Data drives the facility and workplace management industry, and 2024 was a great year for helping us understand where we are and see where we’re heading. There’s a lot of excitement in the industry, with so much enthusiasm for new technologies and passion for improvement. We’re sharing our top five industry statistics and key content that defines the past year and can help you prepare for the future.
Key facility and workplace management industry stats for 2024
A lot happened in 2024, so it’s hard to choose just five statistics that sum up all the changes in the industry. Here are five we feel help draw a picture of the past and can help chart a direction for the coming year.
Strong predictions for predictive maintenance (PdM)
31.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the PdM market from 2024 to 2032
PdM is a strategy that uses data and analytics to predict when equipment is likely to fail, allowing for maintenance to be performed proactively. It helps the maintenance department deliver a lot of value, including reduced downtime, lower maintenance costs, extended equipment life spans, improved safety, and more operational efficiency. It also helps them minimize the risk of unexpected failures, optimize schedules, and even enhance overall productivity.
In 2024, the global PdM market size was $9.8 billion, but in 2024 experts projected it to grow to $88.8 billion by 2032.
Although the outlook for the technology has always been relatively strong, there have traditionally been concerns about upfront and ongoing costs, including the need for specialized sensors, software, and training. But as prices have come down, the number of use cases has grown, and many more companies can now see a clear path to a positive return on investment.
It’s exciting to see predictions about the growth of the PdM market as a standalone market, but it’s equally important to position this growth within the broader context of increased data and analytics adoption. Large companies are increasingly leveraging both trend-based and real-time data — including everything in their facilities from air quality to occupancy — to gain a competitive edge by delivering a more productive environment at a lower cost. While the PdM market’s projected growth is impressive, it’s also important as one more piece of proof for the larger technological trends that define 2024.
Smart building market projections prove people will want modern, efficient spaces
10.6% CAGR for the global smart market from 2024 to 2028
2024 was also a big year for smart buildings that feature advanced technologies to automate and optimize various functions such as lighting, heating, and security. These systems use sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and artificial intelligence (AI) to collect and analyze data, enabling efficient resource management and enhanced user comfort. They also improve safety through digital visitor management systems.
Experts predicted the global smart buildings market would see significant growth, expanding by $64.9 billion over the next four years, with most of that increase coming from a growing demand from businesses that buildings better support the bottom line.
And the move to better buildings is already happening.
25.8 million square feet in Manhattan office space lease, an increase of 12% over 2023 numbers and pushing past the record highs of 2022
2024 was a good year for strong projections. But we didn’t have to wait to see the effects of the market’s movement.
Looking behind these numbers from New York City, a lot of the current demand was specifically for office space designed to enhance productivity and comfort, which is good news for a large cross-section of stakeholders interested in investing in intelligent worktech to improve their spaces, from facility and maintenance managers to owners.
The stats highlight how embracing new technologies that improve the overall experience for employees and tenants can have a clear return on investment.
Many factors affect flexible and hybrid workspaces
Highest utilization rates were in the software industry, but they also had the lowest number of booked days each month
We discovered this statistic while doing research for our 2024 Workplace Index report, and it’s a great example of all the different factors that can directly and indirectly affect how people now work in offices.
A possible explanation for the statistic is that tech workers have a longer tradition of remote and hybrid work, so they might be better at maximizing the times they are in the office, driving up utilization rates. Or it could be more the industry, less the employees. Because software companies often need to scale based on funding rounds, the high utilization rate might be because of how well companies know how to match spaces and headcounts. Practice makes perfect.
Another strong theory is that tech workers tend to be good at embracing and leveraging new technologies. If your job is directly related to building and delivering software, you’re likely an early and enthusiastic adopter in your own professional and private lives. Once a software company implements intelligent worktech to support room reservations and desk booking, employees can soon start to connect and collaborate more efficiently.
Across our multiple reports on the state of the modern workplace and facility management, we uncovered a wide variety of differences across industries and regions, including everything from which days in the office are most popular to trends in the average number of visitors, and that means companies need to invest in a unified platform that automates data capture so they can plan the spaces that best support overall organizational goals.
Enterprise-level organizations want to combine tech with data and connect employees
Top three technologies c-suites want to deploy in the next 12 months are data analytics, integrated workplace solutions, and collaboration software to better help employees work together in the office
The lesson we can learn from previous statistics was that companies need to capture their own data to tailor spaces that best meet their specific circumstances. Our fifth statistic, which is also from our 2024 Workplace Index report, shows that larger companies understand the benefits and want to implement digital solutions that bring together people and places for efficient, productive spaces. Many of them are looking for solutions that support collaborative work, including room reservations, desk booking, and visitor management.
Here, it’s helpful to look at data from other companies. According to our research, companies tend to move through four steps in the process of digital transformation. At each, we found common challenges and roadblocks, which means that companies can leverage these insights to better prepare themselves to overcome them.
