Harpreet Kaura

FM is a natural extension that’s evolved over the years and is currently one of the prime components of any dynamic and forward-looking organisations. Kaura has been with KPMG for over seven years during which the office infrastructure has grown many folds across the country. “When designing a new KMPG workspace, we consider multiple aspects, including the design vision, business requirements, employee engagement, financial outlay, etc. The facility manager must integrate the requirements and needs of all stakeholders to provide a workspace that is functional and productive for staff. Sharing data and the benefits of new design elements, and how evolving innovations benefit business are approaches that can align all stakeholders,” shares Kaura.

With the increase in complexity of workspaces, technology to manage the FM workflow is essential for an efficient and effective service delivery. Most commonly, Computerised Facility Management (CFM) tools help provide an enhanced level of automation in operations. These monitor and control operations as well as provide senior management dashboards of facility performance that can be used to improve operations as well as plan for future facilities.

Kaura opines that a key challenge in the industry is the lack of trained FM professionals. “With the increased complexities of the workspace, FM professionals who can understand cost, team dynamics, organisational dynamics, etc, and can think long term and strategically are needed. There are now industry forums to address this and other issues affecting the industry. It’s imperative that all organisations devise ways and means to get FM Services standards under a measurable matrix and ensure performance audits by professional services firms as a mandatory practice,” he concludes.