ABM Performance Solutions is an innovative approach designed to optimize facility performance, focusing on delivering measurable results that benefit both the building and its occupants. Rather than simply providing passive, cost-centered facility management, ABM Performance Solutions introduces a proactive, customized, and data-driven model. This shift ensures that facility operations go beyond routine maintenance, helping organizations achieve their financial, operational, sustainability, and workplace experience goals. ABM Performance Solutions enhances uptime, output, and long-term efficiency — all with a single point of contact from ABM.

Proactive, outcome-driven facility management

ABM Performance Solutions provides a unified, cohesive team that puts outcomes first. This results in enhanced efficiency across all aspects of your facility. Whether it’s engineering, HVAC, power management, cleaning, landscaping, parking management, or building technology, ABM Performance Solutions integrates these services seamlessly, allowing businesses to reduce costs while improving productivity and sustainability.

ABM is more than a provider — we’re a strategic facility partner. With a wide array of offerings, ABM Performance Solutions ensures that your buildings operate smoothly, efficiently, and sustainably. Additionally, ABM focuses on occupant support, providing services that enhance employee and occupant satisfaction, health, and safety.

Customizable solutions for your facility

ABM Performance Solutions stands out by offering solutions tailored to meet the specific needs of each client. Understanding the unique risk profile and long-term goals of a facility allows ABM to create customized services that align with business priorities. By taking a consultative approach, ABM ensures that the solutions are relevant, efficient, and effective in achieving your goals.

Every facility is different, and ABM recognizes that a one-size-fits-all approach isn’t effective. Whether managing capital expenditures or optimizing energy systems, ABM integrates technical expertise and service flexibility to deliver the best outcomes. From microgrid infrastructure to vertical transportation systems, ABM Performance Solutions addresses every aspect of your building’s lifecycle.

The importance of data and technology in facility optimization

Technology is at the heart of ABM Performance Solutions. ABM utilizes predictive analytics, smart building capabilities, and IoT sensors to monitor and optimize facility systems in real time.

ABM Connect is the end-to-end platform that unites all of this. Data from the team member application flows directly into your client platform, allowing you transparency and connectivity into services from ABM. The information gives the operational leaders at ABM the power of data-driven decision making to ensure you benefit from continuous improvement.

This data-driven approach allows ABM to manage assets proactively, minimizing downtime and maximizing performance. Data transparency is key, and ABM provides actionable insights that help businesses track the performance of their facilities over time.

ABM Connect also includes visual dashboards that offer real-time data on everything from energy usage to occupant experience, enabling clients to optimize operations and meet sustainability targets. The integration of data helps organizations stay ahead of challenges, whether it’s energy conservation, carbon footprint reduction, or improving the facility’s environment.

Achieving sustainability goals

ABM Performance Solutions integrates sustainability into every aspect of facility management. To go beyond short-term fixes, ABM focuses on energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact over the long term — making your facility more sustainable.

ABM has already demonstrated success in sustainability initiatives, such as the installation of over 26,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and saving energy every step of the way. Sustainability programs from ABM also help clients meet their sustainability targets while improving indoor air quality for staff and occupants. This commitment to sustainability ensures that facilities not only perform well, but do so in an environmentally responsible way.

Measurable outcomes and cost savings

ABM Performance Solutions ensures that every service has a direct impact on the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of your building. This results in a positive financial impact, with businesses experiencing significant cost savings, reduced operational expenses, and improved ROI. With a single provider managing all services, ABM helps reduce the number of subcontractors and middleman fees, further driving down costs.

In addition to financial savings, ABM Performance Solutions helps businesses extend the life of their buildings and equipment by improving asset management and reducing the need for costly repairs or replacements. The proactive approach ensures that businesses can rely on their facilities without disruption, optimizing operations for greater productivity, profitability, and occupant well-being.

