Just like the weather, the facilities management world is ever-changing.
These changes vary based on the industry, corporate strategy, customer/vendor preferences, and the needs and expectations of the facilities staff and management. Here’s where we expect to see the most change in the next five years.
Stay on top of these trends to keep your team, department, and organization relevant and competitive:
1. Global presence.
Companies ranging from smaller organizations with offices in only a few states to large nation-wide firms are expanding their footprint to other continents and becoming more of a global presence. The ability to pivot between different countries, languages, currencies, and regulations is a strong display of agility and forward-thinking.
A tighter, more succinct engine between sales and marketing ensures organizations have the assets and message to speak to these various audiences in these local markets. This approach will set the stage for a successful, global facilities team who is up-to-speed on demographic trends, project automation, and emerging cultural differences.
2. Employee comfort.
Employee-controlled micro-environments (i.e., employee personal workspaces) are now a reality. Employers are spending more time, energy, and budget to design workplaces that are both collaborative and productive. For example, Facebook “employees have the ability to tailor the layout, height, and configuration of their own desks based on personal preference”. Check out Harvard Business Review's "Employees Perform Better When They Can Control Their Space".
When implementing a workspace solution, adopting policies and procedures that employees can use to manage environmental, workspace, and availability elements (e.g., in a meeting, traveling, etc.) links employee satisfaction and increased performance.
3. Environmental sensitivities.
Environmental sensitivities in the workplace, including sustainability and responsive smart buildings, are part of a company’s brand that can attract customers and employees. We’ve already seen the environment come into play with sensor technology for lights and HVAC, or predictive asset monitoring as part of the Internet of Things, but more is on the horizon.
The future is laden with visions of smart cities, increased voice control technology, and real-time room/space usage and reporting to reduce energy costs.
When preparing 2019 budgets, it’s important to consider each of these facility management trends to ensure continued shareholder/stakeholder support and improved profit margins. Aligning these trends with your business needs and strategies is an exercise in profitability and durability for your organization.
It’s time to get on-trend and start making these changes in your facilities department. Contact us today to learn more.
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