FOCUS DIGITAL WORKPLACE
TECHNICAL
ADVANTAGE
As the CEO of The Global Alliance of Facility Management Innovators
page 42 asserts, the adoption of FMTech is set to shape how facilities
are managed in the future. Here we ask two leading suppliers of digital
tech, Over-C and Anders + Kern, on the practical advantages
38 FEBRUARY 2022
At the end of 2020, the RICS’ Quarterly
UK Facilities Management Survey
reported a discernible increase in the
levels of investment in digital technology
within the FM sector. More recently it has
predicted the impact of data and technology
will only continue to grow across the built
environment.
Within the operation context there are two key
areas where FMTech has a significant impact;
supporting front line operations and helping FMs
manage the o ice workplace.
Mike Elliot is CEO of Over-C: a digital platform
that uses location sensor data and other
inputs to trigger tasks and workflows which
help empower frontline workers through
technology.
IN YOUR EXPERIENCE ARE TOO MANY FMS
STILL RELYING ON PAPER-BASED SYSTEMS TO
MANAGE FACILITIES?
Creating and developing standard operating
procedures for organisations and their people
o en begins with something on paper, and likely
focus on compliance and consistency. However,
in attempting to communicate and engage with
operational, frontline teams, tasks can easily
become over-complicated, and with an ongoing
use of paper an unnecessary burden. In such
cases, and too frequently, the fundamentals of
empowerment and productivity are sacrificed
because “that is the way we have always done
it”.
Shi ing to digital, paperless processes is
simple and straight-forward, if the approach
is facilitated by a technology provider that
understands the importance of genuine,
transparent engagement of frontline teams.
The elimination of paper-based reporting frees
up management time for value-added activities:
by automating time-consuming administrative
tasks, auditing and reporting becomes instant;
time, e ort, cost tracking and recording frontline
activity is minimised. Also, a paper-less operation
o ers significant environmental benefits:
supporting the sustainability programmes for
operators and clients; reducing paper storage,
enabling space e iciency.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN AREAS OF DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGY FMS SHOULD CONSIDER
ADOPTING?
The range of technologies available to
FMs is vast: wide-ranging and potentially
overwhelming. Pretty much anything can be
monitored, recorded, analysed and reported
upon. The appetite to seize advantage through
digitisation is growing almost exponentially,
especially when coupled with safety,
sustainability and social value.
For many, the driver is e iciency and
productivity: cutting cost, reducing (people)
resources. There are certainly great
opportunities to be enabled through technology,