Data data is everywhere, but not a thought to think.

Off late a little industry has developed on social media whose main function is to repeatedly use a single or selective data point every day to utter exaggerated or distorted facts. How dangerous this could be ! Data has become the new oil in today's increasingly digital world, driving innovation, revolutionising sectors, and redefining the global economy. Data is now powering the digital revolution, much like oil did for the industrial one. While data is useful, insufficient understanding is a recipe for bewilderment and incorrect behaviour in a world overflowing with information similar to, how a data that hasn't been fully examined is risky since it creates an illusion of understanding but lacks the depth of wisdom. Data now holds immense worth as a resource. It is collected, cleansed, and used to power several areas of our everyday lives, just like oil. Companies from all sectors are finally appreciating the immense opportunity that data contains. It offers significant perspectives, facilitates wise decision-making, and promotes innovation and development. Through numerous sources, including networking sites, connected devices, sensors, and online operations, data is produced at an unrivalled rate. The plethora of data has the potential to reveal important trends, correlations, and patterns that could provide businesses a competitive edge. By harnessing the power of data, many companies including startups?have established themselves as global leaders and so is the situation in facilities management and building operations.?

Facility management is undergoing a revolution because to data automation, which has streamlined operations, enhanced efficiency, and improved decision-making. Automation technologies give facility managers the capability to optimise resource allocation, cut costs, and improve the overall performance of their facilities through the gathering, analysis, and use of data.

Enhanced Efficiency: The elimination of manual and repetitive duties through data automation frees facility managers to concentrate on more significant objectives. Real-time data can be gathered by automated systems from a variety of sources such as sensors, IoT devices, and maintenance logs. To find patterns, spot deviations, and improve energy use, equipment usage, and maintenance schedules, this data can be analysed.

Predictive Mininantance: Data automation makes predictive maintenance possible by continuously monitoring equipment performance, spotting early failure indicators, and launching maintenance procedures. Facility managers can forecast equipment failures, plan preventive maintenance, and reduce downtime by utilising previous data and machine learning algorithms. The lifespan of the equipment is increased while the expenses of reactive maintenance are decreased.

Energy management: Automation systems coupled with energy monitoring sensors offer real-time information on energy consumption, allowing facility managers to spot inefficiencies and put energy-saving measures into place. Facility managers can optimise use, create timetables, and change settings based on occupancy or demand by automating lighting, HVAC, and other energy-consuming devices. Energy expenses are decreased and sustainability is fostered by this data-driven strategy.

Space Utilisation: Data automation gives facility managers insights into usage trends and occupancy patterns, enabling them to maximise space utilisation. It is possible to gather and analyse information on space occupancy, utilisation rates, and foot traffic using sensors, beacons, or access control systems. Facility managers are able to arrange resources more effectively and save money by using this information to make educated judgements about resource allocation, layout design, and space allocation.

Safety and compliance: Automated data collection and analysis help organisations adhere to safety and regulatory requirements. In order to maintain a secure and healthy working environment, facility managers can keep an eye on environmental factors including air quality, temperature, and humidity. Automated systems can also produce reports and alerts, enabling proactive actions to quickly address compliance issues.

Making Decisions and Reporting: Data automation gives facility managers precise, timely insights, enabling them to make decisions. Key performance indicators, maintenance history, energy consumption, and other pertinent metrics are presented in thorough reports, visualisations, and dashboards created by automated reporting tools. This information-driven decision-making boosts productivity, reveals areas for creation, and aids in strategic planning.

Data has enormous potential, but it also comes with a number of difficulties and ethical dilemmas. Due to the huge amount of personal information being gathered and kept, data privacy and security have emerged as critical challenges. Both individuals and organisations are seriously at risk from data breaches and cyberattacks. In addition, the uneven distribution of data resources may make societal disparities worse. Due to their substantial competitive advantage over smaller rivals and access to tremendous quantities of data, big tech businesses may develop monopolistic tendencies. Additionally, it is vital to eliminate bias and discrimination and to ensure transparency while using data.

Data Governance: Strong data governance systems are crucial for addressing these issues. In order to preserve data privacy, security, and ensure fair competition, policies and regulations must be established by governments and regulatory agencies. Additionally, organisations need to follow responsible data practises, which include gaining informed consent, anonymizing data where appropriate, and putting in place strong security measures.

In conclusion, data automation transforms conventional methods in facility management by harnessing the power of data. It makes it possible to make decisions with more knowledge and to improve efficiency, preventive maintenance, energy management, space utilisation, compliance, and decision-making. Facility managers may gain considerable advantages, streamline operations, and build smarter, more sustainable, and cost-effective facilities by embracing data automation.