Simplified facility management

Managing a facility can be a complex and time-consuming task, especially when multiple subcontractors are involved. ABM Performance Solutions simplifies this by offering a single point of contact for all facility services. In fact, ABM will have an experienced team member on site — this streamlines communication, reduces administrative burdens, and enhances accountability. With one unified team overseeing all aspects of facility management, businesses can focus on their core operations while leaving facility optimization to the experts.

Future-proofing your facility

The ability to future-proof a facility is crucial as organizations navigate changing market conditions, shifting expectations, and evolving technology. ABM Performance Solutions supports businesses in adapting to these changes by providing forward-thinking solutions that anticipate future needs. Whether it’s upgrading HVAC systems for energy efficiency or preparing for increased occupant expectations, ABM helps you stay ahead of the curve.

Why ABM Performance Solutions?

ABM Performance Solutions offers a comprehensive, outcomes-driven approach to facility management. Whether you’re looking to reduce operational costs, meet sustainability goals, or enhance the workplace experience, ABM Performance Solutions provides the tools and expertise needed to achieve all these objectives—and more. With a customized, data-driven approach, ABM ensures that your facility performs at its best, now and in the future.

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The findings also reveal over one in six (17%) Brits have noticed visible structural issues in a building they have lived or worked in.

The 2024 Building Safety Report conducted by SFG20, the UK industry standard for building maintenance, surveyed 1,500 people across 15 UK cities to highlight their perceptions of the safety and maintenance of their local buildings.

The report comes after the UK government has faced increased scrutiny over the last few years following the Grenfell Tower Fire tragedy and the RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) scandal, causing nationwide apprehensions around building integrity.

One in five (19%) members of the British public expressed their concerns about the health and safety of the building they live in, with mold, poor ventilation and dampness being some of the biggest issues raised.

Breaking this down by region, London is the region most concerned about the safety of local buildings, with 69% of London residents stating they were worried about the safety and maintenance of buildings in their areas. London is followed by Manchester (58%) and Leicester  (55%).

Concerns were raised over the government’s efforts to maintain and improve buildings in their area, with 30% saying they felt dissatisfied with the government’s efforts and 30% distrusting that local buildings are safe in accordance with current building safety standards.

Jason Instrell, industry lead at SFG20, shared his thoughts on the survey’s findings:

It is concerning to see an overwhelming majority of the British public concerned with the safety of their local buildings.

Over the last decade, the UK has seen a string of events that have placed the maintenance of local infrastructure under a particularly intense spotlight.  The use of RAAC in schools, Grenfell Tower and Dagenham Tower block fires has led the public to question the importance and overall safety of our buildings, both commercial and residential.

The introduction of the Building Safety Act in 2022 saw stricter rules on the safety of buildings and it remains the UK government’s responsibility to ensure the public feels safe and educated about the maintenance of these buildings. We hope this report will show the UK government the immediacy and attention required to uphold the safety of the buildings we live and work in.

Launched in 1990 by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), SFG20 is recognized as the UK industry standard for building maintenance specifications. With access to a library of over 2000 maintenance schedules that update dynamically to reflect changes in legislation and health and safety regulations, you can create customized maintenance schedules that are designed to keep you compliant while also saving you time, effort and money.

The complete SFG20 Building Safety Survey 2024 is available online from SFG20.

For more about the Greenfell Tower fire, see: “FMLink Special Report: The London apartment fire — why is this important for facilities managers?”

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Large organizations might view AI as an expansive solution aimed at integrating all operational tools or analyzing massive data sets. This approach doesn’t necessarily serve the needs of frontline technicians. Unlike high-level integrations intended for C-suite efficiency and analytics, facility management must prioritize actionable, immediate solutions that directly affect the people on the ground — the technicians.

For many in FM, particularly technicians, there is a notable hesitation around AI, not out of fear, but because most AI applications aren’t relevant to their day-to-day tasks. Technicians spend their time fixing equipment, diagnosing issues, and maintaining systems. Their days aren’t filled with data analysis or report generation, so they don’t require tools that promise enterprise-level insights. Instead, to be beneficial, AI for technicians needs to focus on practical, intuitive applications that can improve workflow efficiency and reduce downtime without requiring significant training or time investment.

