Having tasks spread all over the place causes a disconnect in managing a facility. This failure amounts to major hiccups over time, and across multiple sites, it contributes to additional problems. However, working with an integrated system and partner simplifies processes, procedures, maintenance, and management. This is a type of professional management service called integrated facility management.
The need for integrated facility management planning has been reflected in the increase in pay for laborers in the industry. According to PR Newswire, “Geopolitical factors contributed to rising wages in the FM services sector. Pay increases up to 15 percent were seen across the US, Europe, and the UK. This has led to increased costs and labor shortages. “ Integration is the solution to do more with less and curb expenses with a holistic view of all buildings across many locations, but it’s still equally important to understand its actual meaning.
What Is IFM (Integrated Facilities Management)?
Integrated facilities management, also referred to as IFM, combines all of a building’s services and processes and puts everything under one roof and within one management team. Outsourcing facilities management tasks allows managers to streamline operations with various professionals, all in one location. Facilities managers can provide better management, lower costs, budgeting, a centralized location for maintenance, scheduling services, and preventative maintenance.
The Benefits of Integrated Facilities Management Benefits
Integrated facility management increases productivity across your business by streamlining internal and external communication and simplifying day-to-day management. Having a single point of contact provides more significant customer satisfaction, efficiency, and less room for error. Below are several benefits of integrated facility management services.
- Streamlined operations and lowered operating costs – Reorganizing operations and combining them into one contract simplifies processes. There is no juggling of vendors and responsibilities: more effective team management, faster response times to service requests, and lower operating costs. Implementing integrated facility management provides clearer visibility resulting in unnecessary spending.
- Better management of projects, renovations, and upgrades – Having all responsibilities under one umbrella naturally enables managers to control tasks, renovations, and upgrades better. Integrated Facility Management services allow managers to anticipate and prepare for labor and material needs, allowing for better overall management.
- Adequate controls of overall needs with lean principles – Having control over all projects and maintenance in one location, it is easy for managers to locate where and why there is a waste of product, inefficiency, and overspending. They can forecast and adjust appropriately, reducing waste and costs.
- Lower field service vendor costs by leveraging a more considerable buying power – Outsourcing provides Facilities Managers with rapid access to the newest technology, vendors, and resources. Integrated facility management can save exponential money by taking advantage of their more extensive buying power and preferred vendors.
- There are fewer back-office headaches in managing/vetting vendors and submitting payment – Integrated facility management services take the headache away from searching and vetting many vendors. They will typically have a list of preferred vendors that have been background checked, have a good reputation, and offer the best overall cost. Integrated facility management also takes the leg work out of tracking down payments. Everything done through the facility management takes the pressure off of the building manager.
- Third-party tech from IFM vendors makes it easier to know what’s happening, when, and why – Integrated facility management planning uses innovative technology to manage and complete tasks. This technology allows managers to stay organized, up to date, and provide real-time updates for clients.
- It’s more sustainable, too – Integrated facilities planning has many sustainable benefits to offer. Managers can make environmental adjustments as needed by providing green cleaning supplies to monitor the HVAC functions. Providing energy-efficient appliances and vendors and implementing preventative maintenance checklists tremendously decreases the ecological footprint.
Tap the Value of Integrated Facility Management With SMG Facilities
Integrated facility management maintains all building services and tasks in one central platform or service offering. This combined approach through a particular company such as SMG Facilities, improves efficiency, quality, budgeting, and environmental sustainability. And the benefits only grow from there. Outsourcing to a trusted third party makes these tasks easier and attainable. Tap the value of integrated facility management planning service and contact SMG Facilities today!
