FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
ACTIONING ESG
ESG is still high on the corporate agenda. Gartner’s annual CEO survey revealed that 67 per cent of business leaders view sustainability as a key growth opportunity in 2024.
The built environment contributes around 40 per cent of total global carbon emissions, meaning facilities management has a central role to play in reducing emissions and contributing to broader ESG goals. Our survey revealed that 78 per cent agreed with this sentiment. Meanwhile, 93 per cent said they actively monitor their estate’s energy consumption, and 84 per cent have set defined goals around improving their carbon footprint.
Monitoring energy consumption and setting defined goals are impossible without the right data, increasingly derived from technology platforms such as CAFM and BIM models. The key starting point for every FM team is creating a baseline for energy consumption. This enables any function to then develop a coordinated programme of asset replacement and repair, control and automation, operational efficiencies, renewable energy sourcing and generation, behavioural change, and continuous optimisation.
Data also enables organisations to report more accurately, which is key to achieving set goals, meeting standards, and adhering to compliance. However, the research revealed another notable gap in this respect, with nearly half of respondents (46 per cent) reporting that providing supporting evidence or data to prove compliance standards is a challenge. This finding is compounded by the fact that 41 per cent cited the time/effort it takes to complete compliance reporting and more than a third (36 per cent) cited a lack of centralised software and digital data to maintain compliance as challenges.
LOOKING AHEAD
Facilities management is in the middle of a huge transformation driven by advancements in technology. The integration of IoT, AI, and predictive analytics is revolutionising how facilities are managed, enabling more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable operations.
More than anything, what our 2024 survey has shown is that there are still some meaningful gaps when it comes to how facilities managers perceive the various technologies in the market and their ability to utilise them. As a result, the onus is increasingly on FM practitioners, both in-house and within service providers, to stay on top of technological trends while adapting to leverage their benefits. Those who proactively adopt and integrate technology into their operations will be well-positioned to lead in a rapidly evolving industry, driving greater efficiency, sustainability, and value in the built environment.