Understanding technicians’ relationship with AI

Most technicians in FM are not technology enthusiasts. They’re not likely to spend their weekends exploring ChatGPT, Dall-e, or Gemini, or diving into tech blogs for fun — they’re busy solving hands-on problems. For many techs, their approach to AI is simple: if it can help do their job faster, it’s worth considering. In this respect, AI adoption in FM doesn’t need to focus on replacing tasks but rather, on assisting them.

Ryan Koppelman, VP of Technology, eCIFM Solutions, Inc. explained at IFMA World Workplace:

Generative AI can revolutionize how designs, layouts, and workflows are developed and optimized. Facility managers and designers can leverage generative AI to explore multiple design possibilities and select the most efficient and cost-effective solutions.

Organizations and individuals that commit the time and resources to lean into this technology can benefit greatly. Where many will see the greatest impact will be in what might be considered stealth AI. Software developers are using these new generative AI capabilities to subtly improve the tools we already use.

While AI isn’t likely to perform physical maintenance tasks any time soon — like fixing a rooftop air handler or replacing the fluids on a generator — there are several ways it can empower technicians:

1. Instant access to knowledge: Imagine walking up to a piece of equipment and, without needing to input any queries, instantly having the system provide troubleshooting tips, parts schematics, or installation and warranty information. This capability is a major value-add AI can bring to FM, allowing technicians to access what they need without extensive searches.
2. Predictive suggestions: Like personal devices that suggest frequently visited places when you get in the car, AI can anticipate technicians’ needs. Suppose a technician often checks certain metrics or performs specific tasks for a particular piece of equipment. AI can recognize this pattern and prompt those tasks, reducing the mental load and time spent finding information.
3. Simplified mobile solutions: Today, most technicians carry smartphones. The challenge has been that many FM tools are too complex or weren’t designed with mobile use in mind, making them cumbersome for technicians to use them on the job. AI can streamline mobile apps to intuitively prompt the information needed, making it easy for technicians to complete tasks without being hindered by technology.

Shifting focus: AI tools that do the heavy lifting

For technicians, the goal isn’t to learn complex AI algorithms or to understand AI at a granular level. Instead, FM professionals benefit most from tools that “do the thinking” for them. AI can be integrated seamlessly, removing the need for technicians to learn coding, complex prompting, or system integration. It should simply work as an “assistant,” helping technicians find solutions on the fly without requiring deep interaction or customization.

Like Amazon’s intuitive product reminders: the system knows when certain supplies or parts may be needed and can proactively suggest restocking. This approach, which leverages AI to anticipate needs, can empower technicians to stay ahead without added complexity.

Mobile-first, technician-centric solutions

While tablets are becoming more common, phones are still the go-to tool for most technicians. Many FM tools are still based on legacy designs with desktop use in mind and are not optimized for mobile. This lack of mobile functionality has been a barrier to FM AI adoption. To truly empower technicians, the industry must prioritize mobile-friendly, AI-enhanced solutions that are efficient and easy to use.

AI-powered mobile tools tailored to technicians could streamline workflows by making essential information accessible anytime, anywhere. When entering an equipment status update, a mobile AI tool could prompt the technician with the most relevant fields or possible actions, such as suggesting preventive maintenance tasks based on recent activity. This user-focused AI delivers technicians the information they need without unnecessary steps.

Balancing industry trends and technician realities

While it’s tempting to think of AI as a panacea for FM challenges, it’s essential to differentiate between high-level tech integrations suited for large-scale companies and the actionable tools that frontline technicians need. AI’s effectiveness in FM will depend not on just the needs of accounting teams or executives, but also on how well it optimizes workflows, reduces the burden of manual data entry, and supports technicians with accessible, mobile-first tools that bring intelligence directly to the field.

While organizations are busy implementing large scale AI tools for analysis and to improve decision-making, it is important to also remember empowering technicians with thoughtful, focused AI applications that save time, reduce errors, and improve safety by delivering critical information at the right moment.

