A CMMS manages maintenance of equipment; facility management software manages the whole building operation — including maintenance, service requests, vendors, compliance and reporting.
| CMMS | Facility management software | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Asset maintenance | Building operations end to end |
| Service requests from occupants | Limited | Core feature |
| Vendor and contract management | Basic | Core feature |
| Compliance tracking | Sometimes | Typically included |
| Multi-site portfolio | Varies | Designed for it |
| Best for | Plants, equipment-heavy sites | Offices, condos, mixed-use, IFM |
Related terms
- CAFM — computer-aided facility management: space, assets and maintenance.
- IWMS — integrated workplace management system: CAFM plus real estate, lease and project management.
- EAM — enterprise asset management: heavy-asset focus across the asset lifecycle.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a CMMS or facility management software?
If you mainly maintain equipment (e.g. a plant), a CMMS may be enough. If you run buildings with tenants, vendors, compliance and multiple sites, facility management software is the better fit.
Is a CMMS part of facility management software?
Usually yes — maintenance management is one module of a broader facility management platform.