With 2026 well underway, Asset Management (AM) and Facility Management (FM) are experiencing a major shift, moving from reactive maintenance to data-driven performance and cost optimisation. Organisations will need to become more strategic, data-driven, and outcome-focused across the entire building lifecycle.
Smarter integration, predictive maintenance, and platform-native digital twins are changing the role of AM and FM. In 2026, these roles are moving beyond reactive, back-office support to actively influence performance, operating costs, sustainability targets, and the long-term value of physical assets.
Here are the top trends redefining AM and FM in 2026.
1. Integration Beats Replacement
For years, many digital transformation programs aimed to replace every legacy system in one go. In theory, a “single platform” approach sounds clean and efficient, but in reality, mature organisations know it’s rarely practical. In 2026, the winning strategy is integration over replacement.
Rather than tearing out and replacing existing systems, organisations are focusing on connecting what they already have, while also making it easier to introduce new technologies over time. By linking asset, space, energy, and occupancy systems through shared data, they unlock more value from current tools while staying flexible for future needs. This supports smarter ways of working, better decision-making, delivering faster transformation with less disruption and a more realistic path toward connected operations.
2. Data-Driven Decisions Take Priority
Facility and asset departments have been fragmented, using separate systems for maintenance, energy, space, compliance, and capital planning, each generating their own version of the truth. That’s changing. Disconnected tools are being replaced by unified asset and facility ecosystems.
Organisations that can capture reliable, real-time data and convert it into actionable insights are gaining a clear operational and financial advantage.
In 2026, data-driven decision-making is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s becoming the foundation for:
- Improved asset lifecycle planning
- Better capital prioritisation
- Stronger operational performance
- Clearer cost control and forecasting
Integrated Building Lifecycle Management (IBLM) provides the strategic framework for this transformation. IBLM is a data-driven approach to managing assets across their entire lifecycle, from planning and design through to operation, maintenance, renewal and replacement. It unifies planning, operations and reporting into a single, connected ecosystem that complements and integrates with an organisation’s existing systems, including ERPs, giving stakeholders access to a single source of trusted data for smarter decision-making.
Trustworthy data is now a competitive advantage, and leaders are building ecosystems that support it.
3. Predictive Maintenance Becomes the Standard
Reactive maintenance is declining, and the shift toward predictive and condition-based maintenance is accelerating across portfolios.
By 2026, predictive maintenance is no longer optional, it’s standard practice. Leveraging a comprehensive asset register alongside condition monitoring from assessments, operational performance data, and early-warning indicators allows organisations to reduce unplanned outages, optimise lifecycle costs, and increase reliability across critical assets.
But the true value goes beyond preventing failures: it enables better decisions, longer-term planning, and greater operational resilience
Instead of responding to failures, organisations are increasingly preventing them. This trend is also driving new expectations for maintenance teams: being proactive, analytical, and aligned to risk and performance outcomes, not just response times.
4. Digital Twins Become Platform Native
Digital twins have matured significantly - but one key shift is emerging in 2026: portfolio owners increasingly expect digital twins to be embedded directly into facilities platforms.
Not bolted on.
Not treated as standalone project tools.
Not left behind after handover.
This shift will force clarity around long-standing issues like data ownership, standards, and long-term governance.
When digital twins are platform-native, they become more usable, more scalable, and more valuable across the asset lifecycle - from delivery and commissioning through operations and renewal planning.
In short: digital twins are moving from “innovation showcase” to “operational baseline.”
5. Sustainability Moves From Reporting to Action
Sustainability is no longer just about compliance, reporting, or annual ESG dashboards.
In 2026, it’s becoming an operational requirement.
Facility teams are actively reducing energy use and extending asset life. Asset managers are embedding ESG performance into asset strategies and investment decisions. The focus is shifting from measuring sustainability to delivering it through everyday decisions.
This means sustainability is becoming deeply connected to core AM and FM activities, including:
- Energy optimisation
- Asset replacement planning
- Preventative maintenance strategies
- Portfolio investment prioritisation
The organisations leading in 2026 aren’t just reporting on sustainability - they’re building it into how assets are managed, operated, and funded.
What These Trends Mean for 2026
Together, these trends highlight a clear shift:
Asset and Facility Management are becoming more connected, more data-driven, more strategic, and more closely aligned to organisational outcomes.
The future of Asset Management and Facility Management isn’t defined by one technology platform - it’s defined by how well organisations integrate systems, trust their data, anticipate asset performance, and turn sustainability into operational reality.
2026 will reward teams that can connect the dots between tools, data, performance, and long-term value - and those who treat asset and facility operations as a strategic advantage, not just a cost centre.
If you’re looking to turn these trends into practical outcomes, SPM Assets can help. We work with organisations to connect asset and facility data, improve decision-making, and embed long-term value across operations.
Get in touch to see how we can support your strategy in 2026.