Almost half (48pc) of Facilities Managers (FMs) are missing out on the benefits of digital transformation by not adopting new technology, according to an FM contractor’s report, Digital Transformation: Is Facilities Management Ready?
According to the contractor Mitie, a mere seven per cent of FMs say they are constantly seeking to identify, trial and implement new technology solutions to stay ahead of the curve.
About one in 12 (8pc) say they are not interested in deploying new technology, while almost a third (32pc) say they will only use mature or proven technology. A further eight per cent say, although they are interested in new technology, they simply don’t have the bandwidth. The research suggests that security and access control is one of the areas most likely to be highly impacted by digital transformation. In fact, the security sector seems to be ahead of the curve, with nine in ten (90pc) respondents saying they were already making progress in digitising their security or access control. Respondents believe digitally-enabled remote monitoring and remote guarding offer clear cost efficiencies, as well as a more agile response to incidents.
When asked whether they agreed that facilities management will have undergone extensive digital transformation by the year 2030, four fifths of respondents (80pc) strongly or mostly agreed. Mitie suggests that over the next ten years FMs who are wary of new technology will have been convinced otherwise, while those struggling with capacity will have found a way to tackle this restraint.
With over a third (35pc) stating that cost efficiency is the most important factor shaping service delivery, any technology will need to prove return on investment, the firm points out. However, as with security/access control, energy efficiency and mechanical and electrical (M&E) maintenance are highlighted as the areas deemed most likely to be highly impacted by digital transformation. Likewise, many managers (92pc for energy management and 84pc for M&E maintenance) cite that they are already making progress in digitising these areas.
For many, whether to adopt tech is linked to a lack of knowledge. Around three in ten of respondents (31pc) reported ‘lack of internal expertise to select suitable facilities management solutions’ or a ‘lack of understanding of digital transformation technologies’ (27pc) as the top barriers to investing in digital transformation. Moreover, three in ten (30pc) also cited ‘lack of staff expertise to run facility efficiency projects’ and a ‘lack of staff bandwidth to analyse and act on data’ (28pc) as the top barriers to realising business value from it.
Mitie points to its range of services: data-driven Connected Workspace, its MiTec centre in Belfast, pictured; Global Security Operations Centre (GSOC) in Northampton, featured in the November 2019 print issue of Professional Security magazine; and Service Operations Centre (SOC) in Bracknell. Mitie says that it can offer retail and other customers flexibility and control, bringing digital transformation to their services.
Jason Towse, Managing Director, Business Services, Mitie, said: “The research clearly shows that the digital transformation of the security sector will be central to delivering increased productivity and cost savings to the whole facilities management industry. Embracing technology not only improves efficiency but is also key for organisations to stay ahead in the fight against ever-more sophisticated criminal activity. It’s gratifying to see that nearly all those asked were already making progress in digitising their security operations, and we hope that this report will help others benchmark themselves against their peers and understand the wider opportunities that digital transformation can bring.”
To download a copy of the report, visit http://www.info.mitie.com/digitaltransformation.