Top five Eptura blog posts according to our readers
One of the important focuses for Eptura in 2024 was sharing the benefits of a unified system. Back in March of 2024, we hosted the product announcement Power of One, showcasing the current and future ways we support connectivity, collaboration, and security — all from one trusted ecosystem. Then in October, we hosted the Intelligent Worktech to introduce our advancements empowering workplaces to seamlessly integrate disconnected technology, adopt cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, and leverage data for real-time adjustments and strategic, long-term planning.
So, it’s great to see how strongly the theme resonated with our readers. In fact, A guide to integrated facilities management, was our most sought-out resource in 2024, proving there’s a growing awareness in the industry of the power of a single solution to bring together systems and uncover new efficiencies.
Keeping on top of key trends
Everything happens fast in facility and workplace management, from the day-to-day demands to the larger trends moving the industry. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of developments as they occur.
Of the many trend-related posts, Top facility management technology trends 2024 got the most clicks and strongest engagement, which is especially impressive considering it only came out in early November.
In fact, all our posts covering the industry resonated with readers, highlighting just how much facility and workplace professionals rely on timely insights into cutting-edge tech and trends to deliver value to stakeholders.
Developing as a professional and delivering value
2024 drove home just how focused the industry is on professional development. And it makes sense. With all the tech and cultural changes over the last five years, learning new skills and keeping your current skills sharp is the only way to be effective and stay on track.
We’re also seeing a lot of interest from people thinking about entering the field or early in their careers. Both How to become a facility manager and Four main functions of FM were in the top five, highlighting how facility and workplace management are growing fields attracting new talent. Both blog posts cover the demands and duties of the job, with links to resources for making professional progress.
Planning for efficient, productive spaces
So many of the trends over the last five years connect directly to space planning. As companies found a new focus on efficiency and implemented systems to support more variability in their work models, space planning became an even more critical component of overall success.
So, it’s no surprise that many readers wanted to learn How space management and planning help with growth, pushing the post well into the top five for the year.
Think of all the teams involved in creating and managing the built environment, from human resources and tech teams to security, reception, maintenance, and janitorial staff, along with the vendors needed for office moves and reconfigurations. So much of making all those pieces fit starts with strategic space utilization and workplace design.
Strongest social engagements of the year
What did we learn about the industry by looking at what they engaged with most? People are interested in the power of bringing together systems through stronger digitalization and automation.
Our social post promoting the 2024 Workplace Index report was a hit, and we loved seeing how many people shared our insights with their networks. It’s another sign of how strongly professionals in the industry value reliable data and want to support one another. That’s also likely why so many engaged with the Getty Images customer success story. As a community, people want to learn what works and celebrate success.
What else did we learn?
Many of our popular posts were about tech innovation and breaking down silos, but even more popular were our posts about people. In fact, three of our top five social posts based on engagement were directly related to in-person industry events.
Our Autodesk University recap celebrated our successful time there and included a big thank you to everyone who visited our booth, attended our sessions, and asked to learn more about our products and services. Another popular people-centric post was from Flex Silicon Valley, one of many Flex events we hosted around the world in 2024.
We also saw a lot of engagement from our post on the Executive Forum with FM leaders in March, where leaders in their industries shared how they “work their world” by aligning employee experience, occupancy planning, and operational efficiency. The post’s popularity highlights the industry’s appreciation and support for facility management professionals and providers coming together to share insights to improve solutions and deliver even more value.
It was also great having people from the event later commenting on the social post, helping build a connection between our real-world and virtual efforts.
And we’re especially grateful for the online attention our Eptura Day social posts, which celebrated our important company tradition of giving back. In 2024, over 200 Eptura employees around the world volunteered over 700 hours for 15 non-profit organizations to help communities around the world. We were happy to have the chance to inspire others and highlight some great charities and non-profit organizations and the important work they do all year long.
Facility and workplace leaders can start strong in 2025
Last year was packed with exciting statistics and popular posts highlighting the overall growth and different directions for the industry. While looking back can be instructive and inspiring, the future is equally exciting.
We’ll be at plenty of industry events, including the Gartner Digital Workplace Summit and the NFMT2025. Plus, there are plans to publish a new Workplace Index report in March and more product announcements later in the year.
To get ahead in 2025, visit the Eptura blog and follow us on social media.
By Erin Sevitz
As Vice President of Content and Customer Marketing at Eptura, Erin Sevitz oversees teams responsible for providing worktech insights and engaging 25 million Eptura users worldwide. With over 10 years in thought leadership on workplace management and the built environment, Erin brings deep industry knowledge to her role. Previously, she led communications for the International Facility Management Association, a global nonprofit dedicated to professional development for workplace strategists and building managers, and served as editor in chief for IFMA’s FMJ magazine.
