SWG Newsletter April 2022

Facilities management has been a rollercoaster of late, battling the ups and downs of Covid-19 in addition to implementing new hybrid workplace strategies to retain employees and keep them engaged and connected. On the upside, results from our FM Tech Survey 2022 in the UK found that 42% of respondents have been consulted more on workplace matters, further cementing FM’s importance in the wider organisation.

And of course, we can’t continue without expressing our great shock and sadness as we witness the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Our parent company Addnode Group has made donations on behalf of its business divisions, to three different international charity organisations’ relief and recovery efforts in Ukraine. The organisations are Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), Red Cross International and UNHCR.

Software Launches

QFM 4.0 Launch

This new release has some exciting new features for our clients including:

• A new QFM Permits to Work module: QFM Permits to Work provides users with a comprehensive end-to-end solution for the provision of permits, from the initial request through approval and publication to the on-site operative. This enables improved site safety and security, making issuing of permits much easier.
• Enhancements to the QFM mobile app: QFM 4.0 allows includes a new filter and search option for users looking to view parts in the catalogue via QR code or barcode scanning. Furthermore, a user can use the same QR and barcode scanning technology to view active visits pertaining to a particular asset record; a much quicker way of filtering information for operatives in the field.

Partnerships

Healthcare Special Interest Group

We were virtually joined in February by some of our NHS clients for a morning learning about the challenges they faced, presenting ways in which CAFM can help, and virtual networking. Our partners at BESA introduced SFG20, the recognised industry standard for building maintenance specifications, explaining how it can optimise maintenance and compliance in healthcare settings. For more information of SFG20 and how it can integrate with CAFM software, like QFM, read our article ‘Why is SFG20 and Why Should You Be Using It?’ Our clients also learnt from SWG and each other best practice on implementing new modules, managing cleaning compliance, and improving health and safety.

Dean Close School

Our long-time client, prestigious educational institution, Dean Close School, worked with us to produce a new case study. Mick Seamarks, Compliance Manager, explained how QFM software has helped the school manage its 50 acre site. Read the case study here to learn how paper usage as drastically reduced, compliance was improved and how managing the work across the FM team was made easier.

IWFM and SWG

We have collaborated with the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) in the UK on two projects to date this year. Firstly, the publication of the IWFM Good Practice Guide to Selecting FM Software, including in-depth detail on FM technology trends, CAFM functionality and implementation plans; and secondly a webinar, as part of IWFM’s ‘Navigating Turbulent Times’ series. The webinar touched on some of the themes of the Good Practice Guide with a panel of experts who shared their experiences of these subjects and gave a more personal touch to a potentially time consuming and confusing process. For more details on the Good Practice Guide, visit IWFM’s website.

In-person Exhibitions

After a couple of years spent being online only, we’re looking forward to meeting some new faces and catching up with existing colleagues in person. We’ll be exhibiting at the largest FM shows in Australia and the UK in May, ready to advise on how our software can solve your FM, BIM and PPP challenges. Pre-book a meeting with us or request more information by emailing info@swg.com.

• Total Facilities, 10 – 12 May, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
• Facilities Show, 17 – 19 May, Excel London.

BIM and FM Knowledge Share

 FM Tech Survey 2022

In November last year, we launched a survey in partnership with UK journal FMJ to ask those working in FM about their use of software and gather insights on industry trends. Analysis of the findings revealed strong trends in space management (including flexible working and workplace wellbeing); energy management and sustainability; software integration to create a best-in-breed system; and visualisation, the process of creating digital renders of either spaces not yet built or reimagining existing areas with a new purpose. Read our CEO Gary Watkins’ take on the trends in this article publish in March’s edition of FMJ.

SWG in the News

In addition to our feature in FMJ, we’ve also provided advice to other journals. In Maintenance and Engineering, Gary Watkins talks about how CAFM software is instrumental in helping FMs to reduce their energy consumption and help meet net zero targets. In i-FM, SWG explains how workplaces can leverage technology to make informed decisions around change, notably through CAFM, BIM and digital twins.

 Beginner’s Guide to BIM and Digitisation

As BIM and digitisation increasingly become part of FM’s vocabulary, whether there is a project in the works or not, it’s a good idea to cement your knowledge on the subject and bookmark relevant resources. We’ve created this useful guide that clearly explains what BIM is, the difference between digitisation and digitalisation, how BIM data and models can be integrated with CAFM software, the benefits of visualisation (with an interactive building tour), and more. Read our guide here.

 

For more details on any of these items, please email us on info@swg.com.