The rise of AI in facility management isn’t about replacing facility managers. It’s about helping them make faster, smarter and more strategic decisions.
In a recent episode of the Connected FM podcast, Matt Tucker sits down with Drew DePriest to explore how data, analytics and AI are reshaping the future of facility management. Drawing from IFMA’s The Rise of the FM Analyst report, the conversation unpacks why the “FM analyst” isn’t necessarily a new job title, but a new way of thinking about the role of FM.
One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation is that modern facility managers are increasingly expected to think like analysts.
As Tucker explains, the FM analyst is less about creating a new position and more about developing a mindset centered around data, problem solving and business strategy.
The report identified six key traits shaping this new FM mindset:
What surprised Tucker most during the research process was that many of the biggest challenges weren’t technical. They were human-centered. Communication, collaboration and confidence often matter just as much as the technology itself.
For many organizations, FM data still lives across multiple disconnected systems. Work orders may sit in one platform while occupancy data, lease information and asset management live somewhere else entirely.
According to DePriest, leading organizations are moving away from isolated systems and toward integrated data ecosystems that allow FM teams to contribute to broader business intelligence efforts.
He compares enterprise data management to a potluck dinner:
Every department brings its own “plate” of data to the table. Facilities, IT, construction, finance and workplace teams all contribute pieces of the bigger picture. The value comes from connecting those datasets together in ways that help organizations make better decisions.
That shift is becoming increasingly important as executives expect facility teams to provide more strategic insights, not just operational updates.
Having data is no longer enough.
Facility managers also need to communicate insights in ways that resonate with different stakeholders across the organization. A CFO may care about cost savings and capital planning. An HR leader may focus on employee experience and occupancy trends. Operations leaders may prioritize uptime and efficiency.
That’s where storytelling becomes critical.
Instead of overwhelming executives with dashboards and spreadsheets, modern FM professionals need to translate complex data into clear business narratives that support decision making.
AI played a major role throughout the conversation, particularly around how generative AI tools are accelerating analysis and helping facility teams process massive amounts of information faster.
DePriest describes AI as “a calculator on steroids” for facility management.
Rather than manually sorting through reports, emails, work orders and operational data, AI can quickly identify themes, anomalies and patterns across both structured and unstructured information.
That means facility managers can spend less time gathering information and more time making decisions.
But both Tucker and DePriest emphasize an important caveat: AI should support human decision making, not replace it.
The most successful FM professionals will be the ones who learn how to effectively work alongside AI while still applying critical thinking, contextual understanding and professional judgment.