Existing Technologies and the Future of the Facilities Management Industry

The facilities management industry, from cleaning to security all the way to maintenance and other occupations, has come a long way from employers having stacks of paper to file and keep track of, and having no way of knowing if the tasks staff are expected to perform are actually being done. The advent of technology and the development of software which is both easy to use but powerful and streamlined to meet specific needs within the sector has meant that it is now a lot easier than anyone could have dreamed of decades ago to ensure provision of top-quality facilities management services, improve employee compliance within the sector and eliminate risks of public liability claims which could be avoided. Knowing both the current existing technologies and what the future could hold, it’s fair to say that the future is looking bright for facilities management technology. 

Modern And Convenient Features

While the existing technologies within the facilities management industry are not without their advantages and merits, there are still some pitfalls associated with these technologies and areas for improvement to bring the sector even further into the future. For example, the industry has come very far to become essentially paper-free; a lot of existing software solutions for the industry simply involve the use of a piece of software on desktop for office staff and on mobile for employees carrying out their tasks. The obvious advantage here is the convenience of having a variety of features at a glance- Employers can review statistics and reports as well as create and schedule tasks all on one platform, which employees can then report back on and communicate about throughout the stages of the task’s completion. A lot of existing solutions also include other features such as payroll management, HR management features and even booking systems for their clients’ use. The availability of all-in-one solutions for essentially the entire running of the business is an indispensable tool and saves a lot of time, arguably any company’s greatest resource. 

Capabilities: Tracking And Monitoring Compliance

But how exactly can companies ensure their business is running smoothly, and in what ways can physical proof be provided that employees are actually carrying out the essential tasks they are expected to be doing and complying with safety procedures? Again, the modernisation of the industry and the solutions currently available have begun to introduce this functionality. While to some it may sound like a breach of privacy, location data is a key tool for facilities management companies who want to provide the best services possible. For one, it proves that the essential tasks on a day-to-day basis for cleaning and security staff are carried out, and that equipment is actually being used. It can also provide the data needed to defend public liability claims in the event of an incident by giving evidence of which staff member was in the area at the time of the incident.  The way this is typically done is through the use of RFID, GPS or IoT technology, and most of the time involves the use of a mobile app, tapping a reader or scanning a QR code. The use of these technologies can prove compliance and can also be used by employees to clock in or out, providing accurate data on the exact times their shift starts and ends. 

Concerns And Pitfalls

While having capabilities like this is a great advantage to facilities management companies and one that has only become possible fairly recently, there are still factors that come into play meaning there can be room for improvement in terms of the technology used and how it can be used. For example, a lot of existing technologies require use of a mobile app on staff’s own devices to tap a reader or scan a code. Some companies use a timer feature on their app while others have a system where employees simply tick a box to report a task as completed. While a lot of these apps appear relatively easy to use and understand, there are both GDPR issues involved as well as the possibility of data costs to the employee and the fact that there may be some employees who are less tech-savvy than others, possibly older staff members, and also to some employees there may be a language barrier which may hinder their use of the application. There are definitely ways around this- some services provide an SMS texting feature, or others a landline call feature to log time and attendance. While these features all have their merits, the bottom line with these methods of time and attendance tracking is that they involve human interaction and input, which even at the best of times is fallible and can lead to inaccurate data. We are forgetful, we can be called away before we scan, tap or call, and we may not always have data or balance on our phones.  

The Future And Where Péarlaí Comes In

However, this doesn’t mean that human error won’t eventually become a thing of the past and that the future of technologies within the sector isn’t bright. Péarlaí’s technology involves strategically-placed readers around a site, which pick up the employees’ presence there using their name tags or key fobs with built in RFID technology and provide accurate location data to prove where they were and for how long, without any interaction from the employee whatsoever, as they can simply go about doing their job. Our contactless facilities management solution eliminates human error and improves compliance while also providing invaluable, accurate evidence when defending a public liability case. The facilities management industry has come far, and the technologies available now are already a huge step forward in convenience and efficiency. The future is still looking even brighter, and contactless solutions designed to eliminate human error and provide indisputable evidence of a well-running business will lead the way.