Be it a construction site, factory, educational edifice, or any other business enterprise, it has to face numerous challenges when it comes to maintenance and other security-related executions. This is where Facility Management Tools step in and play a pivotal role in helping the Facility Managers (FMs) across various industry segments in driving smooth operational outcomes. Backed by technology, these tools help to ensure that the buildings observe smooth functioning and hassle-free work environment.
Investing in the right Facility Management Tool for every organization has become the need of the hour. Picking up the right one can surely provide them with cost-efficient and efficacious delivery of support services. Pertaining this scenario, this article focuses on the potential of Facility Management to successfully empower the FMs thereby, generating profitable outcomes in the longer run.
Prominently Organizing and Accessing Information
The business world is witnessing a plethora of facility management tools that can aid FMs in devising, organizing, and streamlining the everyday tasks to ensure smooth workflow. Today, some organizations are embracing technology and designing software that can boost maintenance activities alongside logging and tracking facility visitors for various security intent. As such, it is evident that organizations getting smarter with tech-enabled facility management.
On top of that, different comprehensive web-based facility management software options aim to centralize various aspects. From the vendors and work orders to asset management and preventative maintenance, whatever the FMs need to manage, such software provide a secured podium driving quality lifestyles and enhancing the productivity of the core business.
Another significant platform which is transforming the Facility Management Solution Provider segment is Building Information Modelling (BIM). This tech-enabled process when aligned with new-age facility operations, provides digital representation to physical as well as functional characteristics of an edifice. It also offers access to crucial data layouts, security aspects, and maintenance services across the building lifecycle.
Enhancing Convenience and Collaboration
Currently, mobile-based facility management applications are taking the centre stage and are proving to be one of the major valuable assets for any business. With smartphone and tablets engaging the young generation across the country, these applications are becoming more customized and powerful alongside covering two areas namely ‘Space & Infrastructure’ and ‘People & Organization’.
Mobile-based facility management apps help an FM in maintaining a constant connection and collaboration with different team members working on diversified projects. Integrating the standards of business administration and architecture, there is a software-specific suite of mobile apps that enable an individual to access and control lighting, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) and other building systems. When it comes to fire safety, these apps have an in-built detection system that generates a notification about occurrences of fire within the building premises. Similarly, it also helps FMs in keeping a track on the scheduled cleaning operations.
Moving ‘Facility’ into the Future
The day-to-day tech advancements are consistently providing tools, software-specific applications, etc. making facility management ‘Safer, Smarter, and more Automated’. Let’s move through a few examples of tech-enabled innovations used presently that could empower FMs in transforming the facility management service providers segment of today and tomorrow.
Sensors – It can be used across a facility in various ways to embrace valuable on-site and off-site data alongside triggering a plan-of-action. For instance, motion sensors can turn off the lights to conserve energy within a particular space by determining its utilization. These sensors can successfully improve the facilities of a building by pinpointing its maintenance problems more efficiently in the coming times.
Thermal Imaging – These tools provide a non-invasive way to FMs to keep an eye on the building lifecycle, whether tracking structural problems, identifying the temperature changes/heat loss, and analyzing electrical/mechanical equipment. It also lends a helping hand in planning and executing preventative maintenance operations.
Drones – Giant business enterprises are all set to put these ‘talk-of-tech-world’ machines to work, in the near future. These machines can give access to remote areas. For instance, it can help the FMs to get a closer look into a crack that is to be filled at a high ceiling or on the roof of a building.
Robots – The invention of robots provides a futuristic sci-fi vision for the future of facility management. Robots can be used for carrying out everyday chores including cleaning the windows of a building, mowing lawns, etc., in the near future. Days are not far when they would be greeting visitors and performing various complex maintenance tasks seamlessly.
– Rahul Niraj
The Now and Next of Facility Management
