Built for Facilities Managers attending Workplace Event 2026 — focused on saving time, reducing costs, and improving workplace performance.
At The Workplace Event 2026, facilities leaders are looking for innovations that do more than sound impressive. They need tools and equipment that save time, reduce operational friction, support sustainability goals, and improve the day-to-day workplace experience.
Here are 5 facilities innovations for 2026 worth paying attention to.
1. Instant Sustainability Data for Faster Specs
Sustainability reporting is now part of the job, but that does not mean facilities teams have time to build the numbers manually.
The Zip HydroTap Sustainability Calculator is designed to make that process faster.
With just a few inputs, facilities managers can see the environmental impact of switching from bottled water or single-use alternatives to a Zip HydroTap Boiling & Filter Tap.
The calculator shows:
- Single-use plastic saved
- CO₂ reduction
- Resource savings
- Report-ready sustainability insights in seconds
That makes it a practical tool for:
- Building a stronger business case
- Supporting ESG reporting
- Saving time during kitchen planning and specification work
Facilities managers: cut hours from your spec work in seconds.
→ Use the Sustainability Calculator
2. Robotic Cleaning That Reduces Labour Pressure
Cleaning teams are under pressure to do more with less, especially across larger sites and high-traffic environments.
That is why robotic cleaning is becoming a serious facilities management innovation, not just a novelty.
Killis Ltd. is helping lead that shift with solutions like the LionsBot R3 Scrub Pro.
Key features include:
- Fully autonomous cleaning
- Self-docking functionality
- Up to 800 square metres per hour coverage
- 0 cm edge cleaning for better results in hard-to-reach areas
- Zero-click setup with MagicTag
- No-tool maintenance
- Single-pass pick-up
For facilities managers, the appeal is simple:
- Less manual cleaning pressure
- More consistent results
- Better productivity from site teams
- Stronger cleaning performance in large or complex spaces
As staffing pressure and service expectations increase, robotic cleaning is becoming a smarter part of the FM toolkit.
3. Occupancy Data That Helps You Right-Size Space
Office space is still too often planned around assumptions instead of real usage.
That creates a familiar problem: large amounts of space sit empty, while staff still feel they cannot find the right desks or rooms when they need them.
Solutions like Empire AI are built to solve that.
Their software helps offices make better planning decisions using data rather than guesswork, improving how workspace is designed, managed, and communicated to clients and users.
For facilities teams, that means:
- Better use of existing space
- Fewer wasted desks and underused rooms
- More credibility when making workplace decisions
- Stronger alignment between workplace design and actual behaviour
In a market focused on efficiency, space data is no longer optional.
4. Smarter Desk and Room Booking
Disconnected booking systems still create daily friction in many workplaces.
Employees waste time looking for free desks, meeting rooms are booked but unused, and facilities teams are left managing the mess.
Tools like GoBright Interact simplify this by combining room booking and desk booking into one device.
Highlights include:
- Real-time LED status indicators
- Smart desk sensors
- Auto-release of unused desks
- Live occupancy data
- Sit-stand desk height personalisation with Magic Swipe
For facilities managers, this means:
- Less wasted space
- Better booking accuracy
- A smoother employee experience
- Better occupancy insight for future planning
This is the kind of innovation that improves both operations and user satisfaction.
5. Premium Workplace Drinks That Improve Experience and Cut Waste
The workplace experience now matters just as much as operational efficiency.
High-quality drinks provision is a clear example. Employees expect better than basic kettles and instant coffee, while employers want solutions that are efficient, reliable, and aligned with sustainability goals.
That is where premium tap and coffee solutions come in.
Zip HydroTap Boiling & Filter Taps
A Zip HydroTap gives teams instant access to boiling, chilled, and filtered water from a single system.
Benefits include:
- Less bottled water waste
- Faster access to drinks
- Cleaner, more efficient breakout spaces
- A premium workplace experience with a sustainability story behind it
→ Explore our Zip HydroTap collection
Franke A600 Automated Coffee Machine
For workplaces that want a more premium coffee offer, the Franke A600 delivers a high-quality bean-to-cup experience at scale.
It is a strong fit for:
- Offices with regular guest traffic
- Premium staff environments
- Businesses wanting consistent coffee quality with minimal fuss
Jura Coffee Machines
Jura machines remain a strong option for style-conscious businesses that want premium coffee, simple operation, and tank-fed flexibility.
They are especially suited to workplaces that want:
- High-quality coffee without a full café setup
- Minimal staff intervention
- Sleek design and strong user experience
→ Explore Jura coffee machines
Final Thought
The most valuable facilities innovations in 2026 are not the most complicated.
They are the ones that help facilities managers:
- Save time
- Cut operational waste
- Improve user experience
- Support sustainability goals
- Make better decisions with less manual effort
And if you want one of the fastest wins first:
→ Try our Zip HydroTap Sustainability Calculator
Get report-ready sustainability insights in seconds. A must-have time-saving tool for kitchen planning.