FEATURE
MORE THAN JUST A TECH TOY How can facilities managers get the most value from their technology investments, asks Mitie.
With the plethora of workplace tech being developed and introduced every year in our sector, it can be tempting to rush in and roll out the latest snazzy sounding solution to support building management. However, in order to get the right tool, rather than just a tech toy, there are three questions FMs need to ask themselves when striving to get the most value from their tech investments.
What is the workplace strategy for the business? This question is key to gaining a deeper understanding of what they are trying to achieve, closely followed by ‘is this strategy current?’. FM is a constantly evolving industry and workplace strategies need to be regularly updated and aligned to address changing ways of working, in order to create future proof spaces. Any technology investment should be closely aligned to any business workplace strategy and should only be introduced if it supports their goals. For example, are you thinking about what you are going to do with your real estate when many people are only returning to the workplace two to three days per week?
By its nature, pioneering new technology means that companies are often moving into untested territory and so it is important that they are well prepared for giving it a go. The best way to do this is by reviewing the property strategy and thoroughly analysing any existing available data. As more and more technology is being adopted by our sector, we’re seeing a transition from facilities management to facilities transformation, driven by data and the rich insight it brings. Collecting data enables organisations to better refine their
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investment strategies, by highlighting the areas that would benefit the most, for example, whether executives want to encourage a higher utilisation across their portfolio, encourage colleagues to connect more through a seamless experience, reduce carbon emissions or even be on trend with the latest tech developments – all of which support both strategic and commercial outcomes for any organisation.
As with any major project, and in particular for larger organisations, there are a variety of stakeholders involved in the delivery of FM services who all need to be aligned on the technology roadmap. For any new implementation to be a success, it is vital to ensure these different influencers have agreed the approach in advance. For instance, if an organisation decides that decarbonising its buildings is the key strategic aim, then all need to align what technologies will help achieve this, what investment up front is required and what’s my payback period i.e. carbon reduced and how that translates into cost savings.
Do we understand how workspaces are being used? To deliver value from workplace tech, companies need to fully understand their workspaces and how they are being used today. With the right technology in place, FMs can optimise workspaces and improve or repurpose areas that are underused depending on underlying causes. By analysing data, we’re helping our customers to better understand how much real estate they actually need, with some organisations choosing to reduce their footprint by up to 25%, while others are choosing to operate an agile model by reducing the office
Tomorrow’s FM Yearbook 2023/24
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