Closing the resilience gap: technology adoption and performance challenges in facility management in the USA

Purpose Climate change imposes significant stress on the physical and built environment. Facility managers (FMs) are vital to maintaining optimal facility performance, particularly amid the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters. Resilient technology can be one of the ways to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters. Therefore, this study aims to investigate adoption trends and analyze the barriers influencing the adoption of resilient technologies among FMs in the USA. This study also examines relationships among organizational characteristics, workforce preparedness indicators and resilient technology adoption and utilization. Design/methodology/approach This research used a cross-sectional research design with a population consisting of FM professionals working in the USA. Data were collected using an online survey, and 45 complete responses from in-house FMs in the USA were analyzed. Findings Resilient technology adoption among FM organizations was predominantly characterized by partial integration, despite high levels of resilience awareness and preparedness. Emergency response systems, energy management systems and advanced HVAC control systems were the most widely adopted technologies. Funding availability and implementation cost emerged as the most influential factors affecting adoption, serving as both key drivers and major barriers. Correlation analysis further indicated that higher levels of technology adoption were associated with longer adoption histories and more frequent technology utilization, while organizational size and annual FM budget were not significantly related to adoption levels. Research limitations/implications This study emphasizes the need to shift resilience research from purely technology-centered evaluations toward socio-technical approaches that integrate facility management processes, organizational context and operational realities. Combining qualitative insights from FMs with quantitative performance data can better explain why resilience technologies succeed or fail in practice. Practical implications From a practical standpoint, strengthening building resilience requires embedding facility management expertise throughout the entire life cycle, supported by cross-disciplinary collaboration, targeted training and governance structures that enable effective data-driven decision-making and accountability. Originality/value Closing the resilience gap in the built environment requires aligning technological innovation with the realities of FM practices. By placing FMs in the center of both research and implementation efforts, the industry can move toward more resilient, adaptive and performance-driven building operations.