Four people stand at a table and discuss facility management trends in a futuristic facility center, blue-toned.

If you’re in the facility management industry, you’ve noticed that things are changing quite quickly. New technology, economic pressures, and supply chain disruptions have all radically altered facility management trends and previously assumed assumptions.

During this tumultuous time, it’s essential that you stay on top of emerging technology and emerging trends—both to remain competitive and avoid the potential for disruption.

Today, we’ll look at the following critical facility management trends:

  • Relying more on sensor-based, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for maintenance and management.
  • Creating complete, connected smart building systems quickly and efficiently.
  • Developing energy-efficient, sustainable, and green facility models.
  • Adopt flexible work schedules, support hybrid teams, and rethink the brick-and-mortar paradigm.
  • Outsourcing to capitalize on a global labor force while making turnover more manageable.

Above all, the facility management industry is growing quickly, likely to reach $2 trillion by 2027. These facility management trends will shape the future of facility management and maintenance—make sure you’re prepared with LLumin.

1. Sensor-Based Technologies: IoT and Machine-Level Connectivity and Artificial Intelligence

In the past, many machine condition tracking and sensor technologies were not feasible because of battery/remote power issues, lack of fast, reliable connectivity, and overall cost of deployment. Since the advent of IoT technology and 5G (further discussed below), devices and sensors have become smarter, cheaper, more nimble, and far more prevalent within facilities, plants, and warehouses. In fact, by the end of 2024, experts predict that more than 207 billion devices will be IoT-connected. 

IoT technologies (and connecting directly to machine-level diagnostics) make it easier to analyze the performance of machines and engage in predictive maintenance. LLumin’s CMMS+ connects directly to IoT sensors to gauge things such as pressure, heat, and performance. It also uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to interpret data. From there, your facility can view when your assets may be at risk of failure, when they need maintenance, or when parts need to be replaced. 

A screenshot of LLumin’s CMMS+ showing a pump low-pressure warning from a sensor.

2. Smart Building Technologies: 5G, WLAN, and SD-WAN

Smart facilities are becoming more popular—facilities in which everything is connected to a 5G network, WLAN, or SD-WAN. When everything is connected, it’s easier to manage the facility as a single entity. Companies can control security, lights, and critical equipment from a single dashboard. Data can be analyzed to make the system more productive and cost-efficient.

LLumin’s CMMS+ is an always-accessible, cloud-based platform that can be accessed through any mobile device. As a maintenance and management solution, LLumin’s CMMS+ connects all of your organization’s most critical assets—so you can start building (and automating) a more intelligent facility. 

3. Sustainability: Efficient, Green, and Cost-Effective

Many buildings and facilities are moving toward sustainability for a variety of reasons. Not only is it better for the environment, but it’s better for your asset ROI. As energy costs go up, it becomes more important to monitor and record data that can lead to more efficient and green facilities and infrastructure.

LLumin’s CMMS+ enables a predictive maintenance strategy, which, in turn, increases the overall efficiency of an organization or operation. LLumin’s CMMS+ will help you identify when assets are at risk of fault or failure, and allow you and your team to avoid last-minute repairs, rushed orders, and, at times, excessive travel. Get the most out of each machine by lengthening its lifespan and thereby reducing your carbon footprint. Importantly, identify the energy use and output of machinery, especially those that have shown a reduction in performance.

4. Continued Flex Work: Hybrid Teams, Remote Workers, and WFH

Now, facility managers and their teams are always on the go. With increased outsourcing, flex work, hybrid teams, and remote workers, people need to correspond with others in a digital space and on-the-fly. Occasionally, facility managers may need to interface with their assets from abroad—or just be able to send out an async message to their team.

While some experts indicate that remote work is declining, it is around to stay for 2024. Because remote work is around to stay, employers must continue incorporating flex work options into their operations. 

LLumin’s CMMS+ completely supports flexible working initiatives by creating an alert-driven dashboard that can be accessed 24/7. So whether you’re working at home or across the globe, you can connect to all your assets and view major metrics such as mean-time-to-repair.

5. Outsourcing: From the Nearshore to the Offshore

LLumin’s CMMS+ can create a highly organized and automated maintenance program that is lean, optimized, and super efficient. In doing so, some organizations may find the need to outsource less compelling. However, in today’s business climate, often using outside resources and contractors is the right decision. Some companies are entirely outsourcing their facilities management to expert teams, either nearshore or offshore. Some advantages of nearshore outsourcing are better talent and a quicker time to market. However, it tends to be more expensive. Offshore is more affordable but comes with challenges, such as quality issues and data privacy problems. 

Using LLumin CMMS+ will make nearshoring and offshoring much easier in whatever strategic deployment method you choose.

LLumin CMMS+ becomes invaluable as a tool for tracking and managing 3rd party personnel, 3rd party contractors, and 3rd party suppliers. And, all information relative to the assets and facilities these vendors help you manage is organized in a structured, operations-focused manner within LLumin. LLumin CMMS+ is highly scalable in terms of use as a tool for communications, transaction logging, and expense capture. It is a completely accessible, cloud-based mobile CMMS solution.

LLumin CMMS+ Is Future-Proofed for New Facility Management Trends

At LLumin, we aren’t just concerned with getting you the technology you need today—we are laser-focused on preparing you for the needs of tomorrow. Our technology already provides best-in-class machine condition and analytics-based maintenance management solutions. And we are continually developing the easiest-to-use and most efficient software solutions that enable asset and facilities management teams to achieve their highest levels of success.

Using LLumin CMMS+, your journey starts with a rapid but highly effective implementation process and continues with support from our incredibly available, brilliant tech team. We will work with you to get you up and running with a state-of-the-art predictive maintenance system.

Our system:

  • Connects everyone through a cloud-based interface accessible from anywhere.
  • Syncs with sensor-based IoT technologies to collect machine condition data.
  • Interfaces with any building management system (BMS) to provide real-time facility conditions, status-triggered actions, and maintenance remediation.
  • Helps you become more efficient, green, and cost-effective with predictive maintenance.

So if you are looking for a cutting-edge CMMS+ with a seamless implementation process and an expert customer support staff, then LLumin is a perfect fit.

Getting Started With LLumin

LLumin develops innovative CMMS software to manage and track assets for industrial plants, municipalities, utilities, fleets, and facilities. If you’re questioning ‘what is a work order’ and how these documents can be best used to support successful maintenance operations, we encourage you to schedule a free demo or contact the experts at LLumin to see how our CMMS+ software can help you reach your efficiency and cost-cutting goals.

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Chief Executive Officer at LLumin CMMS+

Ed Garibian, founder, and CEO of LLumin Inc., is an experienced executive and entrepreneur with demonstrated success building award-winning, growth-focused software companies. He has an impressive track record with enterprise software and entrepreneurship and is an innovator in machine maintenance, asset management, and IoT technologies.