About the Author

Jonathan Styrlund is a vice president at ARC Facilities. Styrlund joined ARC in 2001 and has managed the development of several of the company’s technology products. Today, he oversees development of the award-winning ARC Facilities solution, which uses AI and machine learning to allow facilities professionals to instantly access critical building information from any mobile device.

The post Exploring AI’s practical role for facility management technicians appeared first on FMLink.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which recently devastated many southern states, including Florida and North Carolina, caused billions of dollars of property damage, leaving many real estate owners, managers and tenants scrambling to recover. Rehabbing properties in some areas will take at least 2 years to complete, and some communities will never be the same.

In an environment where severe storms have become the new normal, CRE stakeholders, especially those in high-risk areas, need to take a proactive approach to portfolio health and resiliency and create contingency plans that will enable them to prepare their portfolios for identified risks and respond after an event to implement post-storm recovery as quickly as possible. However, this is a massive undertaking, especially for those with large, distributed portfolios.

As these dynamics persist, technology has emerged as an essential tool helping landlords and occupiers address climate-related challenges. By leveraging intelligent, data-backed solutions, CRE stakeholders can better manage the health, performance, and risk of their portfolios, even in the most dire of conditions.

Building resiliency through tech

In order to create impactful resilience strategies, CRE owners and occupiers must first gain a complete understanding of potential risk at both the portfolio and individual asset levels. Armed with this information, they can create weather and hazard preparedness plans tailored to each property’s individual needs. Tenants should conduct the same type of analysis, understanding their leases, insurance, landlord and tenant impacts and responsibilities in the event of an extreme weather catastrophe.

One way technology aids this process is by providing stakeholders with a picture of potential damages before a weather or hazard event even hits. Using climate technology that can map the specific locations within a portfolio against various potential climate and hazard risks can help identify sites with the most risk and help to understand the potential business impact. Planning and other preparedness measures can also be taken, such as installing an aqua fence.

Let us consider Dollar Mart, a fictional discount retailer with more than a thousand triple net-leased locations across the eastern half of the United States. The company’s real estate team sits in its Atlanta headquarters and oversees the entire portfolio. None of Dollar Mart’s locations — storefronts ranging from 3,000-5,000 square feet — has an onsite property manager; the Atlanta team oversees the physical well-being of the portfolio and taps into each site’s store manager when necessary. Nearly all maintenance work is handled by third-party vendors.

When a hurricane is brewing, there is no on-site staff at any Dollar Mart properties that is knowledgeable about how to prepare for a storm — instead, Dollar Mart’s central real estate and facilities team must grapple with the hurricane’s potential impact across the portion of their portfolio that is likely to be impacted.

In these increasingly common situations, real estate teams are helped immeasurably by data-driven technology that tracks maintenance, repairs, and environmental data, and can highlight properties within a storm’s path and the likelihood that individual properties will face significant damage. Factors like the age of the building and its equipment, roof, type of landscaping — and open work orders — help dictate which properties have the greatest concern within the path of the storm. Technology that helps pinpoint these properties in a massive portfolio can empower real estate and facilities teams to address these items before the storm and/or book third-party vendors to inspect the most vulnerable locations immediately after the hurricane clears, even potentially through the use of drones if access is restricted.

Bouncing back post-storm

While technology is increasingly proving critical for owners and occupiers who strive to be prepared heading into weather events like hurricanes, wildfires, heat and cold waves, etc., a technology framework is just as important for enabling a quick, efficient response post-storm.

Once the storm has passed, Dollar Mart’s real estate team in Atlanta will want to ascertain the level of damage across their portfolio and make repairs to ensure that stores are reopened for business as quickly as possible. In the days after a storm, tools that track facility status and equipment health from a central platform enable the real estate team to address damage across hundreds of properties in real-time. By automating third-party vendor procurement, technology can also help facilitate faster completion of tasks like generator deployment and water intrusion repair, which are critical to reducing business disruption, testing for mold and other environmental issues, and mitigating the costliest property damage.

