I read an article recently that I know many church leaders likely saw as well. It addressed the changes in church maintenance due to AI and what will be possible when using a CMMS. And while the article made some valid points that we agree with here at Foundational Facility Management Consulting, there is one key area that remains missing from the conversation.
There are articles all over the internet by software companies telling churches and businesses how a CMMS is going to transform their facility management. They explain the benefits churches can experience from using a CMMS, like having all their asset information in one place, being able to assign preventive maintenance tasks, easily tracking expenses for each asset, and having overall operations run more smoothly.
And all of that is true. If you’re properly using a CMMS, those things are possible. With technology and AI expanding at an unmatched pace, it makes sense for churches to take advantage of it.
But here’s something we also know—garbage in, garbage out remains a truth.
The Real Solution for Reactive Maintenance Isn’t Software
Churches aren’t stuck in the reactive maintenance cycle because they don’t have a CMMS. They get stuck because they don’t have a clear facility management plan.
Yes, software can tell you when things need to be done and give you a place to track information. But if that’s all you do, your team will quickly fall back into old habits. You need to know what information to input into the CMMS, starting with knowing what building assets you have.
Then, on top of that, you need structure and systems in place. Who is going to handle the maintenance? When will it be done? How will you know which vendor to call for which task? Do you have enough resources (time, money, and people) to stay on top of what the CMMS is generating for you?
These are the reasons so many churches end up using their CMMS like a simple to-do list. And then they end up constantly moving items from today to tomorrow, then to the next day, and the next.
We aren’t against software.
We believe that using a CMMS is best. But we also believe that before jumping into software as the solution, people need a more complete understanding of facility management and of their building as a whole.
Many churches end up with a facility manager who is experienced in hands-on maintenance. But they’re less experienced in the strategic planning, budgeting, and continuous improvement that come with the management role. While they know how to fix what breaks, they often struggle to move from reactive maintenance to preventive maintenance.
That’s where we want to come alongside churches and their facility teams. Our consulting services, guides, and templates were designed to help people gain the facility management knowledge needed so that tools like a CMMS can actually be used well.
Software is helpful. AI is becoming more capable of helping facility managers understand what needs to be done and when. But as facility managers, we still need the knowledge ourselves to make wise decisions and steward our buildings well.
If you want help identifying the areas of facility management where your church is excelling—and where there may be room for improvement—take our free facility management self-assessment.
