Success Stories __________________________________________________________ The FM industry Probably the greatest success story in FM over the past ten years is the growth and development of the industry itself. Undeniably, there has been considerable progress as measured on the dinner party index – that spectrum of reactions which follow when you say what you do, spanning the extremes from a puzzled management of what? to a reasonably confident yes, of course. Wider recognition has come with growth in size and value, with persistent use of the term and promotion of the case, and with increasing professionalisation. We are on increasingly strong ground when we argue that facilities management is central to some of the key business and social concerns of the era, including CSR, energy, the environment and sustainability (see Sustainability below). __________________________________________________________ Technology applications Technology has become a critical part of FM operations, from the handheld devices that are now standard issue for mobile engineers, through the auditing and reporting systems that feature in cleaning contracts of any size, to the central helpdesk – once a barely acknowledged back-office operation and now increasingly the backbone of frontline service delivery. These days, everything is available at the FMs fingertips: contract terms, SLAs, KPIs, quality reports, budget analysis, manpower utilisation, energy consumption etc etc, much of it presented in easy-to-read dashboard format. The advances here are impressive, even when it isnt a case of the proverbial rocket science. __________________________________________________________ Workplace utilisation FMs have been quietly getting on with the business of responding to changes in corporate strategy and occupier need, whether driven by new technology, globalisation, work/life balance concerns or some combination of these and similar factors, for years. Facilities managers, designers and a whole host of product suppliers have been developing a seemingly endless range of solutions, producing a remarkable evolution over the decade which has seen even some of the most conservative organisations (lawyers!) abandoning their long-held commitment to private offices and fixed desks. Recession has brought a new urgency to this as property has become a board-level topic of interest –in terms of both the costs and the constraints it represents at a time when flexibility is a priority. More change, and more creativity, will be required as organisations continue to evolve faster than their property portfolios – and the wider property market – can respond. __________________________________________________________ Service quality/value for money Like improved utilisation of space, enhanced service quality and value for money have been consistent themes in FM for years. And similarly, recession has put a new force behind the drive in each case. Markets right across the industry are highly competitive, and the premium is on a demonstrable track record, responsiveness and flexibility. Client needs and expectations – high standards vs low cost, for example – may sometimes appear to conflict, but the market being what it is, FM companies have generally found ways to cope effectively. __________________________________________________________
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 05:22:06 +0000
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