Brightly Software Study Reveals a New Era of AI-Powered Infrastructure
Two-thirds of organizations have implemented AI into their asset management practices and operations, according to the annual 2026 Asset Lifecycle Report
RALEIGH, N.C. – (BUSINESS WIRE) – October 1, 2025 – Brightly Software, a Siemens company and the global leader in asset lifecycle management solutions, today announced the 2026 results of its annual study on asset performance and lifecycle management. The findings showcase where new strategies are driving down costs, where long-term planning is enhancing stability, and how operational sustainability is being embedded into daily operations to support both environmental and workforce resilience and growth.
Asset lifecycle management (ALM) is emerging as a critical practice to efficiently modernize our world’s infrastructure. This comes at a time when infrastructure continues to be in decline. Findings from the American Society of Civil Engineers 2025 ASCE Report Card reveal that while some infrastructure categories saw small improvements, others continue to have failing grades. Combined with funding uncertainty, common infrastructure stressors like community expansion, increased usage, and intensifying natural disasters are becoming all that more alarming.
In response, modern facilities professionals are using artificial intelligence (AI) as a critical operational tool. Sixty-six percent of respondents in the 2026 Asset Lifecycle Report say their organization has implemented AI into asset management practices and operations – a 247% increase from the previous year. Almost three in four respondents (74%) see the benefit of implementing AI into their asset management plans and 69% view AI as a requirement of success for future initiatives.
“The increase in AI usage compared to the previous report highlights that technology has become a pervasive and practical part of asset management practices,” said Brian Bell, head of strategy at Brightly Software. “As customers continue to tap into AI to extend the life of their most critical assets, strong, integrated data is necessary to make asset lifecycle decisions that build resilience and optimize resources.”
The increasing support of AI complements a series of positive behaviors regarding how organizations are thinking and acting on aging infrastructure.
Preventative Maintenance is a Clear Priority
Ninety-one percent of respondents use asset management systems to schedule and track preventative maintenance tasks. The study found 88% believe preventative maintenance reduces costs and 87% are confident their asset maintenance strategies avoid unplanned downtime, pointing to preventative maintenance’s widespread benefits. However, the future of predictive maintenance looks uncertain. Just over half (51%) said they are ready to shift towards predictive maintenance practices, while 42% don’t expect to make this shift in the near future.
Environmental Sustainability is Top of Mind
The report confirms that sustainability is still seen as a valuable internal driver shaping how assets are tracked, managed and invested across their lifecycle. Eighty-three percent of respondents report that their company considers environmental impact when managing asset health, compared to 51% from last year’s data. A majority (82%) say sustainability is a key component of their asset lifecycle, while 85% see their asset lifecycle initiatives as an important part of their sustainability plans.
Asset Investment Planning Connects Facilities with Finance
Asset investment planning (AIP) has become essential for aligning capital decisions with operational needs as most respondents (97%) have a 3–5-year plan in place and 81% use asset data to adjust capital plans based on expected lifespans and replacement costs. Similarly, a majority (89%) say they’re able to plan capital budgets around known asset replacements and 82% agree they can predict major asset failures with their asset management systems. The findings indicate the important role AIP plays in bridging the gap between finance and operations teams and using asset data to inform capital planning decisions.
In addition to artificial intelligence, asset professionals are continuing to integrate advanced technologies to drive new behavior, with 68% implementing some degree of Internet of Things (IoT) tools into their asset management practices, and 55% leveraging digital twins to track asset health and failures for deeper visibility into assets.
Brightly partners with organizations across the world by empowering smarter asset management practices. For example, organizations like Cirrus Aircraft and McLaren Health along with communities like Solano County, CA and Washoe County, NV rely on Brightly to make more informed, data-driven decisions about preventative maintenance and capital planning to extend the useful life of their assets.
Download the 2026 Asset Lifecycle Report and learn how modern and complete asset lifecycle management can drive short-term efficiency and long-term resilience at https://www.brightlysoftware.com/asset-lifecycle-management.
About the Report
Data for the 2026 Asset Lifecycle Report was collected through a third-party, anonymous survey with a total of 400 respondents. Respondents were required to pass a knowledge-based screening, had to work in the U.S., be a decision-maker in the selection process of their organization’s asset management software, and work in either education, manufacturing, government, or healthcare spaces (acute and senior living).
About Brightly Software
Brightly Software, a Siemens company, enables organizations to manage the entire lifecycle of their assets, facilities and infrastructure. As the global leader in intelligent asset management solutions for more than 25 years, Brightly’s sophisticated cloud-based platform is expertly designed to improve capital planning through smarter, data-driven decision making, empower technicians to predict, prioritize and manage preventative maintenance activities, and support organizations to achieve sustainability, compliance and efficiency goals. Combined with award-winning training, legendary support and managed services, more than 12,000 clients worldwide depend on Brightly to optimize their teams, operations and strategic planning initiatives. For more information, visit brightlysoftware.com.
