Operational efficiency and cost reduction are top priorities for organizations today. Facility management plays a key role through optimizing real estate usage, equipment uptime and maintenance workflows. A 2022 survey found over 60% of CEOs plan to increase investment in tools and technology that promote workplace productivity and safety.
Implementing facility management software centralizes data and drives end-to-end visibility across all facilities-related operations – from work orders and preventative maintenance to space utilization analytics. According to Gartner, organizations can achieve 25-50% faster maintenance response times and 30% reduction in equipment downtimes by using modern solutions.
This guide provides an in-depth look at the top facility management software platforms on the market today to help you find the right fit for your needs and usage.
What Makes Facility Management Software So Impactful?
Facility management software connects traditionally siloed tasks like equipment maintenance, occupancy planning, vendor services and inventory tracking into a centralized command center. Software capabilities can span:
Maintenance workflow automation – Streamline processes for responding to facility issues, tracking assets and optimizing equipment uptime
Space utilization analytics – Leverage sensors and mapping to effectively manage physical spaces and guide future real estate decisions
Sustainability tracking – Monitor energy, water and waste usage to reduce environmental impacts, costs and meet regulation
Risk and safety protections – Maintain critical building systems, ensure code compliance and provide safe work conditions
Informed decision making – Uncover usage insights to guide capital planning and future investments
Flexible field access – Enable staff to handle tasks and access data from anywhere via web and mobile
Benefits extend across the organization with connected platforms providing context to groups like IT, HR, finance and procurement around facilities-related activities.
According to an IDG survey, 63% of organizations saw significant operational improvements within 6 months after adopting modern solutions. The right software pays for itself over time through cost reductions plus improved employee productivity, safety and experience.
Top 10 Facility Management Software
Managing today‘s dynamic workplace environments requires specialized tools purpose-built for the unique needs of varying facilities and teams. Here are 10 top-rated options across small businesses to large enterprises:
1. UpKeep
UpKeep simplifies maintenance coordination and equipment oversight for frontline field teams. The cloud-based mobile-first platform focus on work order automation and inventory management.
Key Capabilities:
- Mobile work orders with barcoding
- Interactive floor plans and asset mapping
- Custom equipment and machine checklists
- Parts inventory including auto-reorder
- Dashboard with key facility KPIs
- Robust bench and workflow learning center
Ideal For – Equipment-driven facilities like manufacturing plants, airports
Infrastructure – Cloud-based with offline access support
Implementation – Weeks to fully rollout across sites and teams
UpKeep links frontline technicians to back-office teams for streamlined coordination powered by visibility across all assets and maintenance activities.
2. Accruent
Accruent serves real estate-intensive enterprises managing large scale, distributed property portfolios through comprehensive lifecycle oversight.
Key Features:
- Visual CAD floor plans integration
- Occupancy planning optimization
- Equipment and facilities financial tracking
- Contractor self-service portal
- Advanced reporting with heatmaps
Ideal For – Enterprise organizations like healthcare systems, retail chains, higher education
Infrastructure – On-premise or cloud options
Implementation – Multi-phase deployments over 6+ months
Accruent enables enterprise leaders to leverage facility usage insights in making data-driven decisions around capital planning, lease management and space utilization.
3. FM:Systems
FM:Systems incorporates next-generation technologies like IoT sensors, machine learning and natural language processing to create intelligent contextual workplace experiences.
Key Features:
- Smart space utilization monitoring
- Natural language virtual assistant
- Benchmarking against industry standards
- Budget and headcount forecasting
- Workplace experience analytics
Ideal For – Modern smart buildings and corporate campuses
Infrastructure – Cloud-based
Implementation – Phased rollout approach over 3-6 months
FM:Systems leverages emerging technology advancements to optimize dynamic workplaces of the future.
4. MRI Software
MRI Software delivers an integrated workplace and real estate management suite connecting core facilities management to financials, HR, IT and workplace services.
Key Features:
- Unified platform tying property, assets and people
- Digital twin visualization engine
- Custom reporting with Power BI analytics integration
- CURA AI assistant for contextual recommendations
- End-to-end solution ecosystem
Ideal For – Large diversified real estate portfolios like corporate campuses
Infrastructure – Cloud or on-premises options
Implementation – Multi-month phased enterprise deployments
MRI gives Fortune 500 organizations complete visibility across their global property and workplace environment.
5. FacilityForce
FacilityForce meets specialized requirements from military, government and regulated industry organizations like manufacturing and utilities.
Key Features:
- GIS integrations and space visualizations
- Robust operational compliance reporting
- Multi-site inventory control and stock management
- Contractor bidding and vendor payment processing
- Offline field mobility app
Ideal For – Organizations with complex regulatory requirements
Infrastructure – Cloud or hybrid deployment models
Implementation – Multi-phase over 9+ months
FacilityForce ensures workflow continuity for mission-critical facility environments and constant compliance oversight.
