Critical Success Factors in Digital Facilities Management Implementation: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/ijbes.v13.n2.1669Keywords:
Digital facilities management, critical success factors, systematic review, meta-analysisAbstract
Digital transformation in facilities management has gained global momentum; however, implementation outcomes remain inconsistent across organizations and sectors. Despite the widespread adoption of technologies such as BIM-FM, IoT, AI/ML, and Digital Twins, many Digital Facilities management (DFM) initiatives fail to achieve their intended value due to misalignment between technological capabilities and organizational readiness. This study aims to systematically identify and quantify the critical success factors (CSFs) that underpin successful DFM implementation. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Forty-seven empirical studies published between 1990 and 2025 were synthesized. Data extraction focused on implementation factors, contextual conditions, and reported outcomes. A random-effects meta-analysis was applied to estimate pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. The review identified 25 distinct CSFs, of which 15 were consistently reported across multiple studies. Universal organizational enablers emerged as the strongest predictors of success, including leadership support (OR = 29.6, 95% CI: 2.73–320.48), training programs (OR = 13.7, 95% CI: 2.27–82.73), and stakeholder engagement (OR = 9.3, 95% CI: 2.00–43.63). Technology-specific factors such as infrastructure readiness (OR = 5.8), data quality management (OR = 4.8), and change management (OR = 4.1) also demonstrated statistically significant effects. In contrast, context-specific factors—including pilot testing, vendor support, and budget adequacy—showed weaker and statistically non-significant contributions. The findings confirm that organizational enablers play a more decisive role than technology alone in achieving successful DFM implementation. This study contributes a statistically grounded CSF framework that extends existing technology adoption theories within the facilities management context and provides actionable guidance for practitioners, technology vendors, and policymakers seeking to accelerate digital transformation in FM.
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