After the immediate post-storm emergency work is done, Dollar Mart can also use its detailed property data and damage reporting to apply for insurance aid with greater speed and accuracy. Because technology helps the company document and substantiate losses with precision (covering things like pre-storm asset condition, real-time damage reports, and repair actions taken immediately after the event), it helps them significantly strengthen their claims.

Looking ahead

Sadly, the work does not end here, because in high-risk areas, there is always the threat of another storm, weather event or natural hazard — but therein lies another advantage of using technology in facility management.

One of the most compelling benefits of integrating technology into resilience planning is the intel gained before and after damage is repaired. Taking a close look at how properties held up during extreme weather, Dollar Mart can glean actionable takeaways about vulnerabilities exposed during the storm – such as specific equipment failures, weak points in building structure, or areas prone to flooding. With 1,000+ properties in its portfolio, these insights inform long-term improvements to infrastructure across the region and guide preventative measures for future climate-related events.

By continuously keeping the climate mapping current and identifying flood, extreme weather, natural hazards and climate exposures that threaten a company’s assets, risk is being managed as hazards and climate changes and scenarios change over time. Paying close attention to high hazard core assets is also important. Vulnerability and value-at-risk assessments for core assets should be identified to determine which would cause material financial risk to a business in an extreme event. Supply chain risk should also be considered in the planning and mapping. By keeping the risk and resiliency mapping and monitoring current and learning from each storm with the help of technology, CRE owners and occupiers can refine storm and natural hazard response strategies — enhancing property durability, mitigating financial or supply chain risk to the business, and delivering operational efficiency, ultimately building a more resilient portfolio over time.

The post How technology can help build resilience to extreme weather across commercial portfolios appeared first on FMLink.

According to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), FM has become “data-driven,” and new AI-powered technology offers “enormous potential” for the future of the industry. And not a moment too soon, as FM professionals continue to be challenged by budget constraints, staff shortages, and an ongoing focus on making their buildings and facilities more sustainable. The sheer pace of all this change can be dizzying, and top of mind for FM leadership headed into next year will be how to turn AI’s theoretical promise into tangible solutions.

5 ways AI can empower FM professionals

Here are 5 powerful ways FM professionals can use AI to drive value and transformation in the industry:

1. Integrate AI with IoT to generate data-driven insights and power predictive maintenance

The Internet of Things (IoT) represents a network of interconnected sensors that capture data and help provide insights that improve decision-making, especially when it comes to the future health of various assets. As Deloitte explains, FM professionals can use IoT devices to gather data from multiple sources (remote diagnostic tools, historic performance, field reports, etc.) and conduct AI-enabled analysis to understand their network more deeply. Other research from Deloitte indicates that implementing IoT for predictive maintenance and asset monitoring leads to a 20–30% reduction in maintenance costs. By getting ahead of problems before they arise, facility managers can better direct resources and reduce unnecessary repairs.

FM Pro Tip: Start with a pilot program focusing on critical equipment to demonstrate quick wins. Then, once ROI is proven, gradually expand to other areas.

2. Deploy an AI-driven field service management (FSM) system that can automatically assign technicians to tasks based on multiple variables

Historically, assigning field service technicians has been a manual process prone to human error. When techs don’t have time to finish a job it can quickly tank productivity across the board, leading to employee burnout and frustrated customers. But with AI, field service techs can be autonomously dispatched based on real-time data, preferences, and proximity, thereby optimizing routes and reducing inefficiency costs. Recent research shows that 80% of high-performing field service teams use AI, and that automation can significantly increase employee/customer satisfaction scores.

FM Pro Tip: Use your FSM solution to dispatch in a small department or region first to test-and-learn how AI-assigned technicians compare to your current back-office operations.

3. Infuse AI into CRM systems to create a 360-degree view of each customer

 As customer expectations continue to evolve, there is far less tolerance nowadays for downtime. To get more proactive, FM professionals use AI to analyze their CRM data to uncover usage patterns, track reporting on equipment health, and create a bespoke customer profile that triggers preemptive service notifications. When customers don’t have to initiate contact, service teams spend less time on conflict resolution and more time building relationships. According to Forrester, customer-obsessed organizations reported 41% faster revenue growth, 49% faster profit growth, and 51% better customer retention than those who aren’t customer-obsessed.

