Today’s business world is fast-paced and dynamic. Keeping up with the breakneck pace of change is a challenge for any organization, but it’s especially hard for departments such as facilities management (FM). Many facilities management organizations are slow to adopt new Facility Management Software or pivot to new business models because existing systems are highly fragmented and siloed.
The fragmented nature of the industry means that there are many small or local facilities management service providers, which makes it difficult to find partners who can assist with projects on a larger scale. On top of that, most departments have entrenched cultures that make change very challenging. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible – just more challenging than other fields.
Here are some reasons why you need to transform your department into a hybrid service model utilizing the latest Facility Management Software if you want to succeed in the future.
The Importance of Hybrid Service Models
Almost every industry uses a hybrid service model – why not facilities management? A hybrid service model brings together on-site staff and remote workers to implement customized solutions that meet the unique needs of each client. Hybrid service models help organizations scale their operations easily – especially if you are in a niche industry like facilities management. There are many benefits to using a hybrid service model. It allows you to scale your team as needed, use specialists for different projects, and increase your output per hour. Hybrid service models also allow you to improve your customer experience, increase your client retention rate, and offer better services.
If you want to stay competitive in the digital age, you need to embrace new technologies and business models. The future of facilities management will depend on your willingness to change. Most facilities managers today face resistance from their employers because vendors view them as “nontechnical clerical employees with little true value-add capability” according to the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA).
Even small facilities cannot successfully implement hybrid service models, which is why they need an entirely new set of information technology development tools and modern, cloud-based software products like enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERP) & operational support systems (OSS), customer relationship management applications (CRM), modern financial & accounting software solutions along with eBusiness and document management apps if they want to occupy any competitive advantage against larger competitors years down the road.
An Integrated Facility Management Software Platform is a Requirement for Succes
In order to implement a hybrid service model, you need to be able to seamlessly communicate with both on-site staff and remote workers. A Facility Management Software like FlowPath will make this possible. Facility Management Software allows you to manage all of your projects in one place using cloud technology. You can easily communicate with on-site staff and remote workers through the software’s messaging system so they can adjust their schedules accordingly. It also allows you to monitor the status of your projects in real time so that you know when they are due for completion.
This will allow you to scale your operations as needed and keep up with the dynamic nature of today’s business world. You can even use the software’s reporting capabilities to generate valuable data that will help you create better reports for clients or improve employee productivity.
If you want to succeed in the future, you need to get an integrated facilities management software platform that has all your various building management systems and processes integrated in one place.
Preventive and Proactive Maintenance is a Must
It’s essential to include preventive and proactive maintenance practices in any hybrid model. This means providing your teams with reporting on the general state of their assets and making recommendations for improvement. But not just any report will do – you need to provide preventative maintenance reports that include a risk assessment. This report helps your clients to prioritize their spending so that they can keep their assets running smoothly without spending too much money on repairs.
From there, tasking out work to teams through a Work Order Management System is a critical part to ensuring accountability for work performed. PM logs need to have electronic signatures in order to keep on top of tasks; coupled with a time and materials invoice, this means that you have clients provide sufficient budget ahead of time. Tasks should also be regularly communicated (used) as purchasing assignments with complete ticket processing using the Work Order Management System. They also need visibility into the status of assets across multiple facilities, which should be a standard view in your Facility Management Software.
IOT Devices and their roles in hybrid Facilities Management
IOT devices can be used to collect data that can be used to streamline operations and provide valuable insights for improvement. For example, sensors can be used to track the temperature of a building and detect when temperature drops below or exceeds a certain threshold, which may indicate the need for ventilation. If the system is integrated with a cloud-based software, such as facilities management software or work order management system, it can send this data to the cloud and trigger automated responses. For example, if the temperature goes below a certain threshold, the system can send an alert to the responsible personnel and close the building’s HVAC system to prevent overheating and conserve energy.
The same technique can be used for calculating monthly energy cost reports based on IOT devices’ energy usage. A report generated from IOT data can indicate where maintenance should be increased and saved a lot of money.
Effective Risk Management in Hybrid FM/IT Model.
A well-designed Work Order Management System ensures that risk is managed through routine inspection processes along with post-event reporting. While these tools can take time to master and put in place, you need to include them in your process so that your clients are able to easily access information about their assets – reducing the costs of repair when expensive malfunctions occur during periods of zero preventive maintenance or inspection.
Conclusion
There are many benefits to a hybrid service model. But, to implement one successfully, you need to make sure your department is set up for success. Because of the challenges inherent in transforming a facilities management department, many organizations struggle to make these changes. But, if you can overcome these challenges, you’ll be able to provide better service to the organization, be more profitable (or just more capital efficient), and improve your service levels.
Schedule a demo today to see what a hybrid service model can do for your facilities management operation!
About FlowPath
Founded in 2019, FlowPath is a facilities management software that automates work orders, maintenance, communication, notifications, projects, and reporting in a simple-to-use platform that can be leveraged across industries. To learn more, visit https://www.getflowpath.com.
