History of Facility Management outsourcing
Discover how Facility Management has evolved from internal service coordination to a global, outsourced strategy. From major players to the rise of FM for SMEs.
Facility Management (FM) is now a key outsourced solution for companies of all sizes. It began in the 1990s with the structuring of the sector and evolved into a digital, sustainable, and user-focused discipline. fm4all plays a role in this history by making outsourced FM services accessible to SMEs across France.
From in-house operations to full externalization, the Facility Management industry has transformed dramatically over the past 30 years. Discover the key milestones of this evolution and how now fm4all is making Facility Services accessible to SMEs in France.
The History of Outsourced Facility Management: from elite service to mainstream solution
Outsourcing Facility Management is now a realistic option for businesses of all sizes. What used to be the preserve of large corporations is now available to SMEs in a turnkey format—even for premises starting at 50 m².
But to understand how we got here, let’s retrace the key milestones in FM’s development.
If we talk about FM as building services, we can find the beginnings of the profession at the start of the 20th century.
But if we talk about modern FM, as defined in a previous article, we can trace it back to the 90s.
The 1990s: The early days of modern Facility Management
Early 90s – The profession emerges
Facility Management starts to take shape in France with the creation of the first specialist companies. The term “tertiary” becomes a key concept for services related to buildings and occupants. Companies realise they lack the internal resources or skills to manage support functions like cleaning, maintenance, and security.
Mid-90s – Structuring the sector
The profession begins to formalise. Specialised training courses are created. Industry associations like ARSEG start to define professional standards. Outsourcing of general services becomes a topic of discussion.
Late 90s – Internationalisation
Standards become harmonised, and international corporations begin to standardise their practices. The first multi-site tenders appear.
Decade Summary:
- First FM companies are founded
- Initial professional standards emerge
- Partial outsourcing begins
The 2000s: FM enters the digital age
Early 2000s – Digital tools emerge
The internet boosts the development of Building Management Systems (BMS). Software providers like CAFM Systems and Planon offer centralised technical management platforms.
Mid-2000s – Cost-cutting focus
The economic crisis forces companies to optimise non-productive expenses. FM becomes a cost-control tool. Siemens and Schneider Electric lead the charge with their energy efficiency solutions.
Late 2000s – RSE and sustainability
FM expands beyond logistics to embrace sustainability goals. Contracts start to include CSR, circular economy, and environmental commitments.
Decade Summary:
- FM software platforms gain traction
- Operating costs are rationalised
- CSR criteria become standard
The 2010s: Collaboration, mobility, and intelligence
Early 2010s – Mobility changes everything
Smartphones and IoT devices revolutionise service monitoring. Field technicians send real-time updates. Maintenance becomes predictive.
Mid-2010s – FM gets collaborative
Slack, Teams, Google Workspace… These tools make site management easier, even across multiple locations. Collaborative working drives demand for better coordination.
Late 2010s – Towards intelligent FM
Data becomes strategic. Artificial intelligence enters FM through predictive maintenance, automated scheduling, and digital twins (3D building simulations).
Decade Summary:
- Real-time mobile digitalisation
- Improved collaboration among stakeholders
- Arrival of AI and smart building technologies
The 2020s and beyond: FM faces new challenges
2020–2022 – Covid-19 and resilience
The pandemic forces a total rethink of hygiene, ventilation, and security. FM becomes a strategic function. Disinfection, access control, dynamic occupancy management—all fall under FM’s responsibility.
2022–2024 – Energy and comfort come first
FM takes centre stage in the energy transition: energy performance, carbon footprint, air quality, and consumption monitoring. User comfort also becomes a top priority: temperature, lighting, and breakout areas.
2024 and beyond – Towards universal FM
Facility Management is evolving into a tool for holistic business performance. Outsourced FM is being rethought to suit businesses of all sizes. New trends include cobotics, digital assistants, intelligent monitoring… and enhanced human presence.
Decade Summary:
- New health and safety priorities
- Energy transition and workplace comfort
- FM becomes universal through digitalisation and agility
fm4all: finally, FM is accessible to all businesses
For years, only large enterprises could afford industrial-scale FM solutions. SMEs were left juggling multiple suppliers, invoices, and daily headaches.
fm4all changes that.
We offer outsourced Facility Management solutions that are modular, turnkey, and accessible from just 50 m². Online comparison, instant quotes, centralised management—no commitment required.
With fm4all:
- Compare service offers online
- Benefit from group purchasing power
- Delegate management to a dedicated expert
- Access a service once reserved for major accounts
Key players that shaped Facility Management
- JLL, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield: pioneers of global FM solutions
- Siemens, Schneider Electric: leaders in energy optimisation
- Planon, CAFM Systems: software providers for FM digitalisation
- SoftBank Robotics: advancing cobotics and automation in FM
- fm4all: bringing outsourced FM to SMEs in France
Romuald Buffe, 4/3/2025, 10:38 AM