The real estate industry in which we at INA are engaged on a daily basis is undergoing more rapid change than ever, driven by the growing adoption of AI and IoT technologies. The building maintenance (hereafter "building maintenance") industry in particular is reaching a major turning point through the introduction of AI and IoT. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as preventive maintenance of equipment, real-time monitoring, and labor-saving through cleaning robots, the industry holds the potential to simultaneously address labor shortages, dramatically improve work quality and efficiency, reduce costs, and lower environmental impact.
In this article, I will explore, drawing on my own experience, the specific transformations that AI technology is bringing to the building maintenance industry, the new value it creates, and how the harmony between talent and technology is paving the way for the industry's future.
Structural Challenges Facing the Building Maintenance Industry and the Need for Transformation
Multi-Tiered Subcontracting Structures and Inconsistent Quality
Over the years of working in real estate sales brokerage and rental management, I have repeatedly encountered the structural challenges facing the building maintenance industry. One of these is the multi-tiered subcontracting structure and opaque business practices. The fact that those who work diligently on the ground are not properly recognized or adequately compensated has become a significant barrier in construction and management settings.
Such subcontracting structures also make it easy for inconsistencies in work quality to arise. Routine inspections and cleaning have largely relied on human labor, and the reality is that it is difficult to consistently guarantee a certain level of quality when results depend on the skill level and working conditions of technicians and staff. The fact that reactive, after-the-fact maintenance remains the norm also heightens the risk of degraded building functionality and reduced tenant satisfaction.
We at INA have long upheld the vision of "creating a platform where those who work hard are properly recognized." Extending this to the building maintenance industry requires building systems that enhance industry transparency—such as making work visible, standardizing quality, and introducing appropriate evaluation metrics. This is where digital innovation centered on AI technology is drawing attention.
Talent Shortages and the Need for Technological Innovation
Another major challenge facing the building maintenance industry is labor shortages due to an aging and declining population, along with a decline in the retention rate of younger workers. As skilled technicians age, the question of how to pass on accumulated know-how has become a serious concern. The services that modern building owners and tenants demand have shifted toward more sophisticated and diverse expectations, including environmental measures, energy efficiency, and the combination of comfort and safety.
To meet these increasingly sophisticated and complex needs, there are limits to relying solely on human labor as in the past. This is where automation and efficiency through AI and IoT come into play. Beyond reducing work time and minimizing errors, these technologies also prove highly effective in talent development—for example, by accumulating the knowledge of skilled technicians as data and applying it to training younger workers.
The Transformation That AI and IoT Technology Brings to Building Maintenance
Preventive Maintenance Through the Fusion of IoT Sensors and AI
The adoption of AI and IoT technology is becoming the new standard for the building maintenance industry. Specifically, by attaching sensors to a building's key equipment, it becomes possible to monitor operating conditions, temperature, vibration, and more in real time, enabling early detection and notification of anomalies.
For example, in air conditioning systems, by automatically analyzing changes in vibration patterns and fluctuations in power consumption, it is possible to catch early warning signs of potential failures. By having AI analyze this data and indicate the optimal timing for preventive maintenance, it becomes possible to extend the lifespan of equipment and avoid sudden cost increases.
At INA, we have already introduced an AI-powered rent assessment system that enables highly accurate estimation of real estate value and market trends. We believe that applying such systems to building maintenance would allow us to data-drivenly determine the optimal timing for equipment maintenance and projected costs, enabling the construction of a more efficient and transparent management structure.
Smart Maintenance Through Real-Time Data Utilization
In modern building maintenance, the use of real-time data has become indispensable. By having AI analyze building status data continuously acquired by IoT sensors, urgent issues such as water leaks or electrical system anomalies can be instantly detected and reported.
This allows for optimal responses to be made before issues escalate, greatly contributing to minimizing damage and costs. Furthermore, AI can learn from historically accumulated data and automatically suggest optimal operations tailored to seasonal failure patterns and fluctuations in building occupancy.
By establishing systems that grasp the situation in real time in this way, it becomes possible to shift management approaches from "reactive response" to "preventive maintenance." This is critically important for sustainably enhancing building value.
Efficiency and Cost Reduction Through Cleaning Robots and AI Energy Management
The introduction of AI cleaning robots and patrol systems is bringing significant benefits to a building maintenance industry facing talent shortages. Cleaning robots such as SoftBank Robotics' "Whiz," for example, autonomously navigate pre-programmed routes to perform efficient and consistent cleaning. They make it possible to maintain cleaning quality at a consistent level while reducing the burden on cleaning staff.
