SafetyCulture - Leveraging Transformative Technology

The Facilities Management landscape has changed forever: the new normal is here to stay. As tenants and clients adapt to new ways of working and change how they use shared spaces, we need to differentiate ourselves to stay ahead of the game. But how?

Technology is the answer: old-hat processes are no longer enough. We must now leverage technology to meet the shifts we’re witnessing across FM when it comes to demands for increased visibility and transparency by both clients and employees. Those who dominate the industry are already embracing technology and investing in their employees, even while operating remotely. Here, SafetyCulture explores the top tech trends in FM and how to increase your performance with technology.

Data is undoubtedly one of the most powerful tools we have. Across FM, it is already being harnessed through an increased use of sensors and automation - and it’s not hard to see why. Not only does sensor usage free up our front-line employees to work on the things that matter, they also give us access to powerful data and subsequent learnings.

Data such as time taken for facility inspections, our energy or waste usage, or even temperature and humidity readings can be leveraged for data-driven decision making. With data, we can take corrective or preventive actions - such as employee upskilling, or adjusting usage to increase our efficiency. Technology not only reduces time burdens, reduces risk and drives efficiency, but also creates more time for frontline employees to focus on maintenance and improvements, increasing our customer service quality. So not only is the data working for you - it’s also working for your clients, providing them with a high quality facilities management experience.

One way to set yourself apart from your competition is by hitting the mark when it comes to environmentally conscious spaces. There are currently demands from governmental agencies and clients alike for carbon neutral buildings and spaces, so how can we leverage tech as FM providers to become ‘sustainably different’? The integration of IoT building tech is one way: making our buildings smart and sending alerts if temperatures spike or conditions change within our buildings allows for immediate responses and corrective actions to reduce waste in our spaces.

As much as technology is about improving efficiency, it’s also about empowering the underserved frontline. A key consideration for FM management is thinking like our teams on the frontline, by leveraging tech that is easy to use and accessible. Our employees are best placed to report, capture and take action from data collected from our sites and spaces. If the technology we use is complicated and inaccessible, we remove this power. The best way to serve our employees is to go digital and mobile-first, empowering them by putting tools right in their hands through mobile devices.

‘Work from home’ is here to stay and FM must adapt to serve customers, clients and employees remotely. For many businesses, removing paper-based systems provides the same level of real-time visibility that management and clients would have if they were on the ground. The implementation of technological solutions can help create a bridge between dispersed workforces and customers.

Through mobile-first digital inspections and training, we can onboard and upskill from home, provide clients with visibility and assign corrective actions in real-time. Not only does this remove the hindrance of remote working it also saves time and money. Clients and management no longer need to carry out time-consuming site visits and action time-to-resolution is reduced. With the successful implementation of technology, everyone wins.