7 Features to Check Before Investing in Software for Facility Professionals
Technological progress is continually changing in the facility management and real estate industries. Software developers are working daily to streamline the operation of the FM system to address the roadblocks in facility management.
Today’s article highlights the benefits and latest features of smart software for facility professionals that will eliminate facility management bottlenecks in the years to come. Anyone looking to invest in facility software can review the following features and improve their facility operations multifold.
Top 7 Features of Smart Facility Management Software
1. Countering Sudden Emergencies
Since the pandemic ended, numerous security issues have come to light. It’s not uncommon for things to go wrong when people least expect it, including storms, water leaks, active shootings, fires, bomb threats, tremors, and asset failures. Consequently, facilities are seeking the best facility management software that can access any existing emergency plans in real-time.
By planning contingencies, leaders and managers can mitigate risk and secure the facility from incurring heavy losses. For this purpose, it is best to invest in software that is intuitive, fast, and on-the-go, like mobile facility solutions.
2. Preventive Maintenance on the Go
Faulty equipment can cause a lot of damage to a facility. On April 26, 1986, the electrical equipment of the power plant was shut down for 20 seconds for testing before the Chornobyl disaster. Within seven seconds, nearly 520 radionuclides were released as a result of a chemical explosion.
When equipment is not supervised properly, it can lead to emergencies such as the above one. Therefore, it is crucial to keep an asset functioning smoothly using smart software that can immediately give access to equipment parts, contractor details, and much more. Thus, software for facility professionals must come with QR code scanning features that make it easier to access planroom asset data in real-time. The benefit here is that the faster one decides to fix a damaged asset, the lesser the chance of an emergency. Not to mention, a breakdown in assets and delayed fixing will lead to downtime, which adversely affects the ROI of a business.
3. Facility Map View for Improved Productivity
Providing occupants and staff with immediate access to facility maps is the most effective way to streamline facility operations.
Smooth repairs, managing workflow planning, and accessing shut-off locations and entire facility corners will aid field workers in completing their daily tasks faster. This is possible as facility workers do not have to rely on paper data and rush to the repository room every time they need information about a facility.
Presently, using integrated mapping software, companies are providing a tool for facility professionals via a mobile app that gives instant access to facility data and maps, which is making the task of field workers simplified.
4. Access to As-Builts
The web-based system of CMMS software provides administrators or managers with access to documents like as-built plans, floor plans, and an entire building map of facilities. Nevertheless, it takes a lot of time.
The manager or workers must also swipe through layers of paperwork in the data repository rooms if a building does not have the best facility management software. However, this is a thing of the past. Facility professionals with mobile access can access as-built plans, floor plans, or any facility building plans in a few minutes with software for facility workers. With just a few swipes, the building plan module will give access to shut-off valve data, equipment maps, building plans, and more. This is the easiest way to boost building productivity when all these data are accessible from one's pocket.
5. Streamlining Workflow
A few years ago, facility leaders used paper or web-based software to assign work orders. But there was hardly any software to manage these work orders. Most people used Excel sheets or paper maps, which led to errors and complications in completing the required work orders. Many times due to a lack of appropriate facility data, workers had to spend hours in data repository rooms to access required facility information. For example, asset data for preventive maintenance.
A lot of time was wasted trying to acquire specific data, as the plan rooms are a kaleidoscope of paperwork. In this situation, owning an app that can store all the plan room data in one’s pocket is a blessing. With just a few swipes, modern software for facility professionals comes with the option of accessing any facility data on the go. This assists in finishing work orders, as field employees do not have to waste time searching for data required for daily operations.
6. Compliance in the Pocket
Maintaining compliance documents is a major stress for many institutions, such as hospitals. One ongoing challenge faced by industries when it comes to compliance is that data is trapped in repository rooms or inside a folder on the web. Accessing this when the auditor is present is a daunting task. With the facility management mobile solution, anyone can access instant compliance data in real-time and share it with compliance auditors. This helps to stay prepared at all times with maintenance logs and more if there is a chance of sudden compliance checks.
7. It is Mobile, Web, and Tablet Friendly
If managers require investment in the best facility management software make sure that it is mobile, web, and tablet friendly. Why?
Nearly 80% of the population owns a smartphone making mobile devices increasingly useful for managing building facilities. Cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and scanned data will improve the existing facility management software.
Each facility data will be easily accessible to operation managers and building admins via a few swipes in the facility management app. In any case, the tool should be compatible with both the web and tablets.
Conclusion
Having read the article, facility managers understand the benefits of using a mobile app as software for facility professionals. So, if anyone wishes to boost their facility functions and daily operations optimally, check out companies that offer the best facility management app.
