Facilities management is booming. The worldwide FM market is expected to grow from $959.2 billion in 2012 to $1.314 trillion in 2018, and the profession has evolved from delivering service to leading with proactive strategy. Research shows that more FMs are now choosing CAFM (Computer Aided Facilities Management) to help manage their responsibilities, which is proven to increase efficiency as well as save time and money – and not just for the facilities team but also across the whole organisation.
1. Centralised data
Centralisation of planned and reactive maintenance management allows PPM tasks to be incorporated into repair jobs, eliminating multiple visits and the associated costs. A central database further helps manage work efficiency by preventing duplicate job logging and callout, allowing easier prioritisation of work according to urgency and resources. It also enables easier reporting for informed decision-making.
2. Contractor performance
Readily-available information around SLAs and KPIs allows facilities managers to monitor internal and external contractor service delivery levels in real-time, to improve performance, optimise service quality and increase cost efficiency. This is measured against contractual obligations to manage penalties or bonuses, and enables effective future contract negotiation. Automated job costing based on pre-defined labour rates, travel, materials, and quality output will also save FMs time and ensure quotes are accurate.
3. Optimised resourcing
CAFM is a sophisticated tool for managing staff resources. Intelligent work allocation automatically assigns jobs to the most suitable operative, based on their location, skillset and availability. This allows calls to be resolved quickly and on the first visit, improving KPI rates. As a result, costs are reduced as the workload can be managed without the need to employ temporary engineers.
4. Mobile communication
Some CAFM systems, like QFM, can be accessed securely from any mobile device from any location. This allows engineers in the field to access, update and close jobs in real time, reducing administration, improving job rectification times and increasing cost-efficiency. Furthermore, QFM’s offline capabilities ensure uninterrupted system access in areas without mobile or Wi-Fi connectivity, ensuring safe transfer of all information supplied to the central database.
5. Self-service technology
Self-service functionality streamlines the management of reactive maintenance requests and room bookings, allowing anyone in the organisation to log jobs or book rooms easily through public computers or kiosks. This gives visibility of room availability and progress of maintenance requests, from notification to completion. In turn, this reduces the workload of the helpdesk, allowing helpdesk resource to be redeployed where needed, thereby reducing employment overheads.
ROI Analysis for CAFM
Service Works has developed an interactive tool to allow analysis of the benefits that can be achieved using CAFM software. Our ROI Calculator will work out the year-on-year costs savings and the payback period of the investment, specific to your organisation. Click here to find out more about the ROI Calculator, and request an ROI consultation for your facility.
