FacilitiesDesk Blogs

More than just Installation, right implementation process is key to a successful CAFM deployment!!

Below are the points to be considered on implementing a CAFM system:

• Decide your objectives:

1. Priorities of the new system(ex: reducing the cost run, increasing the efficiency, etc,)
2. Key issues to be addressed like, unclear business process and workflows..
3. Decide the counter measures and reports that you want to obtain from the CAFM system
4. Consider the communication flow you want to build between departments like HR to increase the utilization rate of the integrated CAFM

• Set your Expectations

1. Remember to input only required amount of information that can be efficiently maintained
2. Firstly manage your own expectations and eventually other’s expectations of what the software is actually proficient in doing
3. Although CAFM can greatly improve processes, it can’t actually do the routine work for you more efficiently quicker

• Gathering information

1. Play it safe by keeping in touch with a CAFM consultant to gather information that is required.
2. Should you need to integrate your CAFM application with third party software or indeed importdata from other applications into your CAFM system? A formal review of any additional software that might be required for the system to work effectively should always be undertaken.

• Define Standards
  

1. This step is important for data terminology so that the same terms are used throughout the system