When it comes to choosing facilities management software for your company or public service organisation, it pays to choose wisely.
With an abundance of specialist software companies to select from nowadays (68,300 according to Google just now), you could be forgiven for taking some time over deciding on the best provider for your business. And who could blame you?
Facilities Management Software
Facilities Management software is one of those investments you will want to last for the lifetime of your business, so it’s only prudent that you should weigh up all the options thoroughly before making a commitment.
If you have the option available, personal recommendations are a great way to do business. But let’s assume you are starting from scratch. You are looking for a service provider who offers top quality, bespoke software, with a first-rate consultancy and training provision.
Facilities Management Software Options
When “interviewing” potential software providers, one of the first things you should ascertain is that their software is flexible, adaptable and scalable. For example, it will need to integrate perfectly with your other applications such as SAP, SAGE and Oracle. It should also be fully customizable so you can brand it with your logo and company colors, as well as those of your clients if you so wish.
And naturally, your Facilities Management software system should offer the highest levels of protection and security available in today’s market so you can be confident that your data will not be compromised.
Did you realise that 57% of businesses do not have a disaster recovery plan in place? In fact, 41% of those businesses freely admit that it is something which has never occurred to them. Shocking isn’t it? Make certain your chosen software has a built-in disaster recovery plan in case the worst should happen. Hopefully you will never need to call on your back-up plan, but at least you will have peace of mind that you won’t be left high and dry should an emergency befall you.
Ideally your software should be wholly adaptable to suit your company’s requirements right now, plus it should be flexible enough to grow with you. Something else to be mindful of, you should not need to pay for additional users within your organisation. It is also a good idea to check whether you will be provided with free lifetime software upgrades – this is an important element of any contract which could add considerable value to your chosen package.
Your Facilities Management software should consist of “feature rich” modules, but not simply for the sake of it. When a car breakdown firm conducted a survey of 2000+ motorists recently, they discovered that 98% of those drivers polled could not identify the commonest lights on their car’s dashboard – this should not be the same with your software! Ideally, you should only pay for functions you are going to use – and use frequently.
To get the best from your software investment you are going to need the best training available, so enquire what basic and ongoing training is provided and in what format.
Go Mobile
These days more businesses are becoming reliant on mobile technology. Your chosen software should be mobile-friendly and adaptable for use across all devices: iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and tablet – much the same as a responsive website design. You do insist on a responsive website design don’t you?
Whether you are in the public or private sector, a ‘not-for-profits’, or charitable organization, Facilities Management software will completely transform the way your business operates. Not only will it empower you to hit your targets more often, but it will ensure that you keep on top of all your professional and legal obligations too.
As with every type of business, not all facilities management software companies are created equal, so do check out their references and testimonials from satisfied clients before inviting their proposal. Also, do you recognise any of the client names? A testimonial from a household name for example will carry a lot more weight than somebody you have never heard of (not that I’m suggesting some companies make their testimonials up – heaven forbid!)
Naturally, the integrity of your service provider will be paramount, but at the end of the day, the only sure-fire way you can be certain of making the right decision is by seeing a variety of different software in action. The main questions you should ask yourself are: Is the option this company is offering right for us? Is this software easy to use? Is it excellent value for money (and within our budget)? Do we trust this company? Is this the best choice of service provider we could make right now?
Many reputable firms are only too happy to provide a free demonstration so you can judge the benefits and quality of their products and service for yourself. Why not arrange your free, no-obligation demonstration today?