FACILITY MANAGEMENT CRITICAL IN IMPROVING LIVEABILITY
To ensure improved business productivity and growth outcome in terms of everyday operations, facility management as a service enables a culture anchored by quality talent development, safe work practices, technology, and analytics. With the advent of smart buildings that talk to human occupants, facilities management has emerged as a tool for driving operational excellence and ensuring the best possible experiences across managed sites of an organization. Today, the real estate sector and its facilities have a significant impact on the profit margins of organisations. Facility management process generally includes building maintenance, the maintenance of electric fittings such as air conditioners and lighting systems, plumbing, cleaning, housekeeping, catering, and security. It is the practice of managing the physical assets and services of an organization and has evolved over the years from not being just a concierge or janitorial function to a strategic and professional discipline that contributes to the performance and success of an organization. Facility management (FM) as a service is transforming the management of operational processes by enabling automation and predictive maintenance. Advancements in technology and changing trends like flexible office spaces are acting as catalysts for the transformation of real estate. Some of the factors that have influenced the evolution of FM are the emergence of new technologies, such as computer-aided design (CAD), building information modelling (BIM), internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing, that enables facility managers to optimize the design, operation, maintenance, and sustainability of facilities. Tech trends in facility management Facility management is no more restricted to managing leaks, shifting desks, or concierge services. Since the onset of COVID, increased awareness of indoor spaces impact on health has ruled the conversation. Employees want to be aware of the air they are breathing and how safe or polluted it is. It has been proven that proper building ventilation is an essential virus fighter. Coupled with this need for healthier buildings is the requirement to make buildings more efficient with a focus on lowering costs. Further, building owners now seek smarter, more efficient buildings, and hence, tenants and other stakeholders are becoming more interested in working, studying, or spending time in spaces that make the best use of resources. All these needs are hence considered and spun into smarter services packaged with the tag of IFM or Integrated Facility Management. AI and IoT technologies have become key for operational efficiency and improving building management to monitor and control facilities distantly. The benefits of IoT-enabled building management systems are compelling. To enable coherent and effective decision-making, IoT is the only solution to access real-time data. Organisations are increasingly taking advantage of progressive sensor technologies and AI (Artificial Intelligence) to better align variable workplace attendance with facility costs and emissions targets while maintaining an employee experience that motivates people to return to the office. In the coming years, a shift from paper-based work instruction to AR is (augmented reality) expected to improve visualisation, understanding of tasks, and simulation in the digital world before implementing it in the physical world. Due to the ongoing recessionary pressures globally, every organisation wants to do more with limited resources and meet the demand for a better workplace experience. Thus, outsourcing facility management to a specialised service provider is a practical option. It helps reduces the efforts and resources that the business could invest elsewhere. Driving operational efficiency In a bid to remain competitive in the hybrid working model, rightsizing workplaces and office space will be crucial. To achieve this, real estate firms around the world are increasingly turning to asset management companies to handle and operate their facilities efficiently. Due to the current climate of global economic uncertainty has led companies to implement various cost optimisation and operations improvement methods to stay profitable. Outsourcing facility management becomes one such profitable practice in this scenario. Such services typically include the maintenance and care of commercial or institutional buildings, such as office complexes, hotels, resorts, schools, or hospitals. While reduced operating costs are the principal driver of this trend, another equally important reason is a marked improvement in facility management operations after outsourcing such services. As we move forward in H2 2023, the role of FM service providers is transforming to a more strategic and long-term nature, with facets like hygiene and safety gaining importance for everyone. Further, post the pandemic, hybrid working (hybrid working excludes both 'fully office' and 'fully remote' categories) has been more widely adopted across India. 50% of both sets of workers (office & hybrid) place importance on workplace services and amenities. While look and feel are important factors, health & wellness are the most important factors drawing people to work. Owing to this increasing trend, many workplaces are adding wellness facilities at the workplace to attract and retain talent. For companies working in a hybrid working regime, it is important to focus on maintenance management and operational process to support the new working model. By embracing the latest technologies, FM providers must work together with organisations to improve the workplace experience and undertake health and wellness initiatives. As we move forward, the digital ecosystem system is becoming more deeply entrenched in an organization's operational process. Thus, the change is imminent, and occupiers, along with FM providers, should work together to create a balanced approach that helps build a spectrum of physical and virtual solutions based on business needs. Effective facility management plays a crucial role in the smooth functioning of any organization. It encompasses a wide range of tasks, including maintenance, security, space planning, and more. When it comes to managing facilities, organizations often face a critical decision: should they outsource facility management services or handle them in-house? We will explore the pros and cons of outsourcing versus in-house facility management to help you make an informed choice for your organization. Outsourcing Facility Management Outsourcing facility management involves hiring external service providers to handle various aspects of your facility's operations. Here are some key advantages of outsourcing: Expertise and Specialization: Facility management service providers are experts in their field, equipped with the knowledge and experience to handle diverse facility needs. They possess specialized skills and can offer innovative solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Cost-effectiveness: Outsourcing can often be more cost-effective, especially for smaller organizations that may need more resources to hire and train a dedicated facility management team. Outsourcing eliminates the need for investing in infrastructure, technology, and staff recruitment. Scalability and Flexibility: Outsourcing allows organizations to scale up or down their facility management services based on their current needs. This flexibility enables businesses to adapt to changing circumstances, such as business growth or downsizing, without any hassle. Focus on Core Competencies: By outsourcing facility management, organizations can redirect their internal resources and focus on their core competencies, enhancing productivity and driving business success. Making the Right Choice Deciding between outsourcing and in-house facility management requires careful consideration of various factors, including the organization's size, budget, industry, and long-term goals. A hybrid approach, combining elements of both, can also be considered. Outsourcing offers expertise, cost-effectiveness, and scalability, and in-house management provides control and customization. Ultimately, the choice depends on the unique needs and priorities of the organization.
Tags : facility management improving livability Rajesh Pandit Managing Director GWS India PM - India Middle East Southeast Asia and North Africa CBRE experience end-user business productivity growth operations smart buildings organization real estate impact technology IoT