The solution providers for business spaces

Rajesh Pandit

Often forgotten, misconstrued or simply not acknowledged, Facilities Management (FM) is an industry that is required across multiple industries to enhance the quality of core business processes and increase their value. When everything is going okay, nobody remembers the efforts that go in to keep it running fine, however, one breakdown and everyone cribs about Facilities Management. 

By definition, professional Facility Management (FM) as an inter-disciplinary business function has the objective to coordinate demand and supply of facilities and services within public and private organisations. Untill the early 1980s, it was truly a reactive service conducted by anyone and everyone.

However, since then the sector has come a long way and has emerged into a vibrant sector creating opportunities for those taking proactive steps to adapt to evolving customer needs. Responsibilities in the sector have increased, duties have expanded and the scope has broadened. Consequently, the level of outsourcing is increasing and clients have become more demanding and sophisticated in procuring FM services. Today, not only global companies but Indian companies as well equally understand the importance and advantages of outsourcing. The growth in real estate, preference towards safe, clean and secure environment and flourishing hospitality industry has raised the demand for facility management services in the country. The growth in this segment has been largely led by factors such as growth in demand from commercial sector with preference towards professionally managed services.

Why FM can offer a great career

Today Facilities Management holds strategic importance by applying expert knowledge, proven best practices and processes, best-in-class technology, procurement leverage and energy and sustainability initiatives, to enhance value, streamline operations, manage operational risk, and reduce operating expenses for its clients as a core business asset.

It offers development opportunities that use a person’s core strengths. FM is an excellent opportunity for young people to be paid and get trained on the job. It also offers a cost-effective resource for employers who would, in turn, invest in a new generation of facilities managers through a wave of apprenticeships.

It also offers many routes to fit a person’s skills set, whether this is in engineering, customer services, sales, team leadership, etc. For example, take someone who is interested in sales, they can work for an FM service provider in a highly competitive yet rewarding environment on multi-million contracts, with clear opportunities to progress into a senior team management position. 

FM professionals have great prospects to drive their own job satisfaction and career paths to make their job enjoyable and rewarding. Whether it is gaining amazing experiences at the vibrant media organizations or a quirky tech company, or working in a local/EMEA/global role, FM is a fantastic career path for young people — if only they realised the opportunities that are available

Scope and choices 

Facilities management represents a wide range of services for candidates to choose form.

The vast range of services include:

• Property Management: End-to-end management of building and the assets such as tenant management, asset management, engineering and soft services, security etc with an aim to enhance asset life and improve end user experience. 
• Corporate Workplace Services: Provide facility management services to the employees in the organisation, including occupancy management, housekeeping, engineering support, cafeteria, transport, vendor management, capex and opex management tec.  
• Critical Facilities Management: Provide industry intelligence to enable resources to manage risk and ensure sound financial performance for facility management of Data Centers and Mission Critical Environment
• Energy & Sustainability: Envision and implement successful energy management and sustainability outcomes, translating these into green occupier strategies
• Technology & Innovation: Provide strategic intelligence with technology solutions and develop/maintain customer reporting requirements including KPIs and service levels
• Finance: Review and track expense controls providing real time access to financial data to facilitate clients’ decision making processes
• Strategic sourcing: Sourcing and vendor performance management services for services such as cleaning, roads and grounds, employee support services (including cafeteria and catering), and business support areas
• Health, Safety & Environment (HSE): Provide best-in-class HSE processes which help to prevent incidents, protect people and property, and maintain regulatory compliance

Burgeoning Demand

• Significant growth is expected in the facilities management market as more and more companies look to outsource these services. The real estate sector is the second largest sector in the country in terms of employment prospects and is one of the major contributors to the country's GDP.
• As business is burgeoning globally with growth detected across all markets and regions, the demand for facility management (FM) professionals is increasing. More and more companies are looking to outsource all or part of their facility-related operations to FM service providers in order to be able to solely focus on the work that is core to the business.
• Today, Facilities Management holds strategic importance by applying expert knowledge, proven best practices and processes, best-in-class technology, procurement leverage and energy and sustainability initiatives, to enhance value, streamline operations, manage operational risk, and reduce operating expenses for its clients. 
• With respect to the segment-wise breakdown, commercial and industrial segments have contributed to 70 per cent of the current effective FM market in India. The commercial segment, including malls, hotels, hospitals, corporate offices, and multi-tenant office buildings has remained the traditional stronghold of most FM companies here. Lately, greenfield industrial activities have led to improvement in scope of growth for FM. 
• The variety involved in the role adds depth to the professional experience and as the levels of responsibility are challenging, it offers you the chance to make a difference.

— The writer is Managing Director Global Workplace Solutions & Property Management, CBRE