The focus of FM functions has expanded from plant and equipment operations and maintenance to include enterprise-wide process and efficiency.  There is simply no way to achieve the next level of integrated process improvement without the ability to collect, track and measure data.

A data warehouse in the context of facilities management comprises multiple potential sources of information including Computer Aided Facilities Management (CAFM), which manages space planning, tracks asset location, and oversees move management; Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), which tracks asset maintenance history, labor allocation and the cost of work; Building Information Modeling (BIM), technically a process involving the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of places; engineering design plans and  more. 

In addition to building and maintaining a data warehouse, the concept of integrated process improvement requires defining roles and cooperation between investors, users and operators. Stakeholders are called upon to “set clear goals and agree upon measures that will drive progress toward that goal.” (Bill Gates)

Data warehousing impacts business functions from asset maintenance to energy management to strategic planning.  With the development of web and mobile technologies, data can be maintained and reported upon in real-time, from the field, through customizable reports and browser-based applications.  As facilities managers are increasingly being asked to do more with less, new technologies – especially in the area of systems monitoring and data analytics – are helping streamline operations and increase efficiency.