The UK facilities management market is at a pivotal moment. While poised for growth, it's also facing a perfect storm of challenges that are putting immense pressure on budgets, teams, and client relationships. askporter recently conducted an independent market research, where 250 senior FM leaders revealed their most common challenges.
The data is clear: the path to a more efficient, profitable, and trusted FM operation lies in strategic technology adoption.
Here are some of the key findings from our report, "Overcoming Staff Shortages & Quality Gaps with Technology":
FM teams are in a state of perpetual crisis management. A staggering 73% of teams resort to reactive problem-solving on a weekly basis, with a lack of real-time insights causing a high percentage of missed Service Level Agreements (SLAs). This not only impacts your bottom line but also erodes client trust and confidence. The time spent on unplanned, reactive work is a significant portion of your operational budget, taking valuable time away from high-value tasks like preventative maintenance and strategic planning.
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The FM industry is facing a dual threat: a skilled labour shortage and the loss of institutional knowledge from a retiring workforce. Over two-thirds (68%) of FM leaders find it challenging to hire and retain skilled staff. The traditional approach of simply increasing wages is not sustainable. The solution lies in empowering your existing workforce with technology. By automating administrative and low-value tasks, you can make roles more efficient and attractive, allowing skilled teams to focus on the work that truly matters.
There's a significant disconnect between perception and reality. While 85% of leaders are confident that clients have visibility into completed cleaning tasks, 67% of them still report that clients frequently threaten to not renew contracts due to perceived issues with quality. This highlights a crucial "trust gap." Your internal reports don't matter if your client doesn't believe them. The solution is transparency, providing real-time, verifiable work logs, photos, and updates that build confidence and protect your revenue.
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The challenges of disconnected systems, a reactive culture, labour shortages, and a lack of client trust are not isolated issues; they are interconnected problems that require a holistic solution. The most successful organisations will be those that embrace an "integration-first" approach, using technology to unify their systems, empower their teams, and build lasting client relationships.
To get the full picture and learn how to position your organisation for success in 2026, download the complete market report.