New research from The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) has identified Smart Buildings and ESG as two of the three ’megatrends’ that will shape and impact the workplace sector in future years. The trends have been highlighted in research published as part of the IWFM’s 30th anniversary of its foundation.
Developed with sector experts, the work traces the progress of workplace and facilities management (WFM) from the evolution of offices to the rise of digital innovation, changing workspace objectives to a focus on sustainability and employee experience. Today – post-Brexit, post-pandemic and in increasingly competitive conditions – workplace and facilities professionals are “lynchpin” players in organisations, says IWFM.
In the published research, titled: ‘30 years back, 3 trends for the future’, IWFM identifies three “megatrends” affecting professionals, the sector and the wider business world today: embedding workplace strategy as a service; putting people, planet and profits on the same footing; and the relationship between smart buildings and WFMs.
Workplace strategy, the first megatrend, is set to become mainstream in demand and supply. IWFM says it will “present a huge opportunity for WFMs and FM service providers in years to come”, and it is important that they grasp the opportunity early, evidence their value and secure their seat before others fill it.
Unsurprisingly, ESG and sustainability is the second of the key trends identified. What is surprising, however, is that IWFM identifies that “many organisations have taken positive steps, few have embedded sustainability as core strategic outcomes”. The organisation predicts that this will change, not simply due to political and societal pressures, but from the tangible benefits that action delivers in terms of profits. “Those companies that put people, planet and (still, much needed) profits on the same footing will be best positioned to achieve all three,” says IWFM.
Good news for Priva and its Priva Partners is that smart buildings are increasingly viewed and specified as a driver for automating and supporting maintenance and security, improving workplace and customer experience, and delivering sustainability outcomes. The IWFM says: “…despite incredible advances, experts agree that smart buildings and their ecosystems remain in earliest stages of development and the concept lacks a clear definition and an underpinning specification. As the research details, however, this presents both a challenge and opportunity for WFM.”
Download the IWFM report here >
Priva is a leading manufacturer of building energy management systems and digital cloud-based building automation technologies. To find out more about the role Priva’s technologies play delivering more sustainable building operation, head over to our blog – or drop us a line.
