JLL’s State of FM Technology 2024 shows CRE decision-makers rely on FM software to drive efficiency

Organizations are under increased pressure to control and cut costs while maintaining high levels of services and quality. With growing work order volumes, shrinking budgets, and a shortage of qualified labor, facilities management (FM) teams are turning to automation and innovative technology to streamline processes and boost productivity, according to global commercial real estate and investment management company JLL’s new State of Facilities Management Technology 2024 Report.

Facilities managers and their teams are facing the growing challenge of doing more with less in 2024 while also grappling with ballooning expectations for better efficiency and performance, increased work orders, and understaffing. Technology can help alleviate some of these pain points and are key to providing dynamic facilities management services that cater to a modern workforce.”

Sharad Rastogi, CEO, JLL Work Dynamics Technology

The report discusses how automation and technology drive efficiency and effectiveness amid understaffing and budget constraints. It highlights the key trends and priorities shaping the facilities management (FM) industry. It reveals how automation and innovative technologies like artificial intelligence will play a crucial role in overcoming the challenges FM teams encounter. Below are some of the key findings in the report.

Heavier workloads, less resources

The growing pressure to do more with less as the volume of work orders increases makes FM software crucial for managing increased workloads.

• 75.0% of respondents cite decreasing FM budgets as their top concern.

• 56% of respondents expect their work order volumes to increase in 2024.

• 42.6% report their FM teams are understaffed with hiring freezes, competition, lack of qualified candidates, and a generational shift caused by the mass retirement of aging FMs, all contributing to unfilled FM positions.

Teams can leverage facilities management software to automate repetitive tasks, such as work order dispatch and invoice approvals. By automating these processes, FM teams can free up valuable time and resources, which allows them to process more work orders and improve overall productivity.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a clear focus for FM teams in 2024, aligning with the need to balance cost savings and environmental impact. Energy efficiency was identified as the leading sustainability focus, followed by workplace experience and waste reduction.

• 69.4% of respondents list energy efficiency as a priority.
• 54.1% rank workplace experience as a priority.
• 38.8% list waste reduction as a priority.

FM teams increasingly leverage FM software and business intelligence to track and manage energy consumption, improve indoor air quality (IAQ), and reduce waste, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Preventive maintenance

Preventive maintenance is a top priority, especially given budget constraints. With declining capital budgets, facilities managers recognize the need to extend the life of existing equipment. Preventive maintenance extends asset life and reduces energy consumption, which is critical with declining CapEx budgets.

• 29.1% cited automated preventive maintenance scheduling and insights as the top expected outcome from asset management software.

• Nearly 20% expected the ability to capture comprehensive, real-time data across all facilities.

FM software and related technologies provide insights and scheduling capabilities for optimized preventive maintenance, reducing costs, and improving asset performance.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Underscoring the growing interest in and its potential impact on facilities management operations, Artificial intelligence (AI) does interest facility managers, but most lack a concrete strategy.

• 59.1% of respondents do not have an AI strategy but are interested in learning more.

• 10.4% report already using AI regularly in their FM operations.

• 25% are concerned about how AI and new technologies will change their jobs.

Technology skills are becoming more critical to facilities management roles. As AI technology develops and shows value, facility managers will use it to drive efficiency.

JLL’s State of Facilities Management Technology 2024 Report presents survey results from more than 230 facilities management practitioners, primarily in North America. Respondents represented multiple industries, including technology, education, financial services, manufacturing, and retail. Download a copy of the the report from JLL.

About JLL Work Dynamics

JLL Work Dynamics manages facilities, projects, and portfolios. With more than 60,000 local and global specialists, the team enables clients to enhance the performance of their portfolios and people to see what’s possible in a more sustainable and inclusive built environment. Through technology-enabled solutions, Work Dynamics creates safe and inspiring spaces worldwide for people to collaborate, innovate, and drive meaningful change in any workplace. Work Dynamics manages over 2 billion square feet of real estate and has averted more than 112,700 metric tons of CO2e by advising clients on renewable energy projects. For more information, visit JLL’s Occupier Services and Integrated Facilities Management pages.