How building and facilities managers can strategise amidst COVID-19 regulations

Managers strive to keep units full after a year of the pandemic. 

Building management and facilities management teams are still adapting and practicing the best strategies and solutions in order to keep the wheels of business running at maximum capacity even though there are still strict regulations that must be obeyed, especially those related to health protocols. 

The problem most faced by managers is how they must try to keep units full, keep rent running, and ensure that occupiers or tenants always remain safe. That is why the role and awareness of all parties including landlords, owners, developers, building management and tenants in regard to the situation and conditions should always be at a high level.

Technology Adoption and Opportunities

Building Management 

In facing these problems, the impacts of the building environment are increasingly important factors in combating risk. Learned from the pandemic in real time to strategically shape the future of property and its use, creating healthy building environments such as in office buildings, shopping centres, apartments and even workplaces, technological innovation plays a big role. Most of these technologies were introduced before the pandemic, but with the presence of COVID-19, they have become more familiar.

• Apps: Contact Tracing Applications, Front-end Service Applications
• Treatment: Nano Technology
• UV: Ozone, Indoor air quality and sterilisation in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems

According to Andy Harsanto, Head of Real Estate Management Services Colliers Indonesia, these innovations and technology in the long-term can be seen as a new standardisation assessment of a building and a workplace. It is possible that the health level of a building and workplace will become a new component that is sought and required by occupiers.

Corporate Facilities Management

Christina Ng, Head of Facilities Management Colliers Indonesia mentioned that the use of Facilities Management applications tools such as: CFM system, online approval, and also cloud databases and repositories are considered to be quite helpful and increase in benefit over time. In addition, innovations such as facial recognition innovations, touchless sensors, UV box disinfectants will continue to be used, as such uses are a good long-term investment for a building and a company. Apart from these, to increase facilities’ quality practices, facilities management team of a company needs to comply with the standards given by local regulations, or knowledge updated from expertise.

For Office Building Management and Corporate Facilities Management, the biggest asset in a company is the people – an asset that is far more important than any other. By investing in a healthy building or a healthy workplace, it is assessed that this will improve the performance of the company’s employees in a more positive and productive direction.

Key Goals

Building Management

For buildings that have started investing in technology and facilities that refer to healthy buildings, when the market starts to elevate, developers can pack it up and make it a selling point that provides added value between their buildings and others. When competition occurs, the effect of the added value offered by a building will become an attraction and exclusivity in itself. 

Corporate Facilities Management

Healthy facilities have indirect financial impact, and Colliers can see it in the long-term period. Unhealthy facilities might decrease productivity of employees; hence, it would impact company performance. 

That is why health facilities are a good investment for a company. By obeying the regulations and focusing on trends, latest issues, technology advancement and compliance of health and safety standards, healthy workplaces will increase employees’ productivity. Employees’ satisfaction, experience and collaboration will impact companies' performance that leads to customer satisfaction and good quality of services.

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