Computer-Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) has revolutionized the facility management industry. Tying together Computerized Maintenance Management System, or CMMS software, with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) capabilities, and Building Information Models (BIM), CAFM is a powerful system that is capable of supporting all of the technical, infrastructural, administrative, operational, and strategic tasks that a facility management team could ever face.
CAFM’s of 2014
Cloud computing is where it’s at when it comes to just about any computer-based process these days, a situation that is no different with the CAFMs currently on the market. Cloud- or web-based CAFM bring with it a wide range of features that can be accessed from anywhere since everything is on the web.
Facility managers running a cloud-based CAFM are able to schedule work tasks, collect, retrieve and analyze data, generate reports, and track projects all from their smartphones or tablets no matter where they are.
Truly Interactive
Moreover, since CAFM has CAD, BIM and CCMS software capabilities, it can do so much more than schedule work and work with data and reports. When operated to its full extent, CAFM is truly an interactive powerhouse. The relational databases that it manages have been designed to meet the functional and operational requirements that just about any facility manager might have. Similarly, most CAFM programs these days contain fully functional CAD software that allow the user to access CAD files and even in most cases manipulate them.
Lots of Options
There are many CAFM modules available to today’s facility manager to include a space management module for managing space classifications, inventory, and allocations; an asset management module to keep track of equipment and furniture along with its depreciation; a project management module to keep projects on time and within budget; a sustainability module to implement and sustain green programs, energy performance, and various building certifications such as Energy Star and LEED; a strategic planning module which projects potential changes in energy use, space needs, and various other “what if” scenarios; a lease and real estate administration module to keep real estate costs low by analyzing historical costs and trends; and a facility maintenance module to coordinate the supervisors, workers, technicians, and vendors working in or with the facility management team.
Of course, facility managers and technicians need to be trained on the use of CAFM before they can truly implement it. After all, your goal when purchasing a CAFM system is to fulfill your organization’s facility management needs so the people using it must be up to the task.
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