What are the factors companies must keep in mind while selecting a third-party facilities management service provider?

By Mr. Rakesh Tripathi

Facility management has emerged as a strategic enabler for organisations to enhance efficiency, productivity, and employee engagement in an era marked by fast technological breakthroughs and developing workplace dynamics. Traditional in-house facilities management strategies sometimes fail to adapt to today’s changing circumstances. In today’s fast-paced corporate world, it is prerequisite to learn about the advantages of outsourcing facility management to stay ahead of the competition with cutting-edge tactics, technology, and workplace optimisation that boost efficiency, productivity, and employee engagement.

Outsourcing facility management allows firms to negotiate the intricacies of a constantly changing market, predict future issues, and have access to new solutions and agile tactics that handle emerging challenges straight on. This forward-thinking strategy allows firms to stay ahead of the curve by embracing cutting-edge technology, environmental efforts, and other activities.

• Using data-driven insights to their full potential: Outsourcing facility management provides the possibility for significant insights in an increasingly data-driven society. Complex workflows necessitate the use of advanced analytics and prediction technologies. By exploiting these capabilities, organisations may make educated decisions based on real-time data, enabling proactive planning, predictive maintenance, and continuous performance optimisation. This proactive and strategic use of data enables businesses to achieve new levels of efficiency and make more informed decisions.

• Creating tomorrow’s working experiences: The employee experience must be reimagined for the future of work. Outsourcing facility management provides a big opportunity to convert workplaces into dynamic and engaging spaces suited to the requirements and expectations of today’s workforce. Organisations may embrace workplace innovation, design thinking, and employee-centric techniques that improve collaboration, well-being, and productivity by working with professional suppliers.

• Setting the standard for sustainability and resilience: Outsourcing facility management helps organisations to integrate sustainability practises into their operations holistically as sustainability becomes a key objective across sectors. Professional facility management firms engage in environmentally friendly technology, energy-efficient solutions, and long-term best practices. Organisations may conform to global sustainability standards while optimising resource use, lowering carbon footprints, and constructing a robust and future-proof infrastructure via outsourcing.

• Increasing productivity and efficiency: By outsourcing facility management activities to specialist partners, businesses may focus on their core capabilities while benefiting from the knowledge and experience of professional facility management providers. These organisations can generate operational savings, allowing your organisation to improve staff productivity, by simplifying procedures, applying best practices, and using sophisticated technology.

• Cost management: Effective cost management is crucial for any organisation. Businesses can migrate from a fixed to a variable cost model by outsourcing facilities management. Companies may unlock value by leveraging economies of scale, optimising resource allocation, and introducing cost-effective strategies that assist in reducing operational expenditures while maintaining service levels.

• Managing risk and compliance: Outsourcing facility management guarantees that your company follows industry standards and norms. Professional facility management firms are well-versed in local, national, and international requirements. They put in place rigorous risk management techniques, security procedures, and disaster recovery plans to limit possible hazards, secure assets, and defend your company from penalties.

According to research, businesses that outsource facility management see cost savings of up to 20% and operational efficiency of 10-15% during a multi-year contract duration. The quantitative advantages, as well as the expected market size, confirm the value and usefulness of outsourcing facility management as the best alternative for organisations wishing to improve their operations and remain ahead of the competition in a continuously changing business landscape.

(The author is Mr. Rakesh Tripathi, CEO, Tenon FM, and the views expressed in this article are his own)