Cleaning Industry Trends

Trends 2024 Challenges & Opportunities for the FM Service Sector

Leading service providers share their thoughts on the steps to stay ahead through a proactive and adaptive mindset. The major shifts encompassing the role of FM services in 2024 will brace challenges anticipating shifts to meet changing requirements.

Sustainability: No more a Choice

Rajesh Shetty, Managing Director, Real Estate Management Services, Colliers India takes stock of the present challenges facing facilities management and the deployment of newer technologies as the way forward.

What challenges do you foresee in meeting your services requirements of facilities management specific to 2024?

The advancement in technology and equally its on-ground adoption in the FM space in India has been overwhelming post Covid. This has helped better coordination, logistics support paving way for ease of operations and remote monitoring, further on adding more credibility to completion of complex on-ground tasks. However, the large IT organizations have not seen encouraging responses, specifically to their demands on the return to work, and at the same time the comprehension of service requirement in the hybrid operating environment having not stabilized or matured fully, the overall ability to enhance or fully optimize the workforce productivity continues to pose its own challenges.

Compounding to that, with the inconsistent & unpredictable distribution of work volumes through the week, especially owing to various interruption with intermittent celebrations, FM continues to experience the work scheduling challenges, not only on the rationalization of the human resources capital but also on the diligent consumption of the projected essential supplies. These challenges are also restricting the organization on their ability to deploy more scalable and robust technology, limiting their opportunity on further amplifying the user experience.

With scattered and disconnected workforces, and the diminishing collaborations amongst the various levels of restricted workforce, the subject matter competency and the related analytical skill sets, if not addressed through continuous on-ground and on the job training, could also become an added challenge in the coming years.

What would be your focused approach to sustainability goals and net zero?

With facility manager being well recognized within all organizations, it is imperative for them to take on a leading and active role of, both aggregator and as well the integrator. Further on, facility manager will need to work closely with various sets of internal stakeholders collaborating at various levels with the designated custodians of all key activities. Raising the awareness levels of all these stake holders along with their designated custodians, on the organizations sustainability endeavours incorporating the various prevailing standards & governing certification, would be key to ensuring successful implementation to eventually meet the sustainability goals and net zero mission.

The facility managers will also need to work closely with the investor or developer group and the property owners. As a first step towards fostering right partnership on the sustainability priorities, facility managers will have to articulate the benefits of sustainability to this group and motivate them to get their built environment and the infrastructure upgraded and certified under the net-zero certification.

With a fair self-assessment of the managed property’s key attributes, those being energy, waste, water and carbon footprint and thereafter benchmarking these key focus aspects against some Industry benchmarks, one needs to evaluate their current status and trending patterns. Understanding the inherent designs or any limitations, facility managers then need to identify the first set of focus or priority areas as the immediate opportunity for seamless transitioning into sustainable best practices adoption. The key for the success of adopting sustainability and achieving net zero is to have a very transparent and authentic reporting, and continuous critical review, as this equips them with greater insights on the current practices along with the products currently used.

With many emerging green and sustainable products in the market, the endeavour would be to keep exploring and evaluating avenues to adopt & induct these greener products in the way forward sustainability program.

It would also be prudent to identify and collaborate with some external consultants to put together a progressive blueprint wherein the key would be creating and setting aside a one-time or recurring sustainability budget. The sustainability budget should also have allocations for incorporating technology, as reliability of data tracking and real time reporting, which takes away the dependency on people aspects in reporting, is the crucial factor for arriving at a well-informed strategic investment decision.

Periodic tracking and review of key milestones in a quantified way will help one to assess the progress being on plan, and herein, as well, the continuous conversation and interaction amongst all stakeholders with data substantiated by the activity custodians, will serve as a great implementation tool for all organization to achieve the net zero.

The comprehensive and strategic approach that needs to be developed, could focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, waste reduction, tracking carbon emission and many emerging government initiatives.

