Digital Extra D
Property Management Select
espite the recent economic conditions, the asset management function at Atkins has won new business, is cash positive and well positioned as recovery
starts. For the asset management function, the strategy has been to concentrate on ensuring its approach satisfies clients’ needs with agility and flexibility, while assuring high levels of customer service. Atkins has vast experience of delivering
property management services that have allowed customers in both the public and private sector to save cost and manage their estates more effectively. Through its managing agent approach, Atkins delivers complete transparency on clients’ property portfolios and provides them with the knowledge to make more informed decisions on its operations. Head of the managing agent business,
Andrew Wilkinson states, “We’re focused on how we can enable our clients to have a more effective total estate strategy by using technology that provides them with the knowledge to make informed decisions and develop strategies to enable them to change the way they utilise properties.”
Managing agent The company acts as a managing agent meaning they are independent from the supply chain, so clients can be certain of complete transparency and clear visibility over the management of their properties. “In effect”, says Wilkinson, “we provide the management systems, processes and people with the right skills, capabilities and expertise to be able to drive best value out of the delivery services.” By taking a partnering approach, Atkins
is able to support customers with their long term strategic property decisions as well as their short term tactical objectives. The total independence from the supply chain enables Atkins to support clients in the procurement and management of the best suppliers for the job. Through having no contractual links to the supply chain Atkins can provide a transparent and impartial third party view of performance both for themselves, clients and suppliers. With Atkins Intelligence (Ai), its
computer aided facilities management (CAFM) system, at the heart of the business, Atkins’ services focus on creating ‘one version of the truth’. Atkins creates interfaces into Ai from all partners in the facilities management delivery model. Ai captures and manages data on clients’ properties from a range of sources such as a 24/7 property helpdesk; supplier work order management systems and client financial systems, providing a single view of real-time, reliable and consistent information.
Having ‘one version of the truth’ means
Atkins can unlock the real value in property data. Using a combination of automated analysis and reporting tools, along with industry experts, Atkins can convert data into information and through its expertise give clients the knowledge. This enables clients to make more informed strategic estate management decisions and allows their organisations to focus on delivering its core services. The company works with its clients to
get the best out of their supply chains, this includes improving operational efficiencies through their Chartered Institute of Purchase and Supply (CIPS) accredited supply chain rationalisation and procurement strategies. Atkins’ supplier development programmes, such as a supplier award called ‘Quantum’, are used to work in partnership with suppliers to improve their front line performance. “If suppliers don’t meet the benchmarks, we work with them to help develop them, give them an insight and our advice on where we think they can improve,” says Wilkinson. “In the main, the supply chain has responded very positively to our accreditation.”
Total estates strategies Organisations can benefit from having ‘one version of the truth’ of their total estate activities. This means integrating all systems that are used to deliver estates
56 l Property Management Select l july/august 2010 l
www.pm-select.co.uk
management, projects and capital investment programmes along with facilities management activities, eg linking your CAFM system to your financial system (SAP, JD Edwards etc), capital planning tools, energy management data and estates systems (TRAMPS, Manhattan etc).
This core value of transparency plays a fundamental role in enabling this approach to be taken across the whole property estate, giving clients their ‘total cost of ownership’. “It’s really important that we give clients transparency, ensuring that they understand who’s working for them and what the change mechanisms are for those contracts,” says Wilkinson. This attitude has enabled the company
to establish long-term partnerships with clients, having worked with many of them for ten years or more. The strategy has been extremely
beneficial for clients, with Atkins identifying a total of £31 million in cost savings on its total client base, managing £390 million on behalf of its customers and delivering sustainable savings of over £1million, 10,000 tonnes of CO reductions and 50GWh of energy savings. As a result, Wilkinson says: “We are in a very strong position to come out of this recession in a very good place.”
Web:
www.atkinsglobal.com/am/minisite
One version of the truth
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