By appropriately dividing work between tasks that require human hands and those delegated to robots, work productivity increases and waste-free scheduling becomes possible. In addition, introducing AI-powered energy management can optimize power consumption for air conditioning, lighting, and more, simultaneously reducing the overall running costs and environmental impact of the building.
The results of such efficiency improvements bring significant benefits to building owners and tenants alike, leading directly to enhanced asset value and improved satisfaction among occupants.
Maximizing the Value of Talent Through AI
Drawing Out Human Potential Through AI-Powered Work Support
While there are concerns that the spread of AI will dramatically change how people work, I believe that in practice it will act to enhance the value of talent. The greatest asset of any company is, after all, its talent, and AI has the potential to become a powerful supporter that draws out that latent potential.
Routine tasks and formulaic analysis are handled by AI, freeing people to focus on higher-value specialized and creative work. Identifying the root cause of equipment anomalies and determining the optimal repair method still requires on-site know-how and experience. AI is, ultimately, an entity that organizes data and presents predictions; the final decision-making and communication with customers must still be handled by people.
Furthermore, by making AI-analyzed data visible, even younger staff can more easily develop repair plans with precision close to that of experienced veterans. This is an important means of promoting the transfer of skills and raising the overall level of the organization.
Enhancing Technician Expertise and Emerging New Roles
Forward-thinking municipalities and companies are introducing AI-powered big data analysis to grasp the deterioration status of building equipment in real time. As a result, building maintenance technicians are now expected to possess, in addition to their conventional equipment knowledge and repair skills, the ability to understand AI and IoT systems and correctly interpret data.
Furthermore, as customer needs diversify, communication skills and consulting capabilities have become indispensable. We are now in an era where the ability to propose optimal solutions based on evidence (data) and resolve the challenges customers face is directly tied to the reputation of both companies and individual technicians.
To respond to this new era, continuous learning and skill development are essential. At INA, we fully support the growth of our employees through means such as providing support for participation in external seminars.
Forward-Looking Building Maintenance Strategy and Smart Building Development
Building a Sustainable Maintenance Model
In recent years, growing concerns about climate change have led to increasing demands for energy-efficient performance and environmental consideration in buildings themselves. By leveraging AI to finely control equipment operating conditions and suppress wasteful energy consumption, the development of smart buildings will continue to advance.
To enhance sustainability, preventive maintenance aimed at extending the lifespan of equipment and more precise regular inspections are also indispensable. To manage all of this comprehensively, there is a need to build systems that can share real-time data analysis results and enable rapid information sharing among those responsible. I believe that by taking a bird's-eye view of the entire building lifecycle and having AI support long-term management planning, sustainable building maintenance that benefits economic, environmental, and social dimensions alike will be realized.
Skills and Knowledge Required for Building Maintenance in the AI Era
Going forward, building maintenance technicians will need a foundational understanding of AI and IoT and the ability to interpret data. Basic knowledge of statistical analysis and skills to correctly interpret information obtained from sensors will greatly assist in the early detection of equipment failures and improving the accuracy of preventive maintenance. A balanced sensibility for discerning the limits and scope of AI—rather than blindly accepting its judgments—will also be required.
In addition, not only technical expertise but also consulting capabilities—understanding customer needs and social challenges and flexibly proposing solutions—are important. In situations involving interaction with diverse customers, communication skills make a significant difference.
Conclusion: The New Value of Building Maintenance Created by the Harmony of Talent and Technology
In the building maintenance industry of the AI era, what matters most is the harmony between talent and technology. Cutting-edge AI and IoT technologies bring great benefits such as improved operational efficiency, enhanced quality, and cost reduction. However, it is undeniably people who correctly harness these technologies and realize true value in the field.
The vision that INA upholds—"creating a platform where those who work hard are properly recognized"—is growing ever more important precisely because digitalization and AI adoption in the building maintenance industry are advancing. We are convinced that the data visibility and transparency that AI brings will become the foundation for objectively evaluating the efforts of those who work hard on the ground and providing them with appropriate compensation and positions.
Furthermore, by dedicating the time and resources freed by AI to customer service and high-level decision-making that only humans can provide, the entire industry will achieve further leaps forward. Innovation is brought about by human hands. We at INA will continue to challenge ourselves to create new value in the building maintenance industry of the AI era, leveraging the know-how cultivated through our real estate business combined with the collective strength of IT and talent. While embracing technological progress, we will continue to pursue the realization of a society centered on people—one where effort is properly recognized.
