FM newsroom – property conference, facility management. Meeting tenant expectations today requires more than competitive pricing—it demands relentless innovation, seamless digital integration, and adaptation to AI-driven transformation. These were the key themes at the Portfolio Property X conference this year, where industry experts discussed the future of building operations in an increasingly data- and tech-driven environment.
Innovation Pressure and the Rise of AI-Driven Operations
As tenant expectations continue to rise, building operators are facing more than just economic pressure. Tenants now place equal value on continuous innovation, high service standards, and a holistic, integrated management approach. Without embracing the speed set by AI advancements, maintaining a competitive edge is becoming impossible.
Conference participants unanimously agreed that facility management has long outgrown its traditional association with cleaning and maintenance. The focus now is on preserving the physical condition of properties, ensuring energy-efficient operations, and leveraging digital tools to fine-tune building management in real-time using data.
From Cost-Cutting to Smart Optimisation
With the sector currently in a “business-as-usual” phase of the innovation curve, now is the time to shift from mere survival to strategic efficiency gains and process optimisation, as Portfolio.hu reports.
Experts have warned that without a firm commitment to innovation, a competitive advantage cannot be sustained; organisations must either voluntarily embrace this reality or face regulatory enforcement. A survey conducted during the conference also revealed that attendees consider a high standard of service and integrated thinking just as important, if not more so, than price.
Hybrid working has now stabilised, with no significant further spread of remote work expected. At the same time, operating costs are climbing, making it critical to work with service providers capable of offsetting expenses through greater efficiency, benefits that must also be passed on to tenants.
Ongoing dialogue with tenants is essential for aligning services with their needs. However, meeting these expectations comes with added costs, requiring a shift in focus from cost minimisation to operational optimisation.
ESG Expectations and the Strategic Role of AI
Sustainability was another focal point of discussion. If ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles are embedded in a tenant’s decision-making process, they will expect full compliance from building managers. ESG data requests are growing—not only in frequency but also in complexity—driven by the diverse internal policies of different tenants.
Meanwhile, AI has reached a new frontier with the emergence of agentic AI, which is fundamentally reshaping the labour market. For Hungary, a country with limited natural resources, artificial intelligence presents a significant opportunity. Experts have concluded that leveraging technology across all economic sectors, including facility management, can offer the country a vital path to growth and global competitiveness.
