Category: FM

From PPMs to DDMs

PPMs are finally getting a makeover - turning them from time-based checks to insightful data-driven maintenance (DDM ) to save time and money.

Time Saving Tips for Maintenance and Asset Management

2025 will bring a new set of challenges and opportunities - make more time for them with our time saving asset and maintenance management tips.

Paving the Way for Sustainable Infrastructure

How performance-based contracts can lead the way with infrastructure sustainability.

Planting the Seeds of Smart Building Success

Explore how cultivating a smart building mirrors gardening—using the right tools, preparing, and nurturing growth.

Audits: How to Inspect the Uninspected

Learn how automated audits help FMs improve compliance, cut costs, and maintain high standards across sites.

Contractor Management Made Easy

Simplify your contractor management, facilitating smooth communication and reporting to ensure everyone is working towards the same goal.

Paris 2024: A New Era of Stadium Management

Stadiums come with their own challenges for FM teams, yet CAFM software helps manage the planning & delivery of hard & soft services.

How PPP Contract Resets Are Reducing Disputes

Aggressive contract management in PPPs has led to disputes, necessitating a 'contract reset' and improved reporting mechanisms.

From Transition to Triumph: Paving the Way for Long-Term Success

Upgrading CAFM software, with the right plan and know-how, can be achieved smoothly and lead to long-term success.

Take a Chance on Change, Don’t Settle for So-So

This blog highlights the benefits of upgrading to advanced CAFM software and provides a guide for successful implementation.

Are You Buying Vapourware?

We discuss choosing reliable software to manage growing workloads & provide criteria to avoid vapourware- products with undeveloped features.

Is Poor Air Quality Stifling Your Workplace?

We outline the importance of maintaining indoor air quality to achieve health, productivity, and cost-efficiency benefits.

Inspire, Integrate, Innovate: Ignite Your Career in FM

Our blog celebrates World FM Day, outlining key areas; sustainability, compliance, employee well-being, workspace and technology.

30 Years of FM and SWG

Celebrating our 30th birthday, we look back over the last three decades of our history and the evolution of the FM landscape.

Health and Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace

FMs should prioritise employee wellbeing by cultivating positive workplace cultures & utilising FM software to improve physical environments.

Do You Need to be a Data Whizz to Get The Most From Your CAFM?

Using integrated business intelligence software, like Power BI, can make it easier to access, analyse and collect FM data.

How Converging Technologies Are Shaping User Experience

We discuss how converging technologies like AI, IoT, and BIM can enhance operational efficiency, occupant comfort & maintenance strategies.

How to Utilise AI for Building Maintenance and Management

Our latest blog outlines the potential of AI to enhance building maintenance and efficiencies through automation and data analysis.

Building a Sustainable Future: How FM Can Lead the Way

This blog creates a blueprint for improving sustainability in the FM sector, exploring how to identify and action sustainable business goals.

2023: A Year in Workplace Tech

We reflect on 2023 - a year of workplace focused technology including AI, the Metaverse, retrofitting with BIM and Digital Twins.

Challenges of Merging NHS Estates

Learn more about how Implementing a centralised FM system ahead of NHS Trusts merging will significantly minimise the work needed in future.

Navigating the Challenging Landscape of Facilities Management

Our latest blog discusses FM challenges, including cost reduction, technological adoption, sustainable estates, and staying compliant.

Retrofitting BIM: Creating Better Buildings

This blog explores the benefits of utilising BIM technology to improve the day-to-day management of an estate as well as the potential health and safety implications.

Adapting to Flexible Working

Learn about the new UK Flexible Working Bill and its many implications for the Facilities Management sector.

Overcoming Challenges for FMs in the Public Sector

Learn more about how the challenges facilities managers face within the public sector can be eased with innovative technologies.

5 Top Tips for Better Maintenance

Our latest blog reveals 5 top tips and essential strategies to enhance asset performance, minimise downtime, and boost productivity.

Reinventing the Workplace: Neurodiversity and FM

Learn about the 'reinvention of the workplace,' a movement to accommodate hybrid working and neurodiversity

The Digital Twin Maturity Journey

This page will provide an overview of Digital Twins, including the five steps of Digital Twin evolution, their potential and accessibility.

The Importance of Proactive Maintenance

Discover the types of proactive maintenance, the benefits of each strategy and why safeguarding with a digital model can prove vital.

Facilities Show 2023: Trends, Exhibitors, and Speakers

Take a look at the trends, speakers and exhibitors from this year's Facilities Show discussing the benefits of FM software.

Integrating BIM and CAFM: Understanding the Benefits for FM

Discover the benefits of integrating BIM and CAFM software, including improved efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced data management.

CAFM and Energy Management: Businesses Need to get Smart to Mitigate Rising Bills

By investing in CAFM technology, FM teams can make energy-saving interventions and become better placed to absorb cost pressures.

5 Ways CAFM Can Improve Your PPMs

CAFM technology can improve PPMs within the FM sector, with benefits such as ensuring compliance, reducing call-out frequencies and increased efficiency.