6. Asset Panda
Asset Panda is tailored for growing small to mid-sized businesses seeking right-sized software that‘s affordably priced and simple to use.
Key Capabilities:
- Barcode scanning mobile app
- Customizable equipment tags
- Basic maintenance scheduling
- Theft recovery and protection
- Photo documentation capabilities
- Multi-language options
Ideal For – Entry-level maintenance teams with basic needs
Infrastructure – Cloud-based
Implementation – Weeks to fully onboard
Asset Panda meets 80% of common use cases at a budget-friendly price point for SMBs.
7. eMaint
eMaint excels at preventative maintenance coordination leveraging data to optimize equipment uptime. It‘s well suited for asset-intensive industries like manufacturing and utilities.
Key Features:
- Failure and downtime analysis
- Sensor monitoring integration
- Interactive process and reliability dashboards
- Contractor bidding and invoice processing
- Demand forecasting for parts replenishment
Ideal For – Manufacturing, food and beverage, facility operations
Infrastructure – On-premise or cloud
Implementation – Average 8 weeks
eMaint minimizes reactive work through data-driven maintenance optimization and planning.
8. Maxpanda
Maxpanda strikes an optimal balance by combining robust asset management tools with signature ease-of-use in a cloud-first platform.
Key Capabilities:
- Equipment cost tracking & depreciation
- Preventative maintenance planning
- Custom checklists and inspection templates
- Contractor access portals
- Resource scheduling optimization
Ideal For – General building maintenance teams
Infrastructure – Cloud-based with offline access
Implementation – Phased team onboarding
Maxpanda streamlines coordination between office administrators and field technicians enabling proactive asset upkeep.
9. MaintainX
MaintainX focuses squarely on digitizing traditional paper-based maintenance processes like checklists, safety inspections and equipment audits.
Key Features:
- Digital work orders and approvals
- Interactive step-by-step maintenance guides
- Photo documentation capabilities
- Punch lists and project oversight tools
- Native mobile functionality
Ideal For – Field technicians across industries
Infrastructure – Cloud-based mobile solution
Implementation – Hours to fully rollout
MaintainX brings paperwork and processes out to the field for on-the-go access from any device.
10. Maintenance Care
Maintenance Care simplifies the transition from paper logs or basic spreadsheets to automated CMMS platforms with intuitive navigation modeled on legacy manual processes.
Key Capabilities:
- Menu-driven interface like paper systems
- Multi-mode access – web, mobile, email
- Barcode scanning and inventory
- Contractor and vendor self-service
- Capital planning modules with cost tracking
Ideal For – Organizations new to digital solutions
Infrastructure – Cloud-based
Implementation – Phased team onboarding
Maintenance Care focuses on ease-of-adoption allowing casual computer users to quickly come up to speed.
Evaluation Criteria
With a crowded marketplace filled with solutions for varying needs,conducting thorough due diligence ensures you select software aligned to your environment and objectives.
Core Functionality – Work orders, PM scheduling, inventory control, etc
Field Access – Mobile capabilities for on-site staff
Asset Lifecycle Tracking – From warranty to disposal
Business Analytics – Insights beyond facility operations
Budget – Total cost of ownership over 3-5 years
Change Management – Training, leadership buy-in, usage incentives
Implementation Approach – Transition plans tailored to your needs
Global Market Outlook
The facility management software market is undergoing tremendous growth fueled by workforce mobility shifts plus added emphasis on health, safety and sustainability.
ResearchAndMarkets projects the global market to reach $5.7 billion by 2028 expanding at 12% CAGR. North America leads adoption today followed by Europe and APAC. Software accounts for over two-thirds of spend compared to services.
Trends driving investment include:
- Hybrid workplace flexibility requiring optimized utilization
- COVID-driven prioritization of occupant health, safety and experience
- Operational resilience and risk management
- Corporate ESG mandates and emission reduction targets
Despite robust demand, half of implementations still face adoption issues like lack of leadership support, change resistance and poor tool fit. Get ahead of these hurdles through upfront planning and staged rollouts focused on high visibility quick wins.
Key Takeaways
Here are my top recommendations when evaluating and selecting facility management software:
Dig Deep During Discovery – Map all workflow processes and pain points to identify the optimal solution fit.
Prioritize Mobile Access – Enable productivity for on-site technicians and managers from anywhere.
Consider Quick Start Options – Getting up and running fast fuels engagement and adoption.
Focus on Change Management – Without leadership alignment and training, technology alone fails.
Take Advantage of New Innovations – From APIs to AI, today‘s leading solutions offer cutting-edge capabilities to enable the facilities groups of the future.
The workplace is undergoing a digital revolution. Facility management software plays a starring role through empowering teams with modern tools to elevate productivity, asset utilization, sustainability and ultimately create more engaging environments.
Have questions on finding the best software for your organization? Share them below!
