartedly’ embracing digital-led building maintenance, according to a recent poll by SFG20, the industry standard for building maintenance specifications.
The poll also revealed that from the remaining businesses, almost half of businesses (40 per cent) are in the early stages of adopting digital-forward technologies in their building maintenance strategies whilst the remaining 40 per cent are ‘moderately’ embracing the changes.
A recent analysis of data from the ONS Business Insights report to determine the UK’s awareness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) found that over four-fifths (84 per cent of UK businesses are currently not adopting AI technologies.
Over three-quarters (77 per cent) of those not using artificial intelligence have stated a lack of internal expertise on the technology as the main reason for this delay. Struggles to identify a business use (61 per cent) and the cost implications of new technologies (53 per cent) were also reported primary concerns.
The construction industry is reported to have the lowest adoption of AI technologies, with only eight per cent of businesses currently using some form of artificial intelligence. This figure is only set to increase to 10 per cent at the start of 2024.
Paul Bullard, Product Director at SFG20, commented: “The reluctance to adopt digital-led maintenance was initially fuelled by the perceived effort and high costs of hardware and software. However, the landscape is changing with more affordable options now available. Yet challenges remain, as businesses work to develop the necessary skills to deploy sensors, monitors, and interpret the generated data effectively. Overcoming these hurdles is essential to unlocking the full potential of digital maintenance.
“AI in the FM industry offers the potential to enhance rather than replace human roles, unlocking opportunities and insights. While historical reporting has been the norm, AI empowers us to leverage vast datasets for predictive maintenance, enabling timely interventions and a proactive approach to facility management.”
