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COVID-19 severely affects all facilities management (FM) end-user segments. The Southeast Asian FM market revenue declined by 3.7% in 2020 due to the pandemic. As the market gradually recovers over the forecast period, competition is expected to intensify and accelerate the need for innovation in FM services. FM market participants in Southeast Asia must strategize to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic in the next 1–2 years. Long-term growth (more than 5 years) requires new business models to prevent or adapt to the negative impacts of similar pandemics or economic downturn.

Technology and workplace management changes and awareness of sustainability significantly impact the Southeast Asian FM market’s value propositions and service needs. This calls for service innovation, new value propositions, and better business models. FM services providers in Southeast Asia need a deep understanding of the transformational journey to accelerate digital technology solutions with new business models in the next 1–2 years. For long-term growth (more than 5 years), augmented technologies, such as robotics and drones, are necessary to advance FM solutions.

Many FM companies are slow in service innovation and technology adoption. Consequently, FM business models may not address current challenges facing FM end users. There is a pressing need to move away from business-as-usual to more innovative propositions by integrating advanced technologies in FM services. FM services providers must acknowledge the necessity for change in the Southeast Asian market in the near to medium terms (3–4 years). Strategies, such as partnerships, collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions, may be necessary to grow and recover in the FM market for long-term growth (5 years and above).