COVER STORY NAVIGATING THE FUTURE
Esther Coleman, Product Manager at Idox, explains why a CAFM system can help to solve today’s problems while also empowering FMs with the time and insight required to incrementally explore the innovative technologies that will be at the heart of sustainable business in the future.
Over half of facilities managers want to prioritise sustainability initiatives, and with an array of innovative technologies at their fingertips, from intelligent sensors to rain water collection, even end-to-end Energy Management Systems (EMS), there are numerous opportunities to transform energy consumption and improve sustainable credentials. Yet how many FMs have the luxury of prioritising sustainability? In the real world, the challenges of skills shortages, reduced budgets and supporting employee hybrid working take precedence.
Proven, trusted technology can ease those challenges. From improving planned preventative maintenance to providing real-time compliance alerts, even highlighting training opportunities to boost staff retention, a CAFM system offers an opportunity to help solve today’s problems and empower FMs with the time and insight required to explore the innovative technologies that will be at the heart of sustainable business in the future.
Managing priorities While inflation has eased over the past 12 months, the spike in costs in recent years has put further pressure on FM budgets already stretched by an array of changing demands. Many FMs have been tasked with delivering new employee-facing services needed to attract staff back into the office. They have been asked to play a key role within a business’ Net Zero strategy by creating more efficient operations. And, of course, they are on the front line when it comes to achieving compliance to changing safety regulations.
The day-to-day reality for many FMs is, however, less exciting. Skills shortages and rising costs have led to inevitable delays to repairs and maintenance. Broken equipment and overdue facilities maintenance affect employee productivity and morale. They increase the risk of costly non-compliance. And, of course, from leaking taps to inefficient heating or air conditioning, inefficient infrastructure can undermine rather than support any sustainability objectives.
The result is not only escalating FM stress and anxiety but also the frustration of knowing that, with the right technology foundation, the entire end—to-end facilities management model could be more streamlined, more efficient and, crucially, well placed to explore innovations that would support a step change in building efficiency.
Effective foundation The priority for any FM, especially those still wrestling with spreadsheets and manual processes, is a system that can eradicate tedious manual tasks and enable insight- led prioritisation of activity. An integrated, modular CAFM
20 | TOMORROW’S FM
system that enables truly efficient Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) will significantly reduce the risk of breakdowns. This not only minimises the cost of expensive contractor call outs but also avoids any possible productivity and/or morale implications for employees working on site.
Mobile access to a CAFM system can be invaluable for engineers moving from job to job. It improves their efficiency by streamlining processes and removes the need to keep returning to the office to update paperwork. Indeed, using route and task optimisation, engineers’ time and expertise can be used far more efficiently.
Confidence in information is also transformative. A system that provides immediate visibility of compliance deadlines – preferably in a red, orange, green dashboard – can quickly reduce an FM’s compliance anxiety and safeguard safety. With web-based access to the dashboard, engineers in the field can also see upcoming priorities relating to equipment service deadlines to further reinforce compliance activity. Access to real-time reporting and monitoring provides a deep understanding of performance across the entire environment and gives information about FM staff, highlighting the opportunities for training, mentoring and cross-skilling that are key to boosting retention.
“With the right technology foundation, the entire end—to-end facilities management model could be more streamlined, more efficient and, crucially, well placed to explore innovations.”
Exciting innovation With these foundations in place, FMs have the chance to explore the compelling array of new technologies that are set to play a vital role in supporting the drive towards Net Zero and creating more efficient operations. IoT sensors can be added to HVAC to add intelligence to heating management or applied to energy meters and sensors to provide real time data on energy consumption. AI technology used within Building Management Systems (BMS) and EMS can intelligently manage the entire building infrastructure. Apps allow employees to book rooms and car parking spaces, improving their workplace experience.
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