Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a passing trend—it’s reshaping the landscape of facilities management, enabling facilities maintenance companies to optimize operations, reduce costs, and improve service delivery. At DAVACO, we recognize the potential AI has to enhance facilities maintenance, but we also understand that AI isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. While we don’t build AI solutions (we are a facilities maintenance company), we collaborate with our clients to determine which AI technologies best suit their needs and help implement them into their commercial facility management strategies. Here’s a look at the key AI trends in facilities maintenance and why a thoughtful, customized approach is critical to leveraging them effectively.
One of the most significant innovations AI is bringing to facilities maintenance is predictive maintenance. Using real-time data from sensors embedded in building systems and equipment, AI can predict potential failures before they happen. This shift from reactive to proactive maintenance helps facilities managers plan maintenance activities, avoid costly repairs, and extend the lifespan of critical assets.
Predictive maintenance can prevent system failures and improve the reliability of essential building systems. By anticipating issues before they become problems, AI can help reduce downtime, optimize operations, and enhance the overall efficiency of facilities management.
At DAVACO, we leverage FEXA, a highly customizable facilities management software, to support predictive maintenance. FEXA allows us to monitor the lifecycle of critical assets, such as HVAC systems, to ensure they are properly maintained before failures occur. FEXA combines data analytics with predictive capabilities, empowering our team to make informed decisions that drive operational efficiency.
Another area where AI is making a significant impact is in energy efficiency. AI can analyze energy consumption patterns, occupancy levels, weather conditions, and other factors to optimize energy use in real-time. This ensures that facilities are running as efficiently as possible, reducing waste, cutting energy costs, and helping organizations meet sustainability goals.
AI-based energy management tools can adjust heating, cooling, and lighting systems automatically, leading to significant reductions in both energy consumption and carbon emissions. For facilities managers, this means lower operating costs and a more environmentally friendly approach to building management.
Managing space efficiently is essential for businesses operating across multiple locations. AI can assist in intelligent space management by analyzing data on space usage, occupancy patterns, and traffic flow. This information allows facilities managers to optimize layouts and resource allocation, ensuring that every square foot of space is being used as efficiently as possible.
AI-driven space management is particularly useful for businesses managing large campuses or multisite facilities, where optimizing the use of space can lead to significant cost savings and enhanced operational efficiency.
While AI can automate many aspects of facilities maintenance, it is not always the most efficient solution for every task. At DAVACO, we use a process we call self-triage, where we manually review each work order that comes in and dispatch the right vendor the first time. This personal touch saves time, money, and energy while reducing unnecessary truck rolls and environmental impacts.
For example, consider a work order for a roof leak. An auto-dispatch system would automatically send a roofer out to address the issue, but sometimes, the cause of the leak is not actually a roof problem—it could be an A/C unit malfunctioning. At DAVACO, we take a more personalized approach: our team checks recent weather data for the site location to determine if it’s rained in the past few days. If it hasn’t rained, we’ll send an A/C technician instead of a roofer. Without this extra step, a roofer would arrive, find that the roof is not the issue, and then the search for the real problem would begin. This causes delays, additional costs, and more truck rolls, which increases the environmental footprint.
While AI can certainly automate work orders and improve certain workflows, it’s clear that there are situations where human judgment and hands-on experience add considerable value. AI alone cannot replace the nuanced decisions that come with managing a complex, multifaceted facility.
Using FEXA to integrate with our operations, we can provide predictive maintenance and asset management capabilities.
While FEXA includes some elements of AI, such as data analytics and machine learning for predictive insights, it is primarily a tool designed to enhance decision-making rather than replace human judgment. The software’s flexibility allows us to customize it for our clients' unique needs, integrating it into their facilities management strategy in ways that complement both AI and human expertise.
By pairing FEXA with our hands-on approach, we ensure that we provide solutions that are both efficient and responsive to our clients' needs. This blend of technology and human insight allows us to offer the most effective facilities management solutions available.
At DAVACO, we understand that adopting AI and tech tools like FEXA requires careful consideration. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions, so we collaborate closely with our clients to determine which tools and technologies will work best within their unique operational needs. We take a tailored approach, ensuring that AI tools, like predictive maintenance and asset management systems, are integrated where they make the most sense and enhance our clients' existing facilities management practices.
Our goal is not to replace human judgment with technology, but to use technology in ways that amplify the effectiveness of human expertise. We build customized strategies that help our clients achieve greater efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the overall performance of their facilities.
The future of facilities maintenance is deeply tied to the integration of AI and technology. However, the key to success is not about adopting every AI tool available—it’s about adopting the right tools for the right purposes. At DAVACO, we help our clients navigate the evolving landscape of AI and tech-driven solutions, ensuring they are equipped with the tools that align with their goals and provide the greatest value.
By combining AI-powered insights with our hands-on, customized approach, we empower our clients to stay competitive in an ever-changing industry. Whether it's through FEXA or other technologies, we work with our clients to build facilities management strategies that meet their needs, improve operational performance, and drive long-term success. Contact us today to get started optimizing your commercial facilities maintenance needs with AI solutions.