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Intelligent Buildings

DIGITAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT:

LEVERAGING THE POWER OF PEOPLE,

DATA AND TECHNOLOGY

DEB NOLLER • Emerging technology solutions are driving massive
CEO and Co-founder change in real estate operations but collabo-
Switch Automation rating across all departments to make the right
procurement decisions can be difficult.

Facilities teams are the unsung heroes who prevent • Companies are under pressure to reduce environ-
catastrophes, save money, make tenants happy and mental impact, but they don’t have data-driven
ensure large portfolios operate smoothly. And they do it benchmarks to help them create results-oriented
all while balancing staff reductions, budget cuts and the sustainability programs.
deluge of emerging technology. How can we empower
them with the tools to embrace digital facilities manage- Our team used data from independent research firm
ment when every building and portfolio is unique? Verdantix that incorporates interviews with over 300
real estate executives to create our own Building
Until now, we’ve had to rely on siloed solutions to man- Management Hierarchy of Needs.
age the rapidly evolving ecosystem of buildings and
technology. Today, traditional building management is Buildings significantly impact our lives in a multitude of
at a turning point. Isolated point solutions, spreadsheets ways, and that’s exactly why it’s important for them to be
and stand-alone BMSs aren’t enough to organize and well-run. A successfully operating building increases energy
action the tidal wave of data pouring in from our assets. efficiency, lowers operational costs and allows facility man-
It’s time to consider how we can apply the latest industry agers to get ahead of occupant complaints while increasing
innovations to maximize the value of our existing sys- tenant satisfaction, comfort and retention. It’s nearly impos-
tems and equipment. sible to focus on the top tier of the Building Management
Hierarchy of Needs, Brand Reputation, without first meeting
The Building Management Hierarchy of Needs fundamental needs like OPEX Reduction.
In 1943, Abraham Maslow developed his famous hierar-
chy of needs. His theory posited that humans are moti- Enabling Digital Facilities Management
vated to achieve certain needs and that some of those When embarking on the journey to digital facilities manage-
needs take priority over others. Basic needs are physio- ment consider your building needs, resources and goals. Get
logical and must be met before a person can advance to key stakeholders involved early and collaborate to define your
the psychological, followed by the fully actualized tiers. portfolio’s strengths and limitations. Use them to inform stra-
tegic conversations and prevent unnecessary roadblocks.
Facility management is no different. Often, the tyranny
of the urgent reigns supreme and busy building opera- For example, how will tenant satisfaction and occupant
tors are stymied by inefficient processes, disconnected comfort factor into the program? How can you incorpo-
assets and lack of end-to-end solutions. Consider these rate real-time business intelligence to make better deci-
factors: sions? Once your strategy is in place, you can dive deeper
into establishing project timing, budget and integration
• A multitude of different data-producing building of existing building systems and equipment. Build on
systems and network architectures make this solid foundation of strategy and project design by
standardizing data to gain actionable insights establishing clear roles and responsibilities along with a
nearly impossible. process for tagging and filtering your valuable data.

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