Different types of facilities and their workplace management needs

Not all facilities are created equal. A healthcare clinic doesn’t run like a corporate office, and a biotech lab has vastly different needs than a warehouse. For FMs, this means there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to keeping workplaces running smoothly.

Each type of facility requires its own strategy. From hybrid models in tech offices to strict compliance in healthcare, workplace management must adapt to fit the environment.

In this article, we’ll explore six common types of facilities and the workplace management needs that define them—plus the tools FMs can use to stay ahead.

Software facilities

Software companies were among the first to embrace hybrid and remote work, and their workplace needs reflect that shift. Flexibility is key: attendance patterns vary, space demand fluctuates, and collaboration often extends across time zones.

For facility managers in software organizations, the challenge is building a workplace that’s just as agile as the teams who use it. That means creating work environments that support deep focus, while also allowing for spontaneous collaboration and connection. That’s how you ensure a balanced employee experience.

Facility management software plays a critical role here by helping FMs:

• Streamline flexible seating and hot desking so employees can easily find and reserve workspaces.
• Boost visibility with interactive office maps, allowing people to locate teammates and navigate shared spaces.
• Integrate with existing tech stacks like Slack, Teams, Okta, O365, and Google so workplace tools fit seamlessly into daily workflows.
• Deliver a mobile-first experience with apps that let employees book desks, check availability, and submit requests on the go.

Companies like Hubspot, Drift, and Rapid7 already use space management software to make their offices more dynamic and responsive. The result is a space that’s not just functional but engaging—a true hub for collaboration and innovation.

Business services facilities

Business services companies depend on work environments that balance productivity, collaboration, and client engagement. Whether its consulting firms or digital platforms, these workplaces are often high-traffic and fast-moving, with teams needing access to the right spaces at the correct times.

For facility managers in this sector, the challenge is making offices efficient while creating spaces that reflect company culture and support seamless client-facing work.

Facility management software supports business services FMs by:

• Providing workplace analytics to identify underutilized spaces and optimize floor plans.
• Offering wayfinding so employees and guests can easily find resources.
• Supporting hybrid work policies with streamlined desk and meeting room booking.
• Improving collaboration with tools that connect distributed teams in-office and remotely.

Companies like Squarespace, DocuSign, and Boston Consulting Group already rely on facility management software to make their hybrid strategies work. It allows them to create offices that showcase their brand and values as much as their client services.

Finance facilities

Financial institutions manage large, complex facilities where efficiency, compliance, and security are non-negotiable. These workplaces must balance client-facing spaces, back-office operations, and increasingly flexible work arrangements for their employees.

For facility managers, this means creating secure and adaptable environments while keeping costs in check across often expansive real estate portfolios.

Workplace management software helps finance FMs by:

• Optimizing space and portfolio processes to reduce wasted spend.
• Streamlining lease administration and renewals across multiple properties.
• Ensuring strong data security and privacy, including audits, segregation, and encryption.
• Providing reporting and analytics to align workplace decisions with organizational goals.

Leaders in this sector, like Scotiabank, Lending Tree, and Centra Credit, use workplace management software to modernize their facilities. 

As Sharon Taylor, Assistant Vice President of Facilities at Centra, put it: “Out of all the companies we reviewed, OfficeSpace was by far the easiest and most intuitive system to use.”

Manufacturing facilities

Manufacturing facilities have unique requirements compared to traditional offices. They’re often large, equipment-heavy environments where safety, efficiency, sustainability, and scalability are constant concerns. Unlike corporate workplaces, manufacturers must also account for production schedules and fluctuating demand, directly impacting how space is used.

For FMs, the challenge lies in creating facilities that can scale up or down quickly while keeping employees safe and operations running smoothly. This means leveraging data to guide real estate decisions and ensuring space aligns with business demand.

Workplace management software helps manufacturing FMs by:

• Providing real-time space and occupancy reporting to track how facilities are used daily.
• Supporting forecasting and scenario planning to adapt to changes in headcount, production cycles, or market conditions.
• Streamlining portfolio management so leaders can make faster, data-driven real estate decisions.
• Enhancing safety and compliance by tracking assets, inspections, and maintenance of essential assets like hvac, electrical, etc.

Manufacturers like Tesla, Campbells, and Logitech use hybrid workplace software to keep their facilities agile, ensuring their real estate strategy evolves in step with demand.

Biotech and Pharma facilities

Biotech and pharmaceutical organizations often operate across a mix of labs, offices, and production spaces. These environments demand strict compliance, high security, and adaptable real estate strategies as research priorities shift. FMs in these environments must ensure that specialized spaces like cleanrooms, wet labs, and collaboration hubs stay safe, compliant, and productive.

Workplace management software helps biotech and pharma FMs by:

• Managing diverse space types—from labs to offices—to ensure they’re fully utilized and fit for purpose.
• Supporting compliance and audits with automated maintenance, inspections, and reporting.
• Enabling scenario planning for research expansion, headcount changes, or new facility requirements.
• Improving collaboration across cross-functional teams by providing visibility into who’s onsite and where.

Organizations across biotech and pharma use workplace management software to manage complexity and maintain compliance without slowing innovation.

Healthcare facilities

Healthcare facilities—ranging from hospitals to outpatient clinics—are some of the most demanding environments for facility managers. These spaces must support care providers, staff, and patients simultaneously while operating 24/7 with little margin for error.

Here, FMs face unique challenges such as managing high foot traffic, ensuring patient safety, and maintaining spaces that serve vastly different functions.

Workplace management software helps healthcare FMs by:

• Coordinating facility operations to keep critical spaces available and reliable
• Managing assets and preventative maintenance for life-critical equipment.
• Supporting staff efficiency with better space allocation and resource planning.
• Tracking utilization data to align facility performance with patient care needs.

Hospitals and care centers increasingly rely on workplace management software to deliver safe, compliant, and patient-friendly environments that adapt to evolving healthcare demands.

Read our article on the different types of facility management to keep your operations moving and employees happy.

What are the must-have features of workplace management software?

No matter the type of facility, the right technology makes management easier, more efficient, and more strategic. Facility managers can only do so much manually—workplace management software gives them the visibility and flexibility needed to stay ahead.

Some of the most important features to look for include:

Desk & meeting room booking

Support hybrid work by letting employees easily reserve desks, offices, and collaboration spaces. Teams should be able to see who’s in the office and where they’re sitting, making in-person collaboration seamless. If they want to book a room for extra quiet time – that should be an option as well!

Space planning & utilization analytics

Go beyond guessing how space is used. Real-time utilization data helps FMs right-size their portfolios, forecast future needs, and make data-driven workplace decisions.

Office move & real estate management

Moves and portfolio changes are complex, but they don’t have to be disruptive. With move management tools and centralized portfolio tracking, FMs can plan and execute transitions smoothly.

In-depth reporting capabilities

From utilization trends to request resolution times, robust reporting helps leaders prove ROI, spot inefficiencies, and continuously improve the workplace experience.

Asset management & preventative maintenance

Track equipment, furniture, and technology across the organization. Preventive maintenance features ensure issues are resolved before they become costly disruptions.

Together, these capabilities empower facility managers to go beyond day-to-day operations and build workplaces that are efficient, engaging, and future-ready. 

Upgrade your facility management strategy with OfficeSpace

OfficeSpace brings all of these features – and more –  into a single, intuitive platform. No matter what type of facility you manage, OfficeSpace gives you the tools to do it better. 

Request a demo today and see how OfficeSpace can help you create a workplace that works for everyone.