Author: Joe Bebon, Editor

Loss Prevention Report Explores Top Threats for Retail Facilities

A new report aims to help retail security and loss prevention leaders understand when risk peaks, which threats escalate fastest, and which intervention strategies may prove most effective. Released by Interface Systems, the 2026 Retail Loss Prevention Benchmark Report is based on 1.6 million remote monitoring events across 18,258 U.S. retail locations and 51 brands […]

From Hype to Outcomes: Revisiting AI for Facilities Management

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most talked-about technologies in facilities management, but for many FM teams, the conversation hasn’t translated into day-to-day value. Rising operating costs, lean budgets, and expanding responsibilities mean facilities leaders can’t afford experimentation that doesn’t deliver results. As momentum builds around agentic AI that operates within smart workflows, […]

Lowe’s Foundation Commits $250M to Skilled Trades Training

Skilled trades are considered a strong foundation for a facilities management career. As the U.S. confronts a critical shortage of skilled trade workers, the Lowe’s Foundation announced an expanded $250 million commitment to help train and develop 250,000 tradespeople by 2035 through its Gable Grants program. This announcement follows a $100 million initiative from financial giant BlackRock to support the next […]

How to Protect Against a Surge of Springtime Pests

April showers bring May flowers—and a whole lot of pests. Warm, wet weather in the spring creates perfect conditions for the season’s most common and problematic pests, and the board-certified entomologists at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) are urging homeowners and businesses to take action before these pests take over. “Spring marks a major shift in pest behavior,” said Dr. Jim Fredericks, SVP […]

Beyond Facility Surveillance: The Rise of the AI ‘Video Supervisor’

For decades, video surveillance in facilities management has been a passive, “looking back” technology. We used it to investigate what had already happened—a slip-and-fall, a security breach, or a workflow bottleneck. But just as large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT redefined our interaction with text, a new generation of video language models (VLMs) is fundamentally […]

The Emotional Labor of Facilities Management: The Hidden Work No One Talks About

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor.  Facilities management is often defined by its technical responsibilities—HVAC systems, electrical distribution, preventive maintenance, capital planning, compliance. But anyone who works in FM knows the job extends far beyond equipment and infrastructure. It’s people […]

How Restroom Maintenance Shapes User Confidence and Facility Reputation

Public restrooms are among the most frequently used—and closely judged—spaces in any facility. Whether in office buildings, healthcare environments, airports, schools, or retail destinations, restroom conditions influence how visitors perceive the entire property. Findings from the annual 2026 Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Company highlight just how strongly restroom conditions shape user confidence and business […]

Is an Occupancy Data Gap Costing Your Office Space?

Four out of five commercial real estate (CRE), workplace, building management, and facilities professionals lack the data they need to make confident space-planning decisions, according to a new report. The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, interviewed 400 decision-makers in the U.S. for Butlr’s “Beyond Occupancy: The State of Office Space 2026” report. The results show […]

Common Overhead Door Failures That Create Safety and Compliance Risks 

Industrial facilities management isn’t just about keeping the lights on; it’s about ensuring the heavy machinery overhead doesn’t become a hindrance to safety or compliance. In high-traffic warehouses and logistics hubs, commercial doors serve as the primary gateways for revenue, yet they remain one of the most overlooked mechanical assets on the balance sheet. When these massive steel barriers fail, the impact goes beyond repair costs. Breakdowns can lead to […]

FEMA Awards $625M to Boost Security for FIFA World Cup 2026

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently awarded $625 million to empower all 11 cities hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches to bolster security preparations ahead of the soccer tournament, in close coordination with the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026.  This funding, administered through the new FIFA World Cup Grant Program, will enable state and local officials to hold operational exercises, […]