What changes are you likely to make to meet your requirements?

To bridge the gap between the organizations CXO’s articulated vision of sustainability and achieving net zero, and the on-ground designated custodians of various disciplines, it is critical to upgrade the subject matter experts (designated custodians) to take on the role of Sustainability Champions within the system, who could not only raise the awareness levels at the lower level but also be able to infuse effortless rhythm into the execution of the organizations sustainability blueprint.

It is also critical to bust the belief that bringing in sustainable best practices calls for redesigning the infrastructure and comes at a considerable initial investment, which organization would shy away from, owing to the returns not being immediate and certain, given the dynamic work environment and especially having experienced serious business disruption at all levels in the recent past. Also, the migration to adopting technology to track and report on real time basis should not be seen sceptically. Rather organisations should embrace the new age technology even if it requires some initial investment. Eventually data integrity and the repository are crucial for any productive and sustainable business.

Whilst raising awareness at all levels is one key aspect, communication also plays a crucial role. It is imperative for organization to benchmark their current practices and operating parameters and keep broadcasting internally and externally on the incremental progress made towards sustainable business.

Companies that have sustainability at its core, can transform its entire value chain and the business ecosystem. And to ensure the organizations sustainability and net zero program always conforms to the design and certifications standards, a small and empowered committee, with representation at key hierarchy levels, needs to be created.

Way forward, sustainability mindset will no longer be a choice in any business, it will become a MUST!

Prioritizing Occupant’s Feedback

In the coming year, several significant trends are expected to shape the facility management landscape, says Vishal Sharma, VP Client Solutions, Sales and Marketing, PSIPL. What are the major changes that will profoundly impact the industry?

Embracing Technology

Technology has become an integral part of facility management, and its importance will only grow in the coming year. Organizations recognize the need to embrace technology to enhance efficiency and improve service delivery. This includes the implementation of smart building solutions, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and data analytics to optimize energy consumption, streamline operations, and proactively identify maintenance issues. Companies will invest in advanced facility management software and leverage automation to streamline processes, enhance communication, and provide real-time reporting to clients.

 Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

Sustainability has become a top priority for organizations across industries, and facility management plays a crucial role in achieving environmental goals. Companies recognize the significance of sustainability and energy efficiency and will focus on implementing green practices. This includes adopting renewable energy sources, optimizing resource utilization, implementing waste management strategies, and promoting sustainable procurement practices. Organizations will work closely with clients to develop and implement sustainability initiatives that align with their corporate values and environmental commitments.

Enhanced Focus on Occupant Experience

The well-being and satisfaction of building occupants have gained significant attention in recent years, and this trend will continue to grow in the coming year. Organizations understand the importance of providing a positive occupant experience, and their approach will focus on creating comfortable, safe, and productive environments. This will include the implementation of smart building technologies to enhance security, improve indoor air quality, and optimize lighting and temperature control. Companies will prioritize occupant feedback and actively seek ways to incorporate their preferences into facility management practices.

Remote Work and Flexibility

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote work and flexible work arrangements. Organizations acknowledge this shift and will adapt their facility management strategies accordingly. As organizations increasingly adopt hybrid work models, they will support the evolving needs of their clients by providing flexible solutions for managing workspace utilization, implementing contactless technologies, and ensuring seamless connectivity for remote workers. Companies will leverage their expertise to optimize facility operations and create agile work environments that cater to the changing demands of the workforce.

Data-driven Decision Making

Data has become a valuable asset in facility management, providing insights that drive informed decision-making. Organizations recognize the power of data and analytics in optimizing operations, improving maintenance processes, and enhancing overall facility performance. By leveraging advanced analytics tools, companies will gather and analyze data on various aspects of facility management, including energy consumption, maintenance schedules, and space utilization. This data-driven approach will enable organizations to identify trends, predict potential issues, and make proactive decisions to improve efficiency and reduce costs.