Partnering Is Key To Bridging FM’s Digital Divide Say IWFM And Microsoft Industry News
The Institute of Facilities and Workplace Management and Microsoft have collaborated on a new ‘hands-on’ report, Bridging FM’s Digital Divide to help the profession overcome the tech barrier and realise its considerable potential to impact workplace performance.
Aimed at increasing digital literacy in the profession, rather than thinking we all have to become technology experts overnight, this practical report focuses on how to harness the digital knowledge and expertise of others through partnerships. Recently published, it uses fictional and real examples to explore what a digitally transformed profession might look like.
The top three priorities for the facilities professional according to the report are: first, improve your knowledge and understanding of existing and emerging digital technologies and their benefits; second partner with digital technology companies to understand the art of the possible and identify solutions to real world problems; and third avoid being “done to” by influencing the application of new digital tech with your workplace and facilities expertise, so you can ‘own’ the future.
“The report is a key step on a route to enabling our profession to help organisations to create connected and successful workplaces. I hope it will be the first of many insights to help us to understand and navigate the technology and experience matters which can combine to create people centred workplaces capable of driving better outcomes”.
“The pace of technological change is increasing before our eyes, each time shaking up the way we work. The workplace and facilities profession needs to be anticipating and preparing for this inevitability and open to the opportunities as well as the threats it presents. We’ve got to change FM’s mindset from one that sees technology as helping to do a job - such as managing the building - to redefining the job as one which helps everyone else do theirs - enabling communities. It is a shift that underpins our repositioning to IWFM.”
This report, Bridging FM’s Digital Divide – The power of Digital partnerships is the first output of IWFM’s relationship with Microsoft¹ announced a year ago his week. Its starting point is the challenge identified by IWFM’s 2018 research Embracing Technology to Move FM Forward² which found a low level of knowledge of digital technologies in the workplace and facilities profession and highlighted a need for it to be able to bridge it’s ‘digital divide’ if it is to realise its considerable potential to impact workplace performance.
The research collaboration set out to explore a vision for the future of technology and its role in shaping workplaces and their performance. Advancements such as AI, smart and big data, combined with existing technologies such as BIM, analytics and workplace design can support improved building and business outcomes.
Read the report at
https://www.iwfm.org.uk/resource/bridging-fms-digital-divide-screen-dps-pdf.html.
¹:
https://www.iwfm.org.uk/resource/iwfm-partners-with-tech-giant-to-explore-opportunities-from-smart-workplaces.html ²:
https://www.iwfm.org.uk/resource/embracing-technology-to-move-fm-forward.html
Director of Insight and Engagement Chris Moriarty said: IWFM Chairman and hands-on FM Martin G Bell, FIWFM said:
The Federation of Window Cleaners (FWC) has been nominated by one of its members for a prestigious, national award.
FWC Nominated For Prestigious National Award Beryl Murray, General Secretary of the FWC, said:
The FWC is in the running to win Best Membership Association in the National Association Awards (NAA), a category which is decided by public vote.
Members of the cleaning and hygiene industry are being encouraged to vote for the association before the December 17th deadline.
The NAA awards celebrate the hard work of associations, federations, chambers, societies and membership organisations across all sectors. Winners are expected to be announced on April 22nd next year.
Andrew Lee, Chairman and Safety Officer of the FWC, said: “I am delighted that the federation has been nominated for this award, it is fantastic to get this kind of recognition. All credit to Beryl and the staff for all the hard work they do. They always do the best they can for our members. This shows that we are doing something right.”
“We are delighted to receive recognition and appreciation in this special way from one of our long-standing valued members. You really can’t get a better testimony than this. To be in with a chance we are asking people
to vote for us before the deadline. Thank you in advance for your valued and supportive vote, which could help us gain this prestigious award.”
Kate Lawrence, a Director of Cleanbrite UK, made the nomination. She said: “The benefits of being a member of the FWC are significant and it is very good value
compared to other associations. The website is excellent, you can access current tender opportunities, health and safety advice, people are selling things, it feels like there is a proper community. The customer service is top class. Whenever there is an issue, Beryl and the team go out of the way to help. Everyone is so nice. I really hope lots of people vote for the FWC and they win. They deserve it.”
Please vote for the FWC before 3pm on December 17th via
https://nationalassociationawards.co.uk/public-vote/. Only one vote per person will be counted.
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