FM Pro Tip: To help convince leadership to infuse AI into CRM, explain how customer service teams can scale faster by handling more issues, without sacrificing the quality of care.

4. Introduce AI-powered training programs to upskill technicians continuously and encourage professional growth

Given the myriad issues that could go wrong with a building at any moment, retaining employees with institutional knowledge is a big priority for facility managers. Studies have shown that it’s far more cost-effective to upskill current employees than to hire/onboard new talent, and AI can help level up technicians by providing critical on-the-job training. On average, teaching an employee a new skill is one-third of the cost of onboarding a new employee, according to the same research. Techs can also receive AI-driven feedback after completing assignments, helping to foster continuous improvement and boost morale.

FM Pro Tip: Implement short, targeted AI-driven training modules technicians can complete on company time. This allows them to learn specific skills as needed, keeping their knowledge current while minimizing disruption to their daily tasks.

5. Analyze energy usage patterns with AI to reduce environmental impact

This year, the Department of Energy released a comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050. Given this new imperative, FM professionals are rapidly updating their building information modeling (BIM) with AI-powered tools for a more comprehensive view of their sustainability targets, helping further reduce waste, decrease energy consumption, and optimize operations.

FM Pro Tip: Implement small, data-backed changes to your energy usage in different departments to see if there is a direct impact on output and overall cost.

Unlocking the value of AI

AI integration is crucial for boosting efficiency and sustainability in facilities management. It is not just a trend; it’s a transformative shift that enables professionals to anticipate needs and streamline operations.

As you explore these strategies, consider how each AI application can be tailored to your unique environment. The path to effective AI adoption begins with a commitment to continuous improvement and a willingness to innovate. By investing in these technologies today, you are not only enhancing your operations but ensuring that you are equipped to meet tomorrow’s demands.

About the author

Anand Subbaraj is the CEO and co-founder of Zuper, a provider of solutions designed to modernize and scale forward-looking field service businesses. With more than 17 years of experience in technology, including 13 years at Microsoft, Anand is an expert in big data, cloud computing, and SaaS. He is committed to pushing the field service industry forward through the use of intelligent automation and by staying connected with customers to understand and solve their most pressing challenges.

The post Building value: 5 ways AI is transforming facilities management appeared first on FMLink.

This article discusses how mobile technology is revolutionizing facility management and specifically describes how the tools can particularly benefit organizations.

Greater efficiency through immediate access to data

One of the most significant benefits of mobile solutions in FM is real-time access to critical data. This may include inventory management, maintenance schedules, or answering service requests. The benefit of mobile solutions is immediate access to information, which can speed up decision-making and ensure that teams are all on the same page, minimizing the chances of double work or missed work.

With a mobile app, a facility manager can:

• Access and update data instantly
• Monitor equipment status and track inventory levels on the move
• Receive timely updates, ensuring that every work order and schedule remains up to date

Accessibility of data at any point in time allows teams to rapidly respond to emerging concerns, keeping facilities running efficiently and smoothly. For instance, facility managers can change or reschedule duties in time, anticipating needs or any other changes to prevent interference.

Enhancing communication and collaboration

Effective facility management depends on clear, streamlined communication among departments and locations. Mobile solutions simplify this by providing one unified platform where staff members can communicate and share information in real time. Instead of phone calls and emails, teams can respond to each other directly within the app, making it easier to keep track of project progress and arising issues.

Key communication benefits include:

• Direct messaging features to enable prompt response
• Shared access to the work order and checklist, so everyone is in sync
• Alerts and notifications to prompt responses to any critical problem

This simplified communication reduces the chances of misunderstandings or delays, encouraging a collaborative environment. Teams can solve issues more effectively and ensure that all members are aware of their duties.

