Simplicity Is Still An Important Business Value

Much of our professional careers are centered around handling complex issues such as interpersonal workplace relationships, contracts, and reading and understanding analytics in hopes to improve business processes. As the Facilities Manager, you likely spend much of your day seeking out simplified solutions to complex problems. Businesses run most efficiently when every aspect is run smoothly and simplistically. Why then, is achieving simplicity such a complex issue?

The “idea of ‘simplification’ is not only complex from a technical or business point of view; it is even more complex from emotional and philosophical point of view.” – Faisel Hoque

While so many of us cringe over complicated spreadsheets, contracts, business-related tools and processes, many of us still trudge along, suppressing our desire to get back to our more basic roots. The truth of the matter is, that simplifying the way we conduct business requires discipline, patience, and strength. It requires being a true leader, sifting through all the “fluff” and exposing the root issues and tackling them head-on.

Technology has taken a front seat in every aspect of our business practices. From mobile devices to Social Media and picture sharing, we have invested in technology whole-heartedly, utilizing our tools to create visually pleasing workflow diagrams, searching for the “perfect” solution. But what we have lost sight of, are the basics—the “Four E’s”: education, experience, exposure, and environment. This approach shifts the focus away from building the perfect “design” and puts solution development at the forefront.

There is no denying that technology is here to stay and companies who wish to become leaders in their industry must utilize such tools. But what pioneers in the field are learning is that they can utilize these complex tools to come up with simple solutions. Let your investments do what they were designed to do!

Take space management, for example. If you manage a high-level corporation, you likely oversee multiple locations. A space management software tool collects complex data concerning how the space is used and its efficiency. Data is collected via multiple avenues and should be displayed in dashboard analytics in a manner that is simple and easy to understand.

Once you have been educated to the specifics, you can focus on how best to use this data to enhance the employees’ environment for maximized productivity. Tools such as move management software allow you to create and visualize multiple scenarios and help you determine which option is best, taking those detailed stats into consideration.

Asset management is another avenue that is best simplified. Why assign multiple employees the task of tracking and maintaining your company’s various assets, when you can track everything in one tool? This allows all the various circumstances surrounding the life of the asset to be tracked including service, maintenance, location, utilization, and ownership. This allows for ease of tracking and reporting.

Have you ever been to a meeting that seemed to drag on because the presenter was ill prepared? They didn’t have access to the most up-to-date data; perhaps they were waiting on their colleague to collect the information and that person was relying on the person charged with those spreadsheets? If you have invested in an IWMS, the data collection is done for you, displayed in a manner that is easy to understand and based on real-time data. Your meetings can be informational, well thought-out, and concise. Have you ever heard anyone complain about a meeting being too short?

We are not implying that your agenda should be simplistic. In fact, they should be just the opposite. A well thought-out method should be designed around solid research and examination of your company’s long and short-term goals, with the focus shifted towards what is NOT needed, rather than what is. Once these details are outlined, your team can focus on what technical tools and steps should be implemented to maximize company resources and productivity.

As the Facilities Leader, you face the complexities of the inner workings of your organization day in and day out. The more complicated the solution, the more time spent. Time wasted on unneeded complexities equals increased work, higher resource costs, and more money spent on salaries. All directly affecting the bottom line. Time equals money and is, therefore, your most valuable resource.