Data-driven innovation is a boon to facility management, but only if it’s used correctly
In a recent Facility Management Journal article, UG2 Senior Vice President, James Lane and Senior Vice President, Jeff Peterson noted that it wasn’t so long ago that facilities management was a paper-driven world. Days were consumed by reactive firefighting and trying to stay on top of energy consumption needs, labor projections, capital improvement, and equipment supply chains.
In the wake of data-driven technology advancements and new innovations, these struggles are receding fast, but they’re being replaced by new challenges. Without the ability to strategically leverage data, facilities managers will have difficulty with decision making and could easily feel overwhelmed.
Lane and Peterson give some valuable insights in how to stay ahead of the curve. Here’s a glimpse at some of the article’s main highlights:
To get the most value from data, the first thing to do is identify clear and quantifiable business goals. For instance, if you’d like to drive efficiencies in energy management, gather data that helps decide appropriate levels of lighting in indoor and outdoor spaces, how much and when to trigger cooling and heating, and so on. Start with the goal, and it’s much easier to assess data with that lens.
After setting and clarifying goals, determine the type of data needed to make informed decisions. That might mean real-time data on variables like occupancy, traffic scenarios, asset maintenance, replacement plans, cleaning and disinfection, and labor requirements.
Identify trusted service providers whose culture and goals align with yours. As Lane and Peterson write, “It’s important to feel confident that the providers can secure and protect any data they access and will use it prudently.” Most FMs rely on outsourced providers because they don’t have the time or internal resources to effectively handle everything. While that can work well, it’s imperative to be mindful of how proprietary data is shared and access is handled.
Use the right technologies. While it seems like this should be first on the list, the main emphasis should be on finding the right technology tools to apply to your goals, not the other way around. “Without first defining what to accomplish and which types of data to collect and analyze, trying to choose best-fit technology can be an exercise in futility,” Lane and Peterson note. FMs must consider several data-driven options:
- Sensors to gather data on occupancy, environmental conditions, supply usage, and other information.
- Mobility technologies, which make it easy to collect and leverage electronic data for tasks such as work order management.
- Data management tools to help filter through the deluge of data generated and to identify which data is needed to manage performance and metrics.
- Cloud-based solutions that can integrate with other systems and mitigate the risk of lost data.
- AI systems that can apply the right business rules, exceptions, and trend management for predictive data analysis.
“Facility management is changing fast,” writes Lane and Peterson. “To be successful in this often-unpredictable industry, FMs must be as data-driven as possible. When they have the right data at their fingertips and know how to use it, managers can deliver high-quality facility services with greater efficiency and within budget.”
For more insights, be sure to check out the full Facility Management Journal article, and take a look at more UG2 blog posts for thoughts on numerous FM topics, from energy efficiency to workforce management.