Cost savings through preventive maintenance

Unplanned equipment failures can be very costly, both in repairs and lost productivity. Preventive maintenance through mobile solutions involves setting up and tracking routine maintenance schedules by facility managers. This shift from reactive to proactive maintenance extends the life of equipment, prevents breakdowns, and saves on repair costs.

How preventive maintenance saves costs:

• Alerts and reminders for scheduled maintenance
• Early detection of potential issues through regular inspections
• Historical data on equipment performance to plan timely changes or repairs

For example, facility managers can develop and schedule maintenance activities based on usage patterns and manufacturer’s recommendations, allowing service of equipment before problems develop. Using data analytics, they can determine trends and base conclusions on when to replace, update or repair machinery.

Improved compliance and safety management

Most sectors, such as healthcare or manufacturing, require compliance with high standards. Failure to observe these can result in penalties and unsafe situations. Mobile FM solutions help ensure compliance by making inspections more manageable, ensuring proper record-keeping, and creating audit trails for compliance.

Mobile compliance solutions offer:

• Digital checklists to ensure that the same aspects are checked on every one
• Automated reports that can be reviewed, sent and shared among stakeholders
• A secure repository of documents for audits and reviews

In safety-sensitive environments, a mobile application with digital checklists enables field personnel to conduct inspections without paper forms, reducing the possibilities of errors or missed items. Having digital records readily available also simplifies the audit process, making compliance less cumbersome.

Streamlined work order management

Work orders are typically cumbersome to manage and monitor. Traditional methods involve back-and-forth communication, causing delays and requiring manual data input, which slows down workflows. With mobile FM solutions, it is possible to create work orders, assign them, and update them in real time. This improves accountability and ensures that tasks are completed on time.

Mobile work order management allows facility teams to:

• Assign tasks to specific team members or contractors
• Track the status of tasks in real time
• Access previous work order history to observe patterns or repeated problems

This fosters transparency so that everyone within the organization is aware of their responsibilities and timelines. For example, when a maintenance request is submitted, the concerned technician can be immediately alerted and prepare accordingly for their work.

Enhancing sustainability efforts

Mobile facility management is also environmentally friendly. Businesses not only reduce costs but also minimize their carbon footprint by digitizing records and limiting paper-based processes. Digital forms, checklists, and reporting create a sustainable workplace and facilitate easier data analysis for continuous improvements.

Sustainability highlights:

• Paper waste is reduced through digitized records.
• Automated processes save energy.
• Better resource usage and waste tracking help identify areas for improvement.

For example, an organization can track energy consumption and identify inefficiencies that could lead to lower energy costs and a smaller environmental impact.

About the author

Jason Davis is a senior manager at Axonator, Inc., a developer of no-code mobile app solutions that automate checklists, improve reporting, and streamline workflow processes to boost operational efficiency and compliance. Visit Axonator to learn more about what the company provides.

The post Mobile solutions for smarter facility management: Boosting efficiency and reducing costs appeared first on FMLink.

With the average age of U.S. school buildings at just under 50 years old, facilities managers are used to juggling maintenance and repairs as stop-gap measures for needed replacements that may not fit neatly into annual budgets. The survey indicates that facilities teams are focused on decreasing maintenance costs (32.6%), improving efficiency (28.2%), and revamping learning environments (23.9%) as their top facilities goals for the 2024-2025 school year.

R.T. Collins, CEO of Incident IQ, stated:

K-12 facilities managers have the tremendous responsibility of keeping aging buildings in good working order so students and teachers can stay focused. It’s a balancing act, but many teams are gaining efficiency, cost savings, and better insights through improved operations technology. We expect to see even greater adoption of these solutions to meet the demands of the coming academic year as schools continue to face mounting budget pressures and increased service expectations.

While 45% of respondents think their current systems and processes are somewhat effective at capturing the scale of their work, many teams are looking to make tech purchases to create greater insight. Among the top technology considerations for teams looking to improve communications and streamline workflows are:

• Computer Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) – 39.1%
• Mobile applications for staff – 21.7%
• Digital maintenance tracking – 17.3%
• Automated scheduling systems – 8.7%

Commissioned by Incident IQ and conducted by Spaces4Learning, the online survey was fielded in July 2024 and polled 46 U.S. based K-12 facilities managers to understand the top challenges facing facilities teams in the upcoming school year.

