The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed most industries for the better. IoT devices are affording facilities managers the opportunity to automate, streamline and monitor a variety of facility operations that were unimaginable using traditional management systems. Integrating IoT devices and management software into facilities management processes provides richer data sets, remote access and improved monitoring capabilities.
Here are just a few of the ways IoT devices are taking facilities management to the next level:
Utilisation-based facilities management
Facilities management requires effective and efficient maintenance of equipment and machinery. Before IoT devices became a ubiquitous part of our everyday lives, these maintenance checks and inspections needed to be scheduled and conducted manually. Today, IoT sensors allow for pinpoint monitoring of equipment utility and scheduling for maintenance needs. Equipment and machinery need to be serviced and cleaned at regular intervals to ensure their continued productivity.
Tracking Asset Locations in Real-time
IoT technology has advanced to allow for assets to be tracked and geolocated inside any type of facility. Utilising RFID and Bluetooth, facilities managers are able to use indoor positioning systems to track critical assets in real-time. Without IoT devices, monitoring assets and ensuring they are in the right place at the right time can become difficult. Managing assets requires facilities managers to know where every asset is – and where it should be – which is made easy using new IoT tools.
Automatic performance fault alerts
Beyond scheduled maintenance requirements or worn-out machinery, facility equipment should be performing correctly for the rest of your production schedule. When a piece of equipment suddenly stops working, affixed IoT sensors will alert the workflow management system that something is wrong. The necessary technician can be immediately notified and dispatched to fix the problem and get production back online. Automated fault triggering can save facilities managers time and money by limiting unnecessary interruptions.
Improving employee wellbeing and worker experience
The most valuable assets to any company are their employees. Maintaining or improving your workers’ professional wellbeing is about more than having a well-run and well-managed facility; but that does not hurt. By utilising a variety of IoT monitors and sensors, facilities managers can ensure that all facility operations are functioning effectively and up to employee expectations.
Stocked vending machines, access to needed assets, temperature control, available Internet, functioning elevators and working amenities are just some of the comforts that can be closely monitored using IoT sensors. The environmental conditions and facility operations should be monitored by a manager with access to the data they need to help keep employees happy and comfortable.
IoT integration and the rise of predictive maintenance
One of the biggest mistakes made by operations and facilities managers around the world is waiting to fix something that is performing sub-optimally. This reactive attitude towards asset maintenance can lead to bigger and more costly issues later on. IoT technologies have allowed these managers to more closely monitor their equipment and machinery, which is critical to becoming more proactive.
The most important component of modern facilities management tools is the rise of predictive maintenance. Being more proactive means knowing how equipment is functioning in real-time and how it is performing over time. If a machine is underperforming or a piece of equipment is about to fail, these predictive technologies will be able to alert managers to the need for action.
The benefits of predictive maintenance mean that managers can address the potential problem days, or even weeks, before it halts production or damages any products. If the failure is sudden, human-caused or without any warning, it will continue to assess the failure and prevent further failures to other assets on the floor. Every asset produces operational data that needs to be accessible, accurate and up to date for predictive maintenance and facilities management to work.
More effective building management
Building management is a busy and complicated process that requires the right people and the right tools to conduct effectively. Facilities inside the building will vary and the caretakers of those facilities will be spread out across different floors and sections. In order for facilities managers to successfully manage an entire building, they need access to team members, operational data and monitoring systems.
This access is made possible by using IoT devices, tools and software that give facilities managers the opportunity to control and monitor various aspects of building operations. In today’s world, managing a building does not need to feel disconnected and inaccessible. An integrated facility management software built on a series of connected IoT devices transforms the way that buildings are run and benefits the occupants, managers and owners in that building right away.
We offer civil construction and facilities management services for South African businesses using the latest IoT technology and cutting-edge processes. For more information about how we can help manage your facilities, commercial properties and workspaces, contact LeafySpace today.
