What’s in store for the corporate FM sector this year? From innovative technology, ever-evolving hybrid working strategies and a bigger focus on ESG, in this blog we set out some of the top trends that will define facilities management in 2024.

1. Integrating AI to improve efficiencies in the workplace

AI is set to revolutionise the FM industry this year, driving a new era of efficiency and responsiveness that will empower facilities teams. Optimising energy consumption, occupancy and behavioural monitoring, space optimisation, enhanced security, and automating routine tasks are just a few benefits AI brings to the table.

As data-driven insights guide decision-making, the integration of artificial intelligence technology will ensure that facilities teams operate smarter, more efficiently, and in tune with the evolving needs of building occupants.

2. A focus on the evolving needs of the hybrid workforce

Corporate businesses will develop and embrace flexibility and hybrid working throughout 2024, and our FM teams are poised to be at the forefront of this evolution. We anticipate that we will need to continue to adapt and modify our FM service delivery to match the ebb and flow of office occupancy trends, with heightened demand on busier days while optimising efficiency on the quieter, bookends of the week. In doing so, we can create hybrid workplaces that are flexible enough to meet the evolving needs of those that choose to attend.

The sentiment that the hybrid office needs to be worthy of the daily commute will also dominate corporate workplace strategies throughout 2024. Facilities management teams will provide invaluable support in creating memorable, positive workplace experiences for employees and guests.

At Anabas, the role of our facilities managers, and our floor captains, has developed to help enhance and improve an employee’s time spent in the office. This includes everything from helping set up for an important meeting, organising a workplace event or even using an app to order their morning coffee so it’s ready to collect when they arrive. Deploying an employee-centric approach to FM delivery, using roles like this, will ensure the overall workplace experience is better than working at home.

3. Implementing FM technology to elevate the workplace experience

The integration of technology as standard in FM delivery will continue to help create personalised and comfortable working environments, which will have a direct impact on employee productivity and satisfaction levels. Real-time data and insights that can be collected from advanced technology will help FM teams plan and streamline their operations more efficiently, resulting in workplaces that positively influence the wellbeing of occupants.

With employees’ working patterns and hybrid workplace strategies constantly changing, further technology to support how people use the corporate office will become more significant, too. Booking apps and systems will ensure that the corporate office has a place for everyone to work. From reserving pods for focus or bigger zones for team collaboration, technology that can support employees and help them in their roles will have a substantial impact in 2024 and will ensure that the workplace experience is productive and positive from the moment they step through the door.

4. A greater emphasis on ESG in facilities management

In 2024, the focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations will increase for businesses and their facilities management providers. With a growing global emphasis on Net Zero and sustainable practices and corporate responsibility, businesses are recognising the pivotal role that their supply chains, including their FM teams, play in meeting and achieving their ESG goals.

From energy-efficient solutions and waste reduction strategies to fostering inclusive and socially responsible workplaces, FM providers will continue to align their practices with the evolving ESG landscape, and the targets set out by their clients. This will have a positive impact on their own ESG commitments, too.

As we explore these trends throughout 2024, our commitment at Anabas remains the same – to create memorable workplaces that are not only efficient and responsive but also sustainable, engaging, and reflective of the evolving needs of our clients and their workforces.