The key topics explored in the report include: technology adoption and barriers, how teams manage and respond to facilities requests, and how they collect and use data to make informed decisions.

To download the full report, visit: Summary Findings: The 2024-2025 K-12 Facilities Survey on the Incident IQ Blog.

The post Budget constraints and aging infrastructure top K-12 facilities concerns for 2024-25 appeared first on FMLink.

ISSA Chief Global Membership Officer Rosie Rangel stated:

There’s no better way to express our commitment to changing the way the world views cleaning and facility solutions than literally changing how the world views the website dedicated to advancing our industry. We’re extremely pleased to launch the new ISSA.com, which has been optimized to showcase the exclusive member benefits we have to offer and delivers the crucial tools and resources industry professionals can utilize to separate themselves from their competition.

The updated website offers peer-group pages: frequently updated knowledge centers; ISSA’s latest Value of Clean report and accompanying resources designed to help further optimize the cleaning practices of ISSA members, such as downloadable infographics; and a wide range of training programs, webinars and more.

Access the revamped site at ISSA.com.

The post ISSA’s revamped website informs and elevates the cleaning industry appeared first on FMLink.

Summary

Introduction

Challenges

Key Concerns

1. 1. Log over 2300 assets into a single repository to provide a comprehensive overview of all equipment in need of service
   2. Create an effective Preventive Maintenance program that will reduce the need for reactive service
   3. Document OEM-suggested processes through standard operating procedures and safeguard expertise of tenured employees

Solutions and Interventions 

QR Code Assignment 

Preventive Maintenance and Embedded Checklists 

Results and Outcomes 

• • When arriving at the service location, a quick scan verifies they are at the proper asset, with no searching or double checking necessary.
  • Prior work history done on the piece of equipment is readily available if needed.
  • Any images can immediately be added to the asset’s profile to document current condition.
  • Current work task for the equipment is automatically returned with a scan of the QR Code, without need to search through other tasks assigned to the Staff member.

• • Steps for each process are laid out in sequence; technicians can be confident in their actions and directions without time-consuming back-and-forth communication.
  • Each standardized and routine job embedded with a Checklist can reduce the need for costly rework when a job is not initially performed properly.
  • Documented process and work history ensure you are in compliance with manufacturer warranties and regulatory requirements.

Conclusion 

Final Comment 

The Preventive Maintenance processes in PropertyTRAK continue to save us labor time and improve the uptime of critical assets. It’s like having the knowledge of an experienced technician that’s been with you for 20 years. Kevin Cambers, Facilities Manager, Kansas City University 

The post Revolutionizing asset management: University saves $53,000 annually with QR Code integration appeared first on FMLink.

As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training, and assesses readiness for biorisk situations. Being registered verifies that Tork Interactive Training for Healthcare is positioned as approved for use with GBAC STAR protocols and standards, and is on its way to becoming validated as meeting a higher level of cleanliness and safety.

GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger remarked:

With so many options on the market today, it can be overwhelming for decision makers to select the best equipment, chemicals, or programs. With GBAC STAR Registered, it’s clear which solutions and programs have been vetted by experts and meet a higher level of cleanliness and safety. This allows managers to better equip and train professionals so they can more easily and effectively uphold public health.

• Tork Clean Hands Training & Tork Clean Hands Training for Care Homes, available on desktop and VR, invites users into a digital world where they interact and train on the WHO’s “5 moments of hand hygiene” in a realistic, safe environment — aiming to boost compliance.
• Tork Interactive Clean Hospital Training & Tork Clean Training for Care Homes, based on the Association for the Health Care Environment’s Practice Guidance for Health Care Environmental Cleaning, is a desktop tool designed to make the training process for cleaning healthcare facilities engaging and efficient.

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