IFMA Releases AI Guide for Facilities Managers

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) recently released a guide to understanding and using AI in built environments, according to a news release. “Gamechanger: A Facility Manager’s Guide to Building a Relationship with AI” is available to IFMA members through IFMA’s Knowledge Library, and it serves as a roadmap for facility management professionals looking to adopt AI solutions into built environments.

“With AI dominating much of today’s technological discussions, FMs must learn to harness its capabilities and applications,” said Dean Stanberry, former chair of IFMA’s Global Board of Directors and member of the association’s AI in FM Working Group. “This guide serves as both a roadmap and a compass for facility managers. It offers step-by-step guidance on starting, scaling and sustaining AI initiatives. The insights shared are drawn from industry research, expert opinions and practical experiences, making it a valuable companion for any FM looking to stay ahead of the curve.”

“Gamechanger” covers facility management applications including predictive maintenance and energy efficiency optimization, the news release reports. It also offers guidance into AI deployment, how to align AI strategy with business goals, how to manage organizational changes, and how to ensure infrastructure readiness. The guide’s ultimate goal is to help facility management professionals improve building efficiency while reducing cost and boosting the tenants’ experience.

“AI in FM brings many questions from the C-suite to rank-and-file employees, and rightly so,” said Lynn Baez, IFMA Global Chair. “‘Gamechanger’ equips FMs to take the lead in answering those questions and turning those inherent challenges into opportunities to prepare their organizations and people to succeed.”

The guide will also be part of a panel discussion at the IFMA World Workplace 2024 Conference and Expo at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, in San Antonio, Texas.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Arizona District Breaks Ground on Community Training, Learning Center

    The Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD) in Tolleson, Ariz., recently broke ground on a new Training & Learning Center (TLC) for both district professionals and the community at large, according to a news release. The 90,000-square-foot facility has an estimated completion date of spring 2027.

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • Architectural Power for the Modern Campus Landscape

    For generations, an outdoor classroom only required a textbook and a patch of grass. Today, not only has the laptop replaced the printed pages, the rise of agile learning has turned campuses into study halls with students listening to lectures and researching topics from quads, gardens, and plazas. The challenge for architects and facility managers is to provide connectivity without cluttering the landscape with visual eyesores or creating safety hazards with extension cords.