Despite its evolution, its primary function remains the same, to help plan the operations and management of buildings and facilities. This hasn’t been easy, especially over the last two years.
Technology has had to grow and adapt quickly to meet the changing responsibilities of facilities operations during the pandemic. One of the adaptations has been the ability to work remotely. Pre-pandemic, some providers had started to offer remote capability whilst others had to quickly step up and make it available as remote working became important to FM operations. Facility managers had to quickly identify what processes could be digitised for staff to access, manage and report on the information they needed without coming into the office.
As a profession, facilities management has gone from performing and managing maintenance on one or two buildings to overseeing the operations of large building portfolios. As a result, CAFM applications have needed to become more robust and diverse enough to accommodate the growing responsibilities of the FM world.
Safety first
With resources and budgets stretched, facilities operations have diversified their responsibilities. Facilities operations can now cover manning reception desks, catering, cleaning, security, heating, grounds maintenance, and service and building repairs. However, their primary role has remained the same; to ensure the working environment is safe, secure and operates smoothly and as efficiently as possible. Safety and security have certainly been the main focus, especially over the last two years.
As well as the running of the estate, organisations in every sector have had to rethink how they create and maintain a safe, hygienic working environment. For most organisations, this doesn’t mean the extensive level of deep cleaning employed by the NHS & Care sectors but does raise the issue of whether health and safety standards need to go beyond just using the appropriate cleaning materials and chemicals.
Moving on from covid, FM departments across all sectors seem to be looking to a more sustainable and hybrid way of working. Paper-based checklists, task lists, work orders etc., are starting to transfer to digital options. Digitising these processes provides an online audit trail of accountability and can help organisations demonstrate they are meeting required compliance standards.
Sustainability
Digitising processes provides accessible evidence that compliance standards are met. It also allows for organisations to meet their sustainability goals.
For years CAFM software has been helping the FM industry with more efficient task and asset management. However, we are also seeing it being used as a tool to help organisations meet sustainability objectives. After all, buildings often represent one of the most significant contributors to an organisation’s carbon footprint.
CAFM software is an incredibly large data resource, managing tasks, assets and everything in between. Not only can it help organisations to evidence that compliance standards are met, but it can also help to effectively manage maintenance tasks that can support and improve an asset’s lifespan. As a result, CAFM software can help reduce waste and remove the need for unnecessary replacements. Well-maintained assets use less energy and therefore have a big impact on meeting sustainability goals.
Managing work digitally is a simple way to improve sustainability. Mobile-friendly CAFM applications allow users to access all the information they need at their fingertips. Digital records speed up service times as users can access the latest support documentation and anything else they need in just a few taps. This saves time and means personnel in the closest proximity to the tasks can turn up with everything they need, removing the need for unnecessary trips resulting in reducing carbon emissions.
A CAFM system’s reports can reflect key performance indicators, and productivity levels and can produce financial reports demonstrating the department’s output. From buildings and services to equipment and personnel, CAFM software connects all aspects of facilities management. It provides organisations with the key information needed to make better informed and more cost-effective operational decisions.
With departments becoming more interconnected, an effective CAFM system can increase awareness of facilities management operations and their value to a business. To discover more about what we can offer, please get in touch.
