RFID technology changes FM services deliveries

Purpose - The paper aims to give an introduction to radio frequency identification (RFID) technology with near field communication (NFC) to enable users to access content and services with hand-held devices. It also aims to give a general overview on RFID utilization, its obstacles, diffusion and expected benefits. Some pilot applications are already being used commercially. Finally, it seeks to summarize applications of the technology in the facilties management (FM) industry. Design/methodology/approach - The paper uses literary research and also interdisciplinary specialist analyses to find out the usage of IT-based services in the FM field and supply of service providers. Some real pilots have been made and analysed in cooperation with service providers (FM and IT), building owners and building users (customers). Findings - Mobile phones are heavily used in the FM industry for speech and text messaging (SMS) communications, but usage of other mobile phone services has not been established as a part of operation processes. The exploitation of RFID in FM as well as construction industry seems to be rather low, in fact in an infant stage. Accordingly pilot FM service using RFID technology proved to be very usable. Research limitations/implications - IT-based mobile services are common in many countries and in various industries but using a mobile phone as a RFID reader is familiar mostly in Finland (Nokia phone). Practical implications - The use of RFID/NFC technology in FM and also in the construction industry seems to be very prominent with high potential technology adoption for improving services. Originality/value - This paper brings forward a quite novel technology application for the FM industry and presents the experiences of real pilot projects.