I’m sure you’ve read countless tech articles and built environment insights, feeling super pumped about the future. But then, daily tasks swoop in, and that excitement fizzles out. Sound familiar? In facilities management, technology has revolutionized our lives for the better, though we still grumble about things not being fast enough. And let’s not forget those who fear technology will steal our jobs, turning us into redundant cogs in a digital machine.

I recently dove into predictive maintenance, thinking it was a shiny new concept. Surprise! Facilities management started blooming in the 1960s, but predictive maintenance has been in the conversation since the 1950s. Yes, our grandparents were onto something big! While some skeptics might say the newer generations haven’t done much (pun intended), it’s impressive that these ideas were being discussed back then. Despite this, some facilities still resist preventive maintenance.

It took another 30 years for predictive maintenance to become part of maintenance strategies. Fast forward to the 1990s, and industries began adopting it, leading to the ISO 17359 standard in 2003. This standard, "Condition Monitoring and Diagnostics of Machines - General Guidelines," helps organizations detect machine faults early to prevent unexpected failures.

The latest revision was in 2018, incorporating advancements like data analytics and IoT. Predictive maintenance proves its worth with every update, yet it remains underrated. The U.S. and parts of Europe are ahead, leveraging this strategy thanks to Industry 4.0. Countless case studies debunk myths and highlight the benefits, urging us to prepare for the future. Meanwhile, futurists are already talking about Industry 5.0, and many of us are still stuck in the Industry 3.0 mindset.

Industries like manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, energy, and transportation have embraced predictive maintenance. The benefits for facilities management are clear:

1. Reduce Downtime: Predict failures and schedule maintenance with minimal disruption.
2. Cost Savings: Move away from traditional preventive maintenance for significant savings.
3. Energy Efficiency: Optimize asset performance to save energy and support sustainability.
4. Extend Asset Life: Early diagnosis, like regular health check-ups, keeps assets in top shape.
5. Improved Comfort and Safety: Prevent failures and hazards, enhancing safety.

Implementing predictive maintenance is more accessible now, thanks to affordable IoT sensors and AI. These tools make data analytics realistic and achievable. The challenge? Changing the mindset from traditional to informed, tech-driven maintenance. The goal remains the same: reduce downtime and extend asset life.

But here's the kicker: these changes don’t just happen with facilities management service providers believing in them. We need clients to join hands in taking this existing reality to new heights. Partnership between both parties is essential to make this happen. Without collaboration, the rate of change will be at a snail's pace, and we’ll revisit this topic in a few years, lamenting that FM hasn’t developed in line with other industries.

So, how do we shift the mindset and embrace this technological revolution? Here are some steps:

Education and Training: Equip your team with the knowledge and skills to understand and use predictive maintenance technologies. Offer workshops, online courses, and hands-on training sessions.

Showcase Success Stories: Share case studies and success stories from other industries and facilities that have successfully implemented predictive maintenance. Seeing real-world examples can help dispel myths and build confidence in the new approach.

Start Small: Implement predictive maintenance on a smaller scale to demonstrate its benefits before rolling it out across the entire facility. This pilot approach allows for adjustments and builds trust in the system.

Leverage Technology: Invest in the latest IoT sensors, data analytics tools, and AI to make predictive maintenance more effective and user-friendly. Emphasize how these technologies can simplify maintenance processes and improve overall efficiency.

Foster a Culture of Innovation: Encourage your team to embrace change and think creatively about how predictive maintenance can be integrated into existing workflows. Reward innovative ideas and successes to motivate continuous improvement.

Changing how we do things might be daunting, but it’s necessary. Predictive maintenance isn’t just a tech trend; it’s a game-changer for facilities management. By adopting this strategy, we can ensure our buildings run smoothly, efficiently, and sustainably.

Imagine a future where your facility rarely experiences unexpected breakdowns, where maintenance costs are slashed, and where energy bills shrink thanks to optimized equipment performance. That’s not science fiction; that’s predictive maintenance in action.

As facilities management professionals, we face a choice: cling to the old ways or embrace technology as our ally. Let’s progress and shape the future of facilities management and maintenance together. It’s time to leap forward, armed with data, sensors, and a vision of a more efficient and resilient built environment. After all, the future isn’t something that just happens to us—it’s something we create.

And remember, the success of this transition doesn’t rest solely on the shoulders of service providers. Clients, too, must embrace and support this shift. Together, we can propel facilities management into the future. The ball is in our court. Are we ready to serve up some change?

Fahad Mohamed is Director - Operations, Adeeb Group, an IMS-certified organisation delivering a wide range of integrated facility management and MEP contracting services across multiple sectors in the UAE and Seychelles. 

Built Environment's ‘Expert Talk’ series carries knowledge pieces every week by industry professionals who give their take on the key trends, observations, issues, and challenges in the built industry. The opinions in these articles are the author's own and do not reflect that of the publication. This is a standard disclaimer.