The Growing Challenge of Compliance and How to Meet It

SWG explores how CAFM systems can help address the challenge of compliance by managing processes and identifying failing standards of service.

How is Hybrid Working Impacting the Building Environment?

SWG discuss how hybrid working is impacting the building environment, with a key focus on enhancements to employee experience and sustainability.

The Role That FMs Have in Achieving Sustainability Goals

The FM sector has a huge role to play in the decarbonisation of buildings. How can technology help achieve sustainability targets by managing buildings more efficiently?

The Inside Track – PPP Contracts

In this blog, our general manager for SWG in North America, Kelly Widger, talks about her experience of working with public-private partnership (PPP) contracts over the last ten years.

A Beginner’s Guide to Space Management

In this informative guide we’ll explain why space management is important, its rise in popularity and the benefits to the FM team and wider organisation.

A Quick Guide to PPPs

2022 in Review – What Were the Priorities in FM?

As the year draws to a close, we’re taking a look back at what aspects of facilities management most interested those in the sector over the last 12 months.

Your Checklist for Better FM Service Delivery

Data collection and analysis assist outstanding FM services, to help identify site and building user requirements. How can CAFM form and checklist functionality help?

Smart Buildings and Integration

SWG experts explored the opportunities for specialised FM software to optimise building performance at the Smart Buildings Show.

What is CAFM Software?

In this back to basics guide we’ll explain what the acronym stands for, what CAFM is used for, and the benefits to the FM team and wider organisation.

5 Ways to Secure Your CAFM Software Against Cyber Threats

With cyber crime increasing, facilities management teams must take steps to guard their software from attack. Read five ways CAFM can be secured.

“I Don’t Have Time for More Systems!” The Myth of Time-Intensive Technology

How the ‘little challenges’ solved by tech can be magnified throughout a business, repaying the initial time spent on implementation manifold.

Creating Smarter Spaces

Whether your workspace is expanding or decreasing, decisions around change must be based on hard data. Read how companies are using space management software to assist.

Top Tips for Creating an Asset Register

Having an asset register is advantageous for informed FM decision making, compliance and operational efficiency. Read our tips on how to make one.

Why Should FMs Take More Responsibility For Climate Change?

Businesses are responsible for 39% of greenhouse gas emissions, so should those who know the sites best take more action to improve sustainability?

Installing CAFM Remotely With Confidence

There are plenty of options to make sure your CAFM software is up and running as soon as possible, regardless of location. Read our blog on remote CAFM installation.

Beginner’s Guide to BIM and Digitisation

This guide will explain everything you need to know about BIM and digitisation, including the benefits and how they are used in FM; as well as some useful resources for further further reading.

A Guide to Facilities Management Technology Acronyms

Even the most experienced professionals can be tripped up by an acronym. Here's a run through of some of the more common terms.

What Is SFG20 and Why Should You Be Using It?

The Evolution of an Industry – 10 Years of FM Surveys

Take a look back over how technology in FM has changed over 10 years, then take part in our new industry survey with FMJ.

Improving Sustainability Through CAFM

How CAFM software can help organisations to help improve sustainability, and the new innovations being developed to help FMs meet green targets.

The Olympic Task of Stadium Management

Stadiums come with their own set of challenges for FM teams, often requiring CAFM software to help manage the planning and delivery of hard and soft services.

Free Your Locked-Up Data: Tips for Moving to CAFM

Data is the new gold, so they say, but managing it with spreadsheets means the FM team can’t unlock its full value.

5 Reasons to Use CAFM Software

How Lockers Are The Key To Hybrid Workplaces

COVID-safe businesses inviting back employees are likely to enforce a clear desk policy - making lockers essential kit to keep the workplace organised.

Top 5 Benefits of BIM in FM

Why is BIM growing in facilities management? Read our top five benefits of BIM for FM teams.

A Hybrid Office for an Evolving Workforce

Hybrid working models can protect businesses and employees from disruption through homeworking options and also providing a clean, functional, COVID-safe workspace.

Making the Most of Your CAFM Software

How FM teams can get the most value for their CAFM systems, long after initial purchase and implementation.

How to Choose the Right CAFM Software

A wide choice of CAFM software means harder decision making. Read our guidance to make sure you pick the best CAFM for your organisation.

BIM and the Golden Thread

What is the golden thread and how can it improve building safety? We look at how BIM is involved in the process, and the viability of BIM adoption in FM.

BIM for 3 Types of Property Owner

A look at how developers, landlords and facility managers use BIM to meet their different requirements.

Preventative vs Predictive Maintenance

What is preventative maintenance compared to predictive maintenance, and which plan should you be using?

Why a Digital Twin is the Next Big Thing

FMs are keen to invest in technology like sensors, IoT and BIM. With this in mind, the next big thing in FM is likely to be the ‘digital twin’.

Rebuilding the Workplace Community

Working from home is not suitable for everyone, and the role of FM is pivotal in preparing offices for safe use and welcoming back the workforce.

Predicting Future Workspace Requirements

COVID-19 has changed the normal working environment, and businesses need to plan for a future with more remote working and identify changing space requirements.

Light CAFM for Rich Facilities Management

As lockdown begins to ease and some employees head back to the office, pressure to maintain a safe, hygienic and fully functional space is as never before.

What to Consider When Digitising Existing Buildings

Many FMs want to work more digitally when managing their building information. Find out how to make that step from an idea to reality in this blog.

Managing Site-Wide Health and Safety with CAFM

How creating schedules by location, rather than asset, can help FMs manage health and safety across their site.

2019 in Review – What Were the Priorities in FM?

New Year is a time of reflection, and we’re looking back on the priorities for facilities management professionals over the last 12 months.

Changing Times for CAFM Implementation

The important role of change management and communication to get the best our of your CAFM system and achieve staff buy in.

BIM for FM Webinar – an Overview

Service Works Global’s ‘BIM for FM’ webinar this week showed the practical side of how building information modelling (BIM) can be used within FM.

BIM – Digitising Information for Existing Buildings

A wealth of operational information available at your fingerprints with BIM after the release of ISO 19650.

Technology: Are FMs Embracing Change?

‘Technology as a force for change – we are all technology companies, aren’t we?’ A commentary on the debate featuring SWG.

A University Challenge

There’s never been a tougher time to run a modern university. This week's blog looks at the challenges education facilities face and how they are being overcome.

Can Healthcare Estates Afford Automation?

Automation across healthcare IT systems could be the answer to improving the patient journey, but how feasible is it to the average hospital?

CAFM Tools for In-house FM and Service Providers

Whether an in-house team or an FM service provider, the flexibility of CAFM software can improve service levels with an ROI of just 12-18 months.

Give Up Giving Up – FM Practices to Let Go

Giving up smoking for a month is good for self-control and health, but why not also consider giving up bad FM practices to form positive habits instead.

Using CAFM to Combat Energy Waste

How using CAFM can help the FM team identify energy saving strategies in order to reduce expenditure and greenhouse gas emissions.

5 Ways to Achieve a Better Work-Life Balance

A growing 24/7 work culture leaves FMs open to being ‘always on' so leveraging technology like CAFM is essential to keep work in check and facilities running efficiently.

2018 in Review – What Were the Key Priorities in FM?

Looking back on 2018, what topics were of most interest to FM professionals? Read our round up here.

Managing Medical Assets on a Shoestring

With estates teams maintaining and managing medical assets on a wafer-thin budget, how using barcodes and a CAFM app can help cut costs.

More Haste, Less Speed – The Race for FM Quality

The demand for speed in FM shouldn't be at the expense of quality - how mobile audits through a CAFM app can monitor service standards quickly and easily.

Globalisation – What FMs Need to Know

The FM industry has found solidarity in globalisation, aided by ISO 41001 and the catalyst of FM technology.

Checking Out the Workplace

The importance of first impressions cannot be underestimated and a reception is the window to a business. How can FM software help improve public spaces?

The Unsung Heroes of Education

Lighting and green space are proven factors in motivation, leading to better academic performance. How can the hard work of the estates team be made easier?

FM on Top Form

How a simple form or checklist sent to an FM operative's mobile device can greatly improve accuracy and productivity across the team.

Top 5 FM Technology Trends 2018

We reveal the top five technology trends that FM professionals are preparing for this year and beyond, following our 2018 FM Software Survey with FMJ.

Is Budget Limiting Tech in FM?

While some early adopters are certainly reaping the benefits of sensors and robotics, there are hurdles to overcome before these become widespread.

Data Integration – Eliminating the Middle Man from FM Services

Insight from Service Works’ FM Software Survey 2018 has revealed that FM professionals are being smarter with their use of technology.

What is Static Space Costing Your Business?

Recent reports of noise being the number one bugbear of office workers are rife. What can be done to resolve a difficult situation and maintain productivity?

QFM User Group Summary

A look at the QFM User Group held in London last week, including guest client speakers from Luton & Dunstable NHS Trust and Anabas.

FM Technology for Operational Stability

When deliberating the underlying principles of FM, one of the last things people consider is data management -  yet it is one of the most important.

Carillion’s Demise Prompts Collaborative Healing

While investigations into Carillion's collapse are needed to prevent a similar crisis from reoccurring, it's reassuring to look at how the industry is beginning to heal itself.

Beyond the Hype – Let Us Know Your Views

Our FM Software Survey 2018 has been open for a week and early results are already painting a picture of the industry. Does it match your view?

2017 in Review – What Were the Key Priorities in FM?

2017 was a year of change and discovery for facilities management, but which subjects were most important to FMs?

Work Smarter, Not Harder, in 2018

Forget new year's resolutions - get things done faster, cheaper and more efficiently in your facility by switching to CAFM software.

Using FM Software for Success – SWG and BIFM Good Practice Guide Webinar Review

SWG and BIFM give advice in this complimentary webinar on selecting the right CAFM system for an organisation, including choosing features and writing a business case.