CAFM & IT
of opportunity to the maintenance challenge. An engineer can scan the code with the mobile device to gain immediate access to information on performance or maintenance history, as well as any currently required work, reducing job completion times and improving asset performance.
SENSOR TECHNOLOGY Moving up a level, a sensor placed
by an asset can continuously collect performance data and monitor asset condition, sending out an alert to the CAFM system when any changes are identified. If the change requires immediate action, an engineer can automatically be alerted, too. But in any case the CAFM system will retain the information in its history files, providing a basis for ongoing assessment of performance as well as input to predictive maintenance regimes.
Sensor technology is the foundation of another concept we are beginning to hear a lot about in the FM sector – the Internet of Things (IoT). This is proven technology in some sectors, notably advanced in retail environments, and it looks certain that it will make a big impact on the facilities management sector before too long. Linking together a whole range of diverse assets in order to gather information and send instructions opens the door to new, more efficient customer service, greater cost savings and a more people-focused workplace – especially where the IoT links in the knowledge and power represented by the facility’s CAFM database.
WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY From internet-enabled watches to a
whole range of fitness devices, it’s been boom time in the consumer market for wearables. Many people wear these into the workplace, of course, and it’s highly likely that we’ll see the trend take off here with applications tailored specifically to business needs and the management of business environments.
Imagine arriving at work and launching an app to see your day’s agenda, colour-coded by priority, linked to a map showing exactly where each task is to be located.
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Extend that device’s connection to the IoT network and the CAFM system, and you can reserve hot desks, book meeting rooms, order lunch, request supplies, adjust the lighting or temperature – the benefits for personal productivity, as well as the contribution to the productivity of the FM team, are clear. At the same time, there are potentially significant benefits to employee wellbeing, too. As employee welfare and engagement rise up the corporate agenda, many employers are seeing the advantage in investing greater resources into enhancements for the workplace and the systems that make it work. Wearable technology is an ideal source for data that can be used to create a more supportive environment, which in turn contributes to success in staff recruitment and retention.
“WEARABLE
TECHNOLOGY IS AN IDEAL SOURCE FOR DATA TO CREATE A MORE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.”
The paragraphs above outline some of the key trends we see today making CAFM an increasingly essential tool to support facilities managers in their quest to provide their customers with the right service in the right way at the right price. But there are a number of other important areas where a CAFM system provides the platform for delivering efficient and effective solutions.
Smart buildings – Increasingly, we expect buildings to work for us, providing optimal lighting, heating and temperature without any user input, as well as saving money and reducing environmental impacts. Monitoring and managing building conditions has always been a time-intensive job for the facilities management team, so the rise of the smart building is a positive
development. FM software systems integrated with Building Management System (BMS) programmes provide a high level of control across a building - but a smart building, the logical extension of some of the trends mentioned above, provides the next level of comfort and efficiency. With this level of service, already in operation at some companies today, the potential for increased efficiency both for employees and the facilities management team is immense.
Space management and moves – The need for every organisation to make the most of available space, especially in costly city-centre locations, is almost too obvious to mention. Yet it remains a difficult thing for many businesses to get to grips with. It is especially true these days as work and work patterns are changing rapidly. How much space do your people actually need and where?
Requirements can change either as a result of the insight gained from current-use analysis or from the business itself – say, a shift in strategy or a decision to locate. Either way, an efficient workplace move can be managed using software tools like QFM Space. Multiple scenarios can be created to assess the potential use of available space and, once a configuration is agreed, to manage the whole process, including storing the new location of staff (with their new telephone numbers), office furniture and other assets.
And finally, there’s the issue of productivity – a hot topic for government and business. The UK lags behind its western economic counterparts in productivity, and one problem is the workplace itself. Research has shown that only about half of employees feel their workplace enables them to work productively. That’s a situation that FMs cannot afford to ignore: responsibility falls to the facilities management team to understand and invest in new technology and techniques that can help turn this situation around. Effective space management combined with a CAFM system to manage FM requests, resources and reporting is one good way to start the process of change.
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