Information on the go – using mobile technology in FM

Mark Kirkham, Director of Service Works Group, discusses using mobile devices and real-time data to gain a competitive advantage and

boost productivity in facilities management.

Mobile devices are traditionally utilised in facilities management to provide timely information and required actions for FM engineers, such as where

to go and what problem needs to be fixed.

More complex tasks generally require a visit to the site office, or for the engineer to be pre-armed with all the necessary documents and plans, piled

into a bag. So it’s not surprising to know that there is a growing appetite for engineers to have more detailed information that is easily accessible,

and so, improving productivity.

In an article published on the RICS website, Les Pickford, former editor of the RICS Construction Journal and Mark Kirkham cover the following

topics in their discussion.

View the full article - Improving productivity with mobile technology: http://bit.ly/16NGb6m

BIM and FM

Collaborative 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) is required by the government on its project by 2016. The new information rich BIM business

processes are intended to provide electronic files containing traceable information that is consistent with the original design.

Where a final build is not consistent with the original design, FM has needed to conduct its own survey to build an accurate asset database. BIM

provides the ability to import the data into an FM system that engineers can access via mobile devices from day one.

The benefits of using mobile technology

The key benefits include:

accurate real-time status of jobs

remote engagement and

collaboration and increased first visit fixes

The impact of not using mobile technology

Competing with FM operations that offer real-time systems that have an operational advantage will be difficult, staff retention could factor along with

kit provision where the efficiencies of replacing devices over FM-specific kit is not realised.

Practical advice

The full article details practical advice on the following areas

Strategy - Establish short, medium and long term strategies.

IT Infrastructure - Consider the requirements needed for mobile technology, connectivity and off-line capabilities.

Adoption - How will staff react, consider resistance & training. Will customers have access?

FM System – Does your FM System accept BIM information

Bandwidth – Consider the increased data usage any solution to mitigate bandwidth challenges.

Read More! The full article by Les Pickford in discussion with Mark Kirkham entitled; Improving productivity with mobile technology published

on the RICS website here http://bit.ly/16NGb6m or find out more about the benefits of RICS membership for Facilities Managers here:

http://bit.ly/1z7uHqw