Successful Facilities Management Technology Implementation: The Invaluable Role of Leadership

Modern facilities management technology has the potential to revolutionize standard procedures and processes. Facilities Managers can do much more with less and reduce reliance on nonrenewable energy resources while acting as a role model for new, upcoming businesses. However, successful facilities management technology implementation depends on the examples set and decisions made by a leadership team. In other words, establishing set channels and control over the facilities management technology implementations is key to reaping the greatest benefit.

Where Do Facilities Managers Stumble With Facilities Management Technology Implementation?

When upgrading facilities management technology, a lack of experience among Facilities Managers can increase the risk of major problems, as well as major disruptions to the business environment. As explained by Brian Buntz of the Internet of Things Institute, this is especially true when implementing technologies using the Internet of Things. Inexperienced Facilities Managers, particularly those with little experience in upgrading or migrating facility management technology to new systems, may forgo screening vendors or feel no need to define business organizations requirements.

Experienced Leaders Reduce Costs of Implementing New Technology

Everything that goes wrong when implementing new facilities management technology increases implementation costs and reduces the rate of adoption. In other words, problems experienced when implementing new technology have the net effect of increasing distrust for the use of new systems and technology for facilities management objectives, explains Bill Simon of Technical Targets. As a result, experienced leaders are the focal point of ensuring a comprehensive migration of facilities management systems to a new system or platform. This reduces costs associated with implementation and builds trust between the company and those involved in the new system’s implementation. Furthermore, staff members are more likely to embrace new technologies when leaders demonstrate their impact on everyday activities.

Best Practices for Successful Facilities Management Technology Implementation

Among all best practices, Facilities Managers must be careful to limit the scope of facilities management technology implementation to ensure nothing is overlooked. However, Facilities Managers can take the process a step further by considering outsourcing and following 11 best practices:

1. Acknowledge that legacy systems may not work well with the new system implementation.
2. Know who owns the data and understand new technology implementation is necessary.
3. Maintain the security of your systems, using the most advanced cybersecurity and physical security measures.
4. Migrate data in a manner that minimizes data loss, such as using cloud-computing technology to back up data prior to migration.
5. Consider outsourcing of facilities management technologies, which frees time for in-house facilities management professionals and puts the power of an outside entity at your disposal.
6. Acknowledge that you may not be able to maintain all existing systems by using new systems.
7. Retrofit everything, including all devices that use energy, control systems, or impact the occupant experience
8. Use mobile technology to manage systems remotely.
9. Store information in a centralized system, such as a cloud-based system.
10. Train staff appropriately, and re-train staff after full implementation.
11. Be consistent with all steps and activities in implementation.

Plan for Success With Your Next Facilities Management Technology Implementation

Implementation of new facilities management technology can easily result in unforeseen costs and disruption to the guest experience. However, Facilities Managers can reduce risk and plan for success by understanding how strong leadership translates into success during implementation. Staff members will be watching upper-level management and Facilities Managers for guidance on how to react if something goes wrong. This speed of reaction is what determines overall implementation costs and delays.