All this means that juggling endless maintenance tasks is no picnic, particularly when you’re trying to focus on the bigger picture. In this article, we’ll explore the industry’s new direction and why outsourcing might be the smartest move you can make.
Trends in Facility Management
The only constant in facilities management is change. However, experts have noted recurring trends that will define the industry for the next few years. The focus is on controlling costs, talent retention, and tech-based preventative maintenance.
Talent Shortage
The facility management industry is facing a massive talent gap. Not only are qualified candidates hard to find, but schools are also facing a “greyout” as many long-term FM veterans are nearing retirement age. That means smart FM companies must find creative ways to attract new talent.
Tech-driven Preventative Maintenance
Facilities management used to be labor-intensive and complex, completely reliant on reactive maintenance, manual processes and endless paperwork. Those days are gone. Advanced tech has evolved the way that managers work. IoT and CMMS systems can automate tasks, monitor equipment in real-time and help your team make informed, data-driven decisions.
To Outsource or Not to Outsource: That Is the Question
Outsourcing facilities management makes sense for schools that want to control costs and achieve operational efficiency. With budgets being cut to the bone and parents still expecting high academic standards, school administrators must get the most bang for the buck from their facilities management team. Here’s how to do it.
Closing the Talent Gap
A recent Facility Management Journal article estimated that 53% of jobs in the facility management industry could go unfilled by 2025. Around 20,000 workers leave the trades every year, either retiring or switching careers. Combined with rising costs, many organizations struggle to maintain operations, let alone expand them. Unfortunately, many school boards will cut FM budgets during challenging economic times, which might save money in the short term but has long-lasting repercussions as buildings fall into disrepair and equipment breaks down.
So, how can you keep costs low and still keep your campus and equipment in tip-top shape? Don’t pull folks off your team, which is already stretched thin. Instead, outsource your facilities management and let your staff stay focused on academics and attendance. You need a services vendor that can provide extra on-site staff to manage all the custodial duties while school is in session. Being short-staffed on custodians could make for a very hectic workday. If a student gets sick at the same time as someone has a big spill in the cafeteria, it could take hours before both tasks get completed. Let The Budd Group relieve that burden.
While it’s true that there is a talent shortage, The Budd Group has you covered. We have a team of more than 4,000 skilled workers with the experience to get the job done right. We’re so confident in our abilities that we give every client our “Make It Right” guarantee. This means that if you’re not satisfied with our services, we’ll return until you are. With our many certifications and years of acclaimed service, we like to say The Budd Group has earned advanced honors in managing educational facilities.
Tailored Solutions for Facility Support
Facilities management goes beyond basic janitorial, maintenance and landscaping needs. Expert care for your HVAC systems, floors and carpets, and exterior surfaces are also essential considerations. Specialty services like these keep your campus sparkling clean and healthy, maximizing your assets while minimizing wasted resources. The Budd Group offers a range of disinfection services to control the spread of infectious diseases, and our BreatheWell Air Quality Program provides indoor air quality equipment and best practices to monitor and filter out harmful airborne substances. When you outsource to specialists like The Budd Group, our collective experience and broad network of talent allow us to tailor a package of solutions to meet any school’s unique challenges.
Smart Tech Usage: The Future of Facilities Maintenance
Facilities maintenance used to be about reactive maintenance; that is, repairs were made only when something needed fixing. Reactive maintenance still has its place. Assets and equipment break down, no matter how well-maintained they might be. However, best practices dictate the use of preventative maintenance measures to keep malfunctions from occurring in the first place. It seems like common sense. After all, it takes less time and money to maintain assets proactively than to repair things afterward.
Things will fall through the cracks if you’re still trying to track maintenance activities with spreadsheets or, even worse, with pen and paper. Why not leave the day-to-day activities to the professionals? The Budd Group has a dedicated team to optimize and oversee preventative maintenance, and we have the technology to back it up.
Our Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) keeps an accurate, real-time log of all needed maintenance tasks, including inspections, monitoring machine performance, and even communications. Let’s face it—the Southeast can get brutally hot, and you can’t afford to shut down your campus for days to repair an HVAC outage. Outsourcing routine and scheduled maintenance to The Budd Group stops potential issues in their tracks. Even better, it means you won’t have the headache of dealing with multiple vendors. All of your maintenance tasks can be completed by one company.
The Bottom Line
The biggest benefit of outsourcing is that it allows school administrators to manage costs more effectively. Sure, there’s an initial outlay when you hire an outside team for facility services, but the long-term benefits far surpass the initial investment. For public school administrators, knowing what your costs for maintenance will be throughout the year is invaluable, because the rest of your funding is so unpredictable. In addition, your employees may not have the time, skills or clearance to handle every maintenance task. That’s why it makes sense to outsource to The Budd Group’s specialized technicians. We bring quality, safety and efficiency to all aspects of maintenance, from commercial cleaning to electrical. Instead of juggling multiple vendors and estimating what those additional costs might be, The Budd Group’s full-service facility management company handles everything on your schedule for one set rate. There are no surprises.
Also, a skilled facility services provider already has established processes and procedures in place. They know all the current regulations and will keep your school compliant. They have vetted their employees and technicians, and you benefit from efficient, timely repairs, and clean, sanitary schools. This translates to better student attendance, which in turn translates to better academic standards. This means more funding for you. Now you can put that money to better use, like building a new girls’ locker room or a new auditorium for your theater productions. And your administration can spend time on academics, instead of worrying about the cost of trash bags.
Facilities services experts like The Budd Group can help you establish a long-term maintenance strategy that will maximize efficiencies, streamline operations, and reduce headaches from trying to manage your maintenance budget. It’s a win-win.
The Budd Group knows the ins and outs of facility services and will keep your school spotless inside and out. We’ve got everything handled, from cleaning and disinfecting to general upkeep and landscaping. Reach out to The Budd Group today!