How often do you think about facilities management? The chances are good that it’s usually an afterthought until something breaks. Unfortunately, that sets your business up for massive failures and clear disruptions to your employees and customers. There are genuine facilities challenges in the modern world. It’s high time for your organization to start thinking about those challenges and how outsourced, dedicated and integrated facility services can help by streaminglining processes and implementing innovative solutions.
Growing Portfolios add Complexity
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is when companies expand their portfolios only to find they have lost visibility to critical assets and the facility maintenance and management associated with those assets. As more buildings are completed, there is more work to do. And as companies expand their portfolios, whether that’s a warehouse for urban order fulfillment or fast-casual restaurant, there’s always going to be a need for maintenance.
The Solution—Leverage Integrated and Outsourced Facilities Management Services
While facilities management is a vital aspect of any modern business, it can also come with the challenges of finding and hiring the right team members to perform maintenance, install new assets and keep a handle on everything. Yes, computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) help, but there’s still the need for more talent. As a result, more organizations choose to outsource the entire process to experienced companies, such as SMG Facilities Services, to rapidly scale their facilities programs for multi-site portfolio management without the added costs of an in-house team. That’s a marked advantage in today’s world.
Facilities Are Aging, Leading to More Problems
Today’s facilities challenges may also come from the sheer age of buildings. According to FacilitiesNet, the average commercial building was constructed before 1980. And that’s causing problems as assets reach their end-of-life.
The Solution—Know When to Replace Versus Repair Assets
The best way to approach aging building is two-fold, including regular preventive maintenance and tracking asset performance. Think about it. Without knowing the details for each asset, including HVAC units and electrical systems, it’s downright impossible to know when to replace an asset versus repair it. That’s where having a clear set of standards for repair versus replacement decisions is critical. And by working with an expert in facilities management, those decisions become more seamless and less burdensome.
Regulations Continue Evolving
Today’s facilities challenges also come from an ever-evolving array of requirements and regulations. While it’s easy to think about the past building codes, the modern facility is much more complex. There are contactless processes everywhere today. Keeping your building updated could easily involve upgrades to your HVAC system or installing new materials, such as clear barriers or dividers between cashiers and customers. Meanwhile, the regulations affecting energy and resource use are still in play.
The Solution—Let the Data and Systems Handle Your Compliance Management
Use connected devices, including smart energy meters, to track performance and use of resources throughout your buildings. That will involve some analytics capabilities and understanding how to apply data to make more strategic play-by-play decisions regarding your assets. Furthermore, using centralized facilities management controls, it’s easier to ensure your team adheres to all applicable regulations, such as those mandating occupancy limits, air purification and contactless capabilities. Ultimately, the changing state of regulations means your team needs instant access and visibility into assets and a way to handle last-minute requirements.
Facilities Management Is an Around-the-Clock Process
Another of the top facilities challenges that managers face goes back to the very nature of building management and maintenance. Things can and do go wrong at all hours. As such, facilities management, even during vacancy hours, can feel like it never takes a break. However, there is a solution for both the urgent needs and those arising from the impacts of natural or man-made disasters.
The Solution – Implement Strong Preventive Maintenance Plans With an On-Demand Plan Too
The best way to approach the facilities challenges associated with downtime or other urgent needs is to have a plan in place to prevent unexpected downtime. In other words, your team needs a preventive maintenance plan. And as noted by Facility Executive, “As new assets arrive at the facility and are installed, it’s essential to include them in your existing maintenance plan right away.” That must include preventive maintenance too. Simultaneously, having a strategy to rapidly increase your facilities workforce can go a long way toward recovery and restoration when disaster strikes.
Future-Proof Your Facilities Strategy With a Proven Partner
Facilities management is not simply a last-minute process or need. It’s constantly changing and will result in new facilities challenges. Start by recognizing the top problems in today’s facilities management programs, and tap the value of the right resources and technologies to streamline all needs. Connect with SMG Facility Services to get on the right track toward a future-ready strategy that will overcome the facilities challenges of today and tomorrow.
