CAFM solutions for the Middle East FM software

1. Essential information for FM & strata professionals, building owners, developers & contractors
World Security
Comprehensive
services offered
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FIVE MINUTES WITH...
... NAFFCO CEO
Khalid Al Khatib p48
INTERVIEW
Musanada’s
director of FM
Helal Al Balooshi
p18
An ITP Business Publication | SEPT 2013 | Vol. 8 Issue 09 Essential information for FM & strata professionals, building owners, developers & contractors
World Security
Comprehensive
World Security
Comprehensive
World Security
services offered
Comprehensive
services offered
Comprehensive
INTERVIEWINTERVIEW
Musanada’sMusanada’s
director of FMdirector of FM
Helal Al BalooshiHelal Al Balooshi
p18p18
An ITP Business Publication | SEPT 2013 | Vol. 8 Issue 09
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2. www.constructionweekonline.com/fm September 2013 17
COMMENT
CAFM can help to simplify and
streamline core processes.
here is no question
that the FM function
is not only broaden-
ing, it is becoming
more complex. The
result is that FMs are
being asked to manage
a growing volume of
information encom-
passing a wide range
of activities – often
without additional re-
sources. So the more
that can be done to simplify and streamline
core processes, the easier it will be to man-
age them effectively.
-
ing different computer aided facilities man-
agement (CAFM) software packages so that
they can share information.
Increasingly, it will also become neces-
sary to share day-to-day CAFM information
with Building Information Models (BIMs),
so that data in the BIM is continually up-
dated as changes are made to buildings
and other assets. For instance, if a boiler is
upgraded it may be recorded in asset man-
agement software, but the information
about that boiler in the BIM also needs to
be updated. When selecting FM software,
therefore, it is important to ‘future proof’
by ensuring it will have BIM compatibility
in the future.
While the widespread use of BIM may be
also be applied to other situations. The help
desk, for instance, should no longer be seen
as an isolated system for reporting prob-
lems. When an asset fails this should be re-
corded in the asset management system, of
course, but it can also be logged in the help
desk to generate a task for in-house staff or
sub-contractors. Where sub-contractors
are involved, online access such as through
a supplier intranet facility enables them to
update the status of each task regularly.
The help desk can also be used as a por-
tal for strategic activities such as health and
safety surveys (see ‘FM on the move’ be-
low) and for planning moves when linked
to move management software. In the lat-
ter case, each stage of the move can be
mapped out as a series of tasks in the help
desk system.
Integration with other software packages
should also be considered. An obvious ex-
ample is the ability to book meeting rooms
and related services from within a familiar
Outlook environment. By integrating room
booking/resource management software
with the Microsoft Outlook/Exchange
Calendar bookings can made or altered in
either program and automatically updated
in the other – including sending updates
to all meeting attendees. Integrating room
booking software with visitor management
visitor’s experience as they arrive, while en-
hancing security at the same time.
Room booking software can also be linked
to interactive room signs, providing instant
visibility of room availability and the ability
-
matic updating of the central room manage-
ment software.
Providing intranet access to services such
as room booking, logging help desk requests
and visitor management is also a very ef-
fective way of improving customer service
and minimising the number of calls to the
FM department.
It is now increasingly common to link
-
sions on tablet computers and other mobile
-
ing tasks and receiving updates from mobile
operatives but it is also useful for audits
and surveys. The data is entered directly
onto the mobile device and synchronised
with central systems for sharing with oth-
er CAFM modules – such as automatically
generating a help desk task when an unac-
ceptable score is recorded.
Various aspects of sustainability manage-
ment may also fall within the remit of the
FM department, so the ability to import
data from a range of sources, including
CAFM software, supply chain partners’ sys-
tems and spreadsheets saves a great deal of
time when producing sustainability reports.
For all of these reasons, taking advantage
of modern software technologies is clearly
the way forward for the harassed FM. The
software may be installed on your own sys-
tems or hosted remotely by your software
provider (software as a service/cloud com-
puting). The important thing is to ensure
that the software you choose offers the
-
ciently at every level.
T
About the author
Max Carruthersisanaccount executive
withCausewayMiddle East
MAX CARRUTHERS
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