New research has identified training and related human factors as significant obstacles to the more widescale adoption of technology in facilities management.
The finding from a survey commissioned by Bidvest Noonan involved a sample of 110 decision-makers in the UK and Ireland with responsibility for estates ranging from 20,000 to over 500,000 square feet across, and authority over technology investment.
The training paradox
While 64 per cent of FM leaders cited inadequate training and change management as primary causes of technology underperformance, only 9% identified either as critical factors when reflecting on technologies that had succeeded. Bidvest Noonan describes this gap as the 'training paradox'.
Phil Darcy, Head of Data & Emerging Technologies at Bidvest Noonan, explains: "Our research reveals a troubling contradiction. When technologies underperform, inadequate training is among the top causes cited, yet it ranks lowest among the factors that organisations prioritise for success. Closing that gap should be a priority for any organisation investing in technology.
People lack confidence in their ability to use new technology effectively, which can result in hesitation or pushback.
"The data shows something important here, almost half of FM leaders identify skills and capability gaps as a major barrier, while only one in seven cite staff resistance to change. This tells us that what looks like resistance is actually a capability issue. People lack confidence in their ability to use new technology effectively, which can result in hesitation or pushback."
What the full report covers
The full report explores investment priorities across estate sizes, the adoption status of autonomous service robots and digital FM platforms, AI productivity expectations, what distinguishes successful implementations from those that fall short, and the challenges FM leaders currently face in turning technology ambition into operational impact.
