How is IBM responding to the ever-changing needs of the FM world?

The facility management industry is undergoing a profound transformation, shaped by the convergence of sustainability imperatives, cost pressures and digital innovation. IBM understands that facility professionals today must deliver more with less —optimizing real estate portfolios, improving asset utilization and achieving net-zero goals while maintaining operational resilience. In response, IBM is redefining how organizations manage their buildings and spaces through data-driven intelligence. Recognized by Verdantix as a market leader in the Connected Portfolio Intelligence Platforms (CPIP/IWMS) 2025 Green Quadrant, IBM delivers a unified approach that combines advanced analytics, AI and IoT capabilities to connect people, places and processes across the enterprise. By integrating insights from sensors, work orders, energy systems and occupancy data, IBM helps clients continuously adapt their real estate strategies to evolving business demands and environmental targets.

What research or product innovations is IBM working on to help FMs succeed?

IBM continues to invest heavily in innovation that empowers facility managers to make better, faster and more sustainable decisions. Launched earlier this year IBM Maximo® Real Estate and Facilities solution, is designed to unify real estate, facilities and asset management. The platform provides a holistic view of space utilization, lease performance, maintenance efficiency and energy impact. Through intelligent automation and AI-driven insights, Maximo enables users to streamline capital planning, optimize procurement and ensure compliance across leases and accounting. Its dynamic space planning capabilities allow facility teams to visualize, assess and reconfigure workplaces for improved productivity and engagement, supported by real-time occupancy monitoring through connected IoT sensors. The solution also enhances financial control through automated lease payment reconciliation, strong accounting compliance and robust reporting for informed, data-driven decisions. With integrated maintenance, operations and energy management, organizations can monitor performance in real time, identify opportunities to reduce energy use and minimize operational costs. Mobile-friendly and fully centralized, Maximo equips facility managers with actionable intelligence to manage risk, improve responsiveness and achieve greater sustainability outcomes—empowering them to anticipate needs and make faster, more confident decisions in a rapidly evolving facility landscape.

How is IBM improving the FM industry?

IBM’s commitment to innovation extends beyond technology—it’s about transforming how organizations manage their built environments at scale. Many facility management teams struggle with fragmented systems that make it difficult to gain a complete view of operations. IBM Maximo Real Estate and Facilities consolidate these disparate tools into a single, unified platform, enabling seamless collaboration across real estate, facilities, operations and sustainability functions. The result is an integrated operating model that enhances visibility, control and data accuracy across every asset and space. By unifying building lifecycle management, space utilization, lease administration and energy performance, IBM helps clients improve cost efficiency, strengthen compliance and deliver higher-quality occupant experiences. In industries such as healthcare, education and government, IBM solutions are modernizing legacy infrastructure, driving down energy consumption and supporting organizations in achieving ambitious carbon-reduction and efficiency goals—all while maintaining operational resilience.

What’s on the horizon in your industry and how is IBM meeting those challenges?

As organizations face growing pressure to achieve sustainability and resilience goals, the next decade will demand unprecedented transparency and agility in facility operations. Facility leaders will increasingly rely on digital twins, AI forecasting (e.g. AI predictive models in energy monitoring, to identify opportunities to reduce costs) and real-time data integration to drive decision-making. IBM is already embedding predictive and prescriptive analytics into its solutions, from asset health monitoring to portfolio planning. The future of facility management will also depend on interoperability and open data exchange and IBM’s commitment to open standards allows clients to integrate with other enterprise systems, from energy management to workplace experience platforms. By anticipating these trends, IBM empowers facility professionals to future-proof their operations and stay ahead of regulatory, environmental and market shifts.

Why should FMs pick IBM as a partner?

Facility managers choose IBM because of its proven track record, continuous innovation and unwavering commitment to customer success. IBM offers more than a product—it delivers a partnership built on expertise, data intelligence and scalability. With decades of experience supporting mission-critical operations, IBM provides trusted technology and strategic guidance that enable organizations to optimize resources, meet sustainability goals and enhance occupant wellbeing. IBM Maximo Real Estate and Facilities simplifies facility managers’ day-to-day work by centralizing data, automating maintenance and lease workflows and providing real-time insights to make faster, better-informed decisions. As the facility management profession evolves, IBM remains a reliable, forward-thinking ally—helping clients unlock the full potential of their spaces, assets and people. In an industry defined by change, IBM stands as a constant source of innovation and insight, ensuring that facility managers are not only keeping pace but setting the pace for the future.