FEATURE


DEMOCRATISING FM TECHNOLOGY


The FM sector and technology is often talked about as if it’s a single market with a level playing field.


Everyone’s focus is on smart buildings, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality (AR) and usually with some Building Information Modelling (BIM) thrown in for good measure. Those in the tech sector love to talk about the next bit of exciting tech coming along.


But scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find a different reality for many. Surveys confirm many FMs manage their processes manually or by using spread sheets (up to two thirds, according to a recent IDOX survey). Need, budgets, attitude to change and technology adoption often control and influence the ability of these FMs to take the next step.


Moving to value-based FM innovation


Steve Voller, Founder of Altuity, considers the future of asset management technology in FM, from 2D to 3D and the democratisation of this technology to make it more widely available and simple to use for SMEs and public sector organisations.


This parallel process introduces innovation to the market while reducing the costs of development and acquisition.


During the innovation process simplification is important. Simplification improves accessibility, including to those who have the same requirements as larger organisations but their scale means they operate in a simpler way. It also enables adoption by multi-tasking FMs who might not be FM specialists.


Innovation is now not only accessible to larger organisations with complex needs, or those with deep pockets, but instead is opened up to many more organisations. True technology democratisation.


Value innovation in action Let’s look at the area of data visualisation.


When you read or listen to information, you’re only likely to remember 10% of it three days later. However, combine that information with images and that percentage increases to 65%. This is known as the Picture Superiority Effect.


Our brains are also finely tuned to intuitively recognise patterns and clusters from visual data. This ability helps us make sense of the world in quick and meaningful ways.


It’s why the iconic London Underground map is so successful. Imagine trying to work out the relationships between stations and the number of stops to determine the best route without a map.


Difficult, right?


How can technology become more accessible so that more organisations can benefit from it? Technology should enable FMs to improve facilities management and service providers, such as maintenance companies, and use it to differentiate their services and compete more successfully


This is where value innovation comes in.


Value innovation is a strategy of simultaneously pursuing differentiation and low cost from the perspective of the supplier and the customer. The supplier finds ways to innovate while keeping a tight control of costs so that the product is affordable for the customer while offering a profitable margin. The customer, meanwhile, gains access to innovation which offers a higher return on their investment at a cost which is less than would normally be the case.


36 | TOMORROW’S FM


And yet, other than dashboards, managing data is still largely text-based in CAFMs or in its infancy in terms of using floor plans. Place or location-based data in premises, facilities and asset management cries out to be visually mapped.


Some organisations have access to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to run alongside a CAFM or invest in expensive equipment, or contract in services, to create visualisations to help their FM processes.


twitter.com/TomorrowsFM


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