The future of workplace and communities is constantly and rapidly evolving. So is our understanding of well-being. Today well-being is seen in a more holistic manner that covers experience, safety, security & hygiene. The Facility Management (FM) industry is also undergoing a shift – ‘Facility First to People First’.
This shift brings a multitude of changes in the way services are being rendered. Several ‘nexts’ shall rule the transformation in the FM industry
“Organizations that prepare today shall stay relevant and resilient tomorrow. The current and future will continue to be VUCA normal.”
The top two deliverables that will redefine the FM industry are Well-being and Experience. Both open a plethora of new services. New responsibilities arising out of new realities & new challenges. As every organization in the industry is poised for a greater opportunity coupled with rapid shift, it also becomes imperative to quickly identify what weighs them low in their present state. A business health check becomes crucial to identify the unseen areas of profit leaks, so that the company can further strengthen themselves.
Based on research and inputs from various industry pundits, Navo has evolved guidelines as a way forward for the FM industry.
‘IDEATE’ to deliver well-being and experience.
Innovation:
Innovation is not an extra activity. It is about building a culture where everyone is a stakeholder. This activity when digitalized gives a seamless opportunity to all, with transparency and suitable reward mechanism. This way a true innovation culture can be built as a real time efficiency booster and regular idea generator. Continuous efficiency building will help realise higher profits
Digital First
Shift to digital is long overdue for a workforce intensive and work-order intensive FM industry. Providing total digital FM services to clients / tenants (CUSTOMERS), seamless workflow automation governing most of internal processes (EMPLOYEES) and Artificial Intelligence BOT implementation shall be the primary focus areas
Energy / Sustainability
Facility Management providers can significantly contribute to energy savings, environmental protection and lead the change towards greater sustainability. It is about time to rethink service offering especially when faced with climate change, growing customer expectations and technological advancements. Facility managers can leverage the technology and people awareness to get proactive with implementation
Adjacency Services
The newer expectations from FM companies are far more than what they have been known for all these years. Lots of new services are required and FM companies are best poised to fulfil this by rapidly responding to the demands. This time, it is mostly technology, compliance and digital driven. Speed is of essence for FM companies to roll out several new services.
Technology
Smart technology is fast-tracking every aspect in automation. FM companies will have to understand them and leverage these technologies to deliver smart services. IoT based control systems, artificial intelligence driven system can multiply the efficiency of delivering well-being and experience. Rapid adaptation to these new technologies is central to FM industry’s near future.
Efficient data leverage
Facilities managers must leverage data for better decision making. FM industry has been brimming with data ever since it became a force to reckon with. However major decisions still are based on experience and gut feel. With rapid technology adoption, IoT, AI, digital shifts and compliance demands, data will become the fulcrum of everything that the industry is poised to deliver.
KEY STEPS MOVING FORWARD
A stage is set where HR, Finance, FM, IT & CRE (Corporate Real Estate) must co work to deliver the best suited experiences for work spaces; while Owners Association (OA), FM, Technology partners and Real Estate companies will have to closely work to deliver the best for the community dwelling.
Much is there to wait see how all the above pans and how the FM leaderships responds to new business realities.
About the Author
Vasudevan Kidambi is a business (Digital) transformation Coach and leader in helping business recover, in these extraordinary times. He has spearheaded digital first, mobile first solution for global organizations. He has assisted business across multiple industries including facilities management to realign to the new business realities. He also has led transformation assignments for facility management companies towards improved profitability
Using 100% design thinking approach, he has combined data analytics and the art of storytelling into a compelling service – Business Health Check which is crucial for any organization trying to stay relevant in these testing times. He has continuously made himself relevant to key decision makers through powerful posts and articles that changed way leaders think. He is strongly motivated by ancient wisdom and uses that with innovation to solve today’s global crises.