How much does BIM-based facility management cost?

In 2002, a study was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Commerce to investigate why the cost of operational tasks in the U.S. could represent 5-10% of annual GDP at the time. The results were quite surprising, as they concluded that two thirds of this amount could be saved simply by improving the efficiency of information transfer.

More than 20 years on, the problem has not changed, but several new digital FM solutions have emerged to solve it. The idea is that we can make our centralized data model (the BIM model) available to all participants, simplifying the transfer of information.

What does this mean in today’s prices in Hungary?

The average monthly operating cost for a 4,000 m2 office building is HUF 1,757/m2, based on a benchmarking survey of nearly 12 million m2 by LEO FM (National Association of Facility Management and Building Management Service Providers).

The composition of operating costs:

• technical operation: HUF 322
• utilities: HUF 725
• IFM: HUF 710

Let’s do the math!

For an office building of this size, 4,000 m2 x 1,757 HUF/m2 = HUF 7,028,000 per month, of which two thirds, 4,685,333 Ft, can be saved in a month.

At this point, the first thought comes immediately: it is impossible; you can never achieve such savings just by passing on the right information.

And this may be true, because this level of savings per month may never be detectable until the point where, for example, a major equipment failure due to a missed warranty repair – which can then cause damage that is measurable in more than just money.

All this becomes important when you know that 80% of all costs incurred in the life of your building are due to operation and maintenance.

So is it worth it or not?

An investment in a BIM-based FM system can pay for itself within 1-2 years through the cost reductions described above. In addition to the payback, the operation will be more sustainable and transparent, reducing long-term risks (e.g. unexpected maintenance, exposure to energy price fluctuations).

This translates into a significant competitive advantage in the market: more efficient, cheaper operations mean lower costs and higher satisfaction.

If we want to be honest and start from factual data, the good question is not whether it is worth it and when it will pay for itself, but how much does it actually cost to do a non-BIM-based facilities management?

☛ Find out how to increase the income of an office building by including mispriced space and how much potential revenue is lost if there is only a 3% difference in floor area! Click here for the case study!