Challenges of utilizing BIM in facilities management in Saudi Arabia

Purpose This paper aims to present an assessment of the challenges of using building information modeling (BIM) in the facilities management (FM) practice in Saudi Arabia. Design/methodology/approach A review of the relevant literature was conducted, resulting in identifying 31 potential challenges to BIM utilization in FM, which were grouped into five main categories. These challenges were used to design a five-point Likert scale questionnaire survey to obtain the feedback of experts in the FM domain in Saudi Arabia. The professionals that participated in the survey consisted of facilities managers, maintenance managers and BIM experts. The results obtained were analyzed based on the Effect Index (EI) approach. The questionnaire also contained an open-ended section for more qualitative data. Findings The results of the EI revealed that the top most influential challenges include “integration of the building systems design with BIM”, “definition of handover requirements and integration requirements between FM and BIM” and “getting appropriate and accurate information”. The category with the highest EI was the “challenges pertaining to the execution of BIM in FM”. Practical implications The paper outlines the critical challenges influencing the utilization of BIM in FM in Saudi Arabia and, as a result, could facilitate the development of implementation plans for BIM utilization. Thus, the study results have practical implications for stakeholders in the building industry. Originality/value The study contributes to the building industry through its discussion of the challenges of BIM utilization in FM and thus has the potential to increase the level of awareness of stakeholders in the industry.