Top 5 Reasons Facilities Managers Still Aren’t Using The Right Software
Imagine a work place where space is utilized to its optimal potential, helping management know exactly where everyone is at each moment, and one where people movement is easily regulated. Picture a work environment where tangible, valuable assets are easily managed, and a place where employees have a specialized Service Request tool that allows them to quickly submit work order requests. Envision an office where facilities managers are capable of booking room reservations at the touch of a button, including conference rooms, shared spaces, quiet and collaborative spaces, and so forth.
These are exactly the types of benefits that utilizing facilities management software can bring to a work environment, yet many managers still aren’t taking full advantage of such innovative tools. 
1) Not Quite Sure Where to Start
Facilities management software is a foreign concept for many FMs, and as such, they often aren’t quite sure where to start looking. Many FMs may be reluctant to start the process of looking into various software programs on their own. But this is an excellent way to gather basic information.
Ideally, facilities managers should be part of an organized assembly of internal team members to help determine exactly what is needed from a facilities management program, solicit proposals to various providers, and ultimately select the best vendor.
2) Don’t Know How to Approach CEO for Money
Keeping up with the demands of the ever-evolving workplace demands a capital investment. Yet many facilities managers are hesitant to approach their CEOs for money needed to invest in workplace management software. Part of the problem is that facilities managers and CEOs don’t always speak the same language. While the FM may know the ins and outs of the electrical systems and technical equipment, the CEO may not.
Translating what is being said into concepts they’ll understand is important to get the point across. How will a facilities management software have a positive effect on the company’s bottom line, and how much money will it save? On the other hand, how much money could the company lose if such software wasn’t put into action? These are concepts CEOs will better understand.
Many FMs may not feel like they’ve got a strong enough argument to make in favor of investing in software, yet its implementation within the work environment can help facilities managers streamline workflow and personnel, inevitably saving money in the long run.
3) No Choice is Better Than the Wrong Choice
With the plethora of facilities management software available, it can seem like a daunting task to determine which avenue to take, and which product to select. Choosing the most appropriate facilities management software needs to be an organized and precise effort, propelled by the goal of implementing a system that will offer efficient planning and maintenance of all personnel and assets.
An added challenge awaits managers of multi-site environments, making choosing the right software that is capable of managing the maintenance efforts of all the sites from a centralized system that much more important.
4) They Aren’t Collaborating with HR & IT
While HR and IT may be distinct departments within a company, facilities managers still need to maintain regular communication with them. After all, each of these departments have similar goals: to ensure the workplace maintains the highest level of productivity as possible. Yet many facilities managers seem to find it a challenge to communicate with HR and IT on a regular basis.
The truth of the matter is, it’s an integral part of the job, and will help in deciding where and how to integrate FM software into the workplace. Collaborating with HR and IT can make it a lot easier for a facilities manager to determine how to create a viable and engaging workspace that offers the necessary tools needed for optimal productivity.
5) Don’t Know How to Show ROI
Much like anything else, facilities management software costs money. Many facilities managers may understand how incredibly helpful having such a tool would be to help them evaluate a company’s processes and productivity, as well as implement strategies to keep their finger on the pulse of all things happening within a company’s four walls.
Despite having such an understanding, however, many FMs are still unclear as to how to show the potential return on investment of implementing a facilities management software into a work environment. While certain expenditures may not necessarily be ones that will be worth their cost, others, like FM software, can help facility managers have real-time information at their fingertips in regards to the happenings in their office buildings.
Facility management is on the rise, and will continue to be well into the future. With such an increase in this field and the importance FMs provide to their work environment, having a facilities management software put in place, such as iOffice’s flexible and innovative solution, just makes sense.
