A blog written for Facilities Show by Paul Bullard, Director of Product Management at FSI, an MRI Software company
Back in 2019, the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, stated that “every business is now a software company.”
He didn’t mean that suddenly a facilities management organisation must employ teams of code hungry developers but rather that companies must provide technology solutions to all stakeholders across the businesses. The expectation today is that a successful facilities management operation includes the technology to connect, engage, and transact with employees, customers, and the supply chain.
Disruption vs. innovation
Disruption is a term coined some years ago and is sometimes confused with innovation. The difference is that innovation improves upon an idea or process, while disruption eliminates the need for that process in the first place.
One of the biggest disruptions in recent memory has been the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last two years, we’ve seen sudden dramatics shifts in customer requirements across industries around the world, including facilities management.
The evolution of facilities management
Now more than ever, businesses must be adaptable and nimble to survive in today’s global economy. It’s essential for the facilities management industry to maintain up-to-date working practices and processes to accommodate these ever-changing requirements. The latest facilities management software drives the adoption of new maintenance strategies, hygiene standards, air quality management and social distancing, to name a few.
Here are some ways the industry is evolving:
It is now mandatory that services delivered by facilities management companies must be data-driven, customer-oriented, and agile to be successful. Being a digital facilities business gives companies the agility and resilience to efficiently manage suppliers, optimise the workforce, and better serve customers. Businesses must be able to adapt quickly to disruption and uncertainty. COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of a digital-first model for the facilities management industry, forcing companies to prioritise their long-term digitalisation strategy.
The technology is here and ready. Now, is the time for forward-thinking business leaders to embrace these wonderful technologies and secure their place in a digital-first future.
So, let’s get digitalised!
Paul Bullard is Director of Product Management at FSI, an MRI Software company. FSI and MRI provide leading facilities and property management technology to the global market and are a Facilities Show exhibitor.
www.fsifm.com/en-gb
Published 14/06/2022