The global Facilities Management (FM) industry was valued at around $1,250 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to around $1,900 billion by 2029 – at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7%. During this forecast period, the still in-growth-stage Middle East and Africa FM market is estimated to register a CAGR of 7.6%, significantly outpacing more mature markets such as Europe and the United States.
The megaprojects being built by expanding economies in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE are an important driver behind this growth, as are the emerging technologies and trends contributing to the evolving needs of residential, commercial, industrial, public, and institutional clients. In addition, FM is moving from post-construction-led maintenance to active involvement in the early stages of infrastructure development and smart building design, effectively contributing to higher quality living and working ecosystems, lower environmental footprints, reduced costs, and longer asset lives.
Emerging Trends
In parallel, the role of facilities management continues to evolve and adapt to the changing requirements of asset managers and is dependent on technology to bridge the gap between client expectations and traditional service offerings. In addition to providing hygiene-related services, facilities management companies are increasingly being relied on to integrate physical work and living space with an asset’s people and functions. They are required to play an active role in the overall productivity and efficiency of organisations, and the well-being of their users and residents. All this must be achieved while meeting sustainability objectives and within efficient economic frameworks. This necessitates close coordination between stakeholders across the different operational processes of a facility. The service and maintenance of machinery, custodianship and sustainability of environment quality, compliance with changing rules and regulations, as well the efficient management of costs and resources, must be done without disrupting operations or creating downtime.
Among the leading technologies shaping the future of FM is the Internet of Things (IoT). As the adoption of IoT gains momentum across industries, facility managers can capitalize on the data generated from a myriad of sources to optimize operations across functions. In-time access to data from smart sensors, energy, and water meters, as well as occupancy and usage monitors, provides managers with the information that they need to optimize operations, manage inspections, monitor efficiency, conduct preventive maintenance, and regulate energy consumption. The integration of new technologies, such as remote monitoring, mobile solutions, robotics, and artificial intelligence within computer-aided facility management (CAFM) and building management systems (BMS), has become essential for FM providers to meet client requirements and deliver effective FM solutions.
Challenges
This is a paradigm shift in the approach to FM as an integrated services model that can meet all customers' diverse needs across large-scale multi-purpose facilities and presents one of the biggest challenges for asset managers. With different standards and systems in use for varying applications, integrating smart building technologies, and adapting them to mobile use across platforms and devices has become a critical success factor in managing operations. FM providers also must work within the systems and standards regulated by government and municipal authorities, as well as individual asset guidelines for health, safety, and environmental considerations. Ensuring compliance with all these requirements is now common on any viable FM contract – especially for large organizations looking for a one-stop shop for all their FM needs.
Moreover, FM providers are required to extend their services to cover extreme limits across accessibility, operations, challenging climate conditions, and exceptional circumstances. The last COVID-19 pandemic is an excellent example of how FM suppliers have had to play an active role in safeguarding the health and well-being of the tenants and users of assets under adverse conditions and necessitating actions that adapt to evolving circumstances. Crisis preparedness for extreme events is no longer considered exceptional, but rather a mandatory part of providing a comprehensive service to clients.
The reliance on new technologies to provide service as an integrated function within a complex information technology matrix presents another important challenge: the safeguarding of the privacy and security of data from sensors and monitors and their transmission across a multitude of hubs, mobile devices, and platforms. This challenge is intrinsic to enterprise networks and extends to all users and service providers. FM managers must adopt strict security measures and protocols and keep up to date with new threats in an ever-changing technological landscape.
Outlook
For Imdaad, the leading facilities management organization in the UAE, adapting to client requirements and playing an active role in its increasingly complex operations has always been a pillar in how it conducts its operations. Being a dependable partner on the megaprojects that characterized the growth of the country taught the organization valuable lessons in managing complex projects in harsh environments. This expertise fueled its growth and expansion into new markets – starting with Egypt, with an outlook to serving neighboring countries and high-growth markets. These markets present stronger opportunities for participation in the design stages of an asset, allowing for the integration of automation, mobile applications, and AI-assisted management of data. In addition, and as sustainability concerns take on increased importance, the ability to adapt to harsh conditions while addressing ecological concerns will play an instrumental role in fueling growth across applications.
To upgrade your facilities management with Imdaad, or to explore how facilities management needs to be integrated into a new property or project, please contact us on info@imdaad.ae.
