Facility management software
So, what is facility management software? It entails software that supports all kinds of processes in the facilities management spectrum. Nowadays, these are mainly SaaS tools that enable facility managers to perform all kinds of tasks and access information via a web-based dashboard. The use of facility management software is no superfluous luxury these days. Manual facility management is prone to errors and inefficient. Moreover, especially for organisations with multiple locations, facility management is too complex to carry out manually.
The advantages of this type of software are obvious. For example, you have insight into the costs per square metre, per user and per workplace. Thanks to such advanced analytics, it becomes easier to discover patterns and to identify areas for improvement and it allows for predictive maintenance. Perhaps the most important advantage: you can realise considerable cost savings. Which is great, considering that the average workplace costs no less than 9,695 euros per year, according to Colliers.
Popular forms of facilities management software are Computer-Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) software and Computerised Maintenance Management Software (CMMS). Whereas CAFM is mainly about having a central database, CMMS offers more extensive functionalities such as predictive maintenance and automated maintenance planning. Frequently used facility management software applications and functionalities include multi-site facilities management, maintenance and repairs, asset management, procurement, invoicing, data analytics and energy management.
Facility management and the modern office
The corona crisis forced organisations to suddenly become location-independent. With the associated rise of hybrid working, many organisations are now scaling back-office space and implementing smart office software to manage office occupancy.
The modern office is therefore a smart office, or a flexible working environment where the building, the IT infrastructure and the users are connected via technology. Thanks to sensor-driven hot desks, workplace occupancy data and smart office software, employees can book workplaces, meeting rooms and shifts in the office, locate colleagues and control the light and temperature, among other options.
The modern office is usually also equipped with a digital workspace. In the hybrid working environment, employees must be able to work completely location-independent and have fast and faultless access to all their tools, documents and information. Therefore, the modern office requires a digital workspace that facilitates employees having everything at hand in one environment and with one click.
As a result, the role of the facility manager has changed. Whereas they used to be primarily a service provider, it is now more about creating the optimal workplace. This means an ultimate employee experience where the well-being of employees is central. If a facility manager knows how to create an excellent office with all the necessary and desirable facilities and a digital workspace that is as pleasant as it is accessible, it results in a higher level of wellbeing among employees, better performance, lower absenteeism and less staff turnover.
