Article: Modern Facilities Management is Ready for the New Day to Day

Facilities management (FM) is the day-to-day operations necessary to ensure the functionality, comfort, safety, sustainability, and efficiency of built environments.

• By Mensah Alkebu-Lan
• 08 February 2023

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Facility Management Companies
• FM with IBM Tririga
• References

Overview

Facilities management (FM) is the day-to-day operations necessary to ensure the functionality, comfort, safety, sustainability, and efficiency of built environments. Within these built environments, it is an organizational function which integrates people, place and process with the purpose of improving the quality of life of people and the productivity of the core business. When organizations or working to adapt to a changing work environment, facilities managers are often at the forefront.

Facilities management includes tasks like sustainability, space, and business continuity planning. It also entails real estate management, maintenance, and operations. Superior facilities management will contribute to your organization’s bottom line.

A facility manager must have several core competencies. He can be asked to oversee the maintenance of the HVAC system one day and asked to do something quite different the next. It’s much more than just overseeing buildings and grounds maintenance.

He may also have to do project management and budgeting. This is just one of the ways a Facility Manager can contribute to the strategy and bottom line of the organization. He may also be able to promote sustainable tactics for long-term cost management.

Facility Management Companies

One way of better understanding what facilities management is is getting a better understanding of what FM companies and companies offering FM technology solutions do. One example is Nest, that provides its very own Integrated Facilities Management solution. The solution is aimed at improving operations and driving savings.

ABM is a global facilities maintenance company with thousands of customers in more than 15 industries. They started out in 1909 as a window cleaning service.

Cushman and Wakefield is a global real estate group. Their facility services division aims to provide their clients with clean, comfortable, efficient, and safe work environments. Their services include maintenance, janitorial services, office optimization, landscaping, and controlled environments.

FM with IBM Tririga

Facilities management technology includes both software and systems. Companies like FMX and IBM are examples of two of the leaders in facilities management software solutions.

One of the FM software offerings a Facility Manager may use is IBM Tririga. Also known as IBM Tririga Application Suite, it is an intelligent asset management solution for integrated workplace management systems (IWMS). It is a mix of applications in one modular solution.

With Tririga, real-time insights infused with AI support dynamic space planning. It allows facility occupants to make service requests and book rooms. It enables the Facility Manager to right size the portfolio and increase efficiency of lease administration, capital projects, and more.

References

1. “What is Facility Management?” International Facility Management Association. Accessed 31 January 2023.
2. “What is facilities management?” IBM. Accessed 31 January 2023.
3. “What is Facilities Management? - The Simple Guide.” FMX. Accessed 31 January 2023.
4. “IBM TRIRIGA Application Suite.” IBM. Accessed 4 February 2023.
5. NEST - Integrated Facilities Management. Accessed 8 February 2023.
6. Homann, Tori. “Top 10 Facility Management Companies.” North American Signs, 12 November 2021. Accessed 8 February 2023.