Facility management is a massive part of business operations, and doesn’t matter in size or industry. The reason is that it is needed for keeping on top of building infrastructure, along with optimising the workspace. Little do businesses know that making small facility upgrades can actually help make a business successful. In this article, we will be delving into the importance of facility management, which can help reduce operational costs, improve efficiency, and even help to improve employee well-being.
Can Help With Overall Productivity and Efficiency
One of the benefits of successful facility management and upgrades is that it can help improve efficiency. It can also help with general productivity in the workplace. If a facility is well-maintained, advanced technology can be utilised better, workspaces layouts can be optimised, and it also helps reduce downtime on technology and machinery, which will then significantly reduce disruptions.
A good example would be to upgrade a lift. Lift modernisation is essential and very important for a company because the older a lift is, the more issues it can potentially have. With a newer lift that has regular maintenance, there will be fewer issues and less downtime, meaning the workplace will be more productive. It also allows those who cannot use the stairs access to multiple floors.
Helps To Reduce Costs
Another benefit of facility upgrades is the fact that they can also help reduce costs. This can be difficult to digest because you will need to spend money in order to reduce overall operational costs; however, for the long term, this can prove to be very beneficial.
Energy consumption can be very costly to a commercial property, so this is something that can be improved very easily. It is a simple yet very cost-effective facility upgrade and can involve anything, such as energy-efficient lighting, HVAC systems, smart technology systems and even insulation. All of these can be costly, but they will reduce your energy consumption and costs significantly in the future.
Additionally, regular maintenance checks can also help to reduce downtime and extend the lifespan of technology and machinery. Doing this won’t cost you that much, but can save you a lot in the future. Furthermore, there are also opportunities to identify areas where you wish to reduce waste.
Improve Safety and Security
Security is very important with commercial real estate, especially outside of operating hours. That being said, security is also important for keeping both employees and customers safe. Security measures must be in place to ensure everyone’s safety, whether inside or outside of working hours. The security measures that must be in place include access control systems, security cameras, and alarm systems that can deter criminals from entering the building.
Putting these safety measures in place, such as sprinkler systems, emergency lighting and fire alarms, you’re ensuring the safety of the employees even further because it reduces the risk of accidents and injuries.
Helps To Improve Overall Business Image
Facility upgrades can affect your brand image. People want to interact and work with positive businesses, businesses that are putting an effort into society and being more green. As a result of this, it helps to improve overall brand loyalty and keeps your customers or clients coming back.
Following sustainable practices, people will trust your business a lot more. This can include anything from using renewable energy to encouraging recycling. Small changes, such as using energy-efficient lighting and smart meters, can also be influential in your becoming more sustainable.
Improve Employee Experience
Improving overall employee well-being is something that every business should look to do, no matter the cost. Happy and healthy employees are essential for maintaining a good working environment. Improving the facility is only going to improve the overall workforce, which can lead to great gains for the company.
Improving air quality indoors is encouraged, along with ensuring there is plenty of natural light. To improve the air quality, you need to increase ventilation and use some form of air purification system. HVAC systems are also good for this. If something as getting more plants and placing them around communal areas can also help purify the air.
With the lighting, it is important that you have plenty of natural light. Natural light is a great way of helping to improve office well-being. That being said, you also want to make sure that you have energy-efficient lights that are either orange or a warm yellow rather than choosing bright white lights.
Sound can also be an issue in some workplaces, especially if there is an office full of employees. Installing bamboo panels can help reduce sound due to their natural acoustic properties.
How To Improve The Bottom Line
You should always consider looking to improve the bottom line, no matter what it could cost in the short term. Let’s see how you can do that.
Review Areas Which Haven’t Been Considered
Try to review the areas that you don’t often think about, as these can be the most costly. As discussed previously, your priority is the long-term goal, not the short-term. The reward for these long-term cost savings can impact the business further down the line.
Ensure Technology and Equipment Are Turned Off When Not In Use
Again, this is something that would be more beneficial for the long term, but ensuring equipment is turned off when not in use can save you thousands across the year. This includes anything such as televisions, computers, and warehouse machinery.
Create A Regular Maintenance Schedule
Something else that you should consider is regular maintenance. It is something that is often neglected, which can be quite costly, especially with everything being in regular use. Warehouse machinery will need to be well-maintained and taken care of. Have a regular service on this when it is needed, along with regular maintenance cleans. In regard to computers, ensure these are updated regularly to ensure they have the best security.
To Conclude
As you can see, there are many benefits to upgrading the facility, which will then impact the bottom line. Yes, some of these can be costly initially, but over the longer period, costs will be reduced significantly and more profits will be made. That being said, if there are regular maintenance checks in place, you are going to be reducing downtime on machinery and technology.