News App Angst – avoiding another tech worry M
Applications for mobile devices are even finding their way into the building and FM sectors, but be sure you know what you are buying, warns Simon Atkinson of Procurement Consultants, Occumen.
obile applications, such as the ubiquitous Candy Crush Saga or Google SkyMap, may seem a
million miles from the serious world of facilities management. Yet apps have become an important part of the construction and FM industries. With the ability to use tablets as laser measuring tools, or control entire climate control systems remotely from a smartphone, apps are now opening up a world of possibilities that can drive real efficiency for contractors and service providers. In some cases, apps are stand- alone – functioning as small bundles of software on the mobile device itself. Others are simply a ‘convenient’ way of guiding users to specific areas of a website to allow them to see, for example, their latest energy usage or utilities rates. Some combine the two, offering cloud-based applications that can upload, download and integrate data anywhere, anytime. Although Apple claims the largest share of the app market – B2B as well as B2C – Google’s Android portfolio is not far behind. At one end of the spectrum are the likes of Brick it Pro, a simple yet ingenious iOS app that generates brick tables (essentially the number of bricks required to build a wall) from some 80 metric and imperial brick sizes. At the other end, PlanGrid is a cloud-based iOS collaborative app for contractors and architects which has been used on projects as large as the $750m Sutter Medical Centre in California. Many FM apps come from proprietary software providers, or provide cloud-based access to systems via a subscription model, such as the cross-platform
Loc8.com. Clearly, in an industry that is now using some of the most sophisticated technologies to construct and subsequently manage buildings, the ‘buzz’ surrounding apps is unsurprising. But, that excitement can be accompanied by angst. Those new to app development can easily be lured by the shiny, company- branded application interface that appears on their tablet. However, the cost to the unwary can be thousands of pounds
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more than necessary, simply because the initial procurement process has left them vulnerable.
Procurement is key in the app revolution App development is still in its relative infancy and remains a specialist area of IT. That generally means using third-party suppliers to create an app as they are technically complex and have to comply with stringent rules set by Apple and the other distributors. As with any third-party contract, the procurement team, rather than IT or marketing, needs to come to the fore to ask some key questions before any development starts. Amongst those, the following should definitely be on the agenda: 1. Whose IP?
Apart from the physical functionality of the app itself, the most critical element of each product is the Intellectual Property (IP) that sits behind it. In essence, this is the creativity that goes into designing and developing an app, including how it generates or collects revenue for example. Ownership of IP must be explicit between the purchaser and the developer from the very start of the project. That means a clear agreement relating to IP ownership once the app is built; whether the IP is transferrable and, if not, what restrictions are placed on its use and distribution once it goes ‘live’ on the app market.
2. Usage
Understanding all aspects of the actual use of the app is also vital – not only by the commissioning company, but also the end-user. This not only relates to any coding, or other restrictions that can affect the app’s physical use, but also how the app will work across platforms – i.e. iOS, Android, Windows, etc. The implications of a ‘buggy’ or inappropriately used app, that delivers inaccurate measurements or inadvertently shuts-down business-critical systems, could
be catastrophic. Recognition of liability is therefore also important.
3. Establishing true cost App contracts must be specific about the true cost of supply to both the commissioning company and the end-user. Many apps are free for user download, but that may mean an increased cost to place it in an app store in the first place. It is essential to understand the charging model for every app and the percentage of income (if any) that will be earned by the distributor, app owner and developer. How the margin or royalties will be split between all parties should be clearly agreed.
4. Geography
Global availability of the app will have implications for any procurement contract. This will include: legal rights and responsibilities for the app’s licensing and management; language, cultural, technical and data considerations and fulfilment requirements, all of which need a clear brief from the outset.
5. The future
Even the most successful app requires post-launch development and ‘tweaking’. Failure to allow for this in an initial contract or structured agreement that includes future development, is the equivalent of signing a blank cheque. The excitement of app development always requires tempering with risk management. As with any construction or management project, procurement should start with providing a clear development brief and asking the ‘right’ questions, often the simpler and non-technical the better. This will guard against app angst and identify potentially costly issues before they occur.
www.occumen.co.uk
Building & Facilities Management – March 2015
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