FM Director magazine asked a selection of industry experts for their views on how CAFM software will continue to develop and assist in the running of facilities and estates. SWG Marketing Director Hazel Bedson’s response is below, and the full article can be read here.
As we enter the new normal of the post-pandemic world, the FM world is changing. The way we work is evolving, especially with the introduction of hybrid-working potentially becoming the future, replacing the old 9-5 lifestyle. CAFM systems will need to advance to be able to assist FMs to support their workers. Many companies will have a CAFM system already in place to help with asset management, reactive maintenance and streamlining it. However, with this new wave of working, along with the incoming energy crisis and legislation change, CAFM requirements have gone beyond purely asset management, and there is huge scope for smart technology integration.
Sensor integration, for example, can help to gather data about office usage, which can be used to forecast a relocation, if necessary, should less employees choose to come to the office; or a reconfiguration to ensure the workplace can accommodate the peaks and troughs of hybrid working. Similarly, BIM (building information modelling) integration with CAFM will help those who are personally liable for maintaining safety standards, as the Building Safety Bill comes into force. BIM data informs CAFM software by providing accurate, as-built information about a facility, its building fabric, assets and components to support effective maintenance strategies and most importantly, ensure occupant safety.
CAFM systems will help with advancements in FM delivery from a sustainability point of view as well. With the focus on reducing our environmental footprint and forthcoming energy crisis, more and more businesses will be looking to find ways to cut back on their energy costs. CAFM systems can help to assess the efficiency of an asset, and therefore inform your options of repair or replacement, and the costs associated with both. This helps FMs to make more informed decisions, not just around energy costs, but also the environmental impact of such energy usage.
CAFM has a big role to play in FM delivery, and an expanded role for all these types of concerns. Of course, there remain the traditional issues of maintenance and facilities management, but also the importance of sustainability and social impacts make CAFM more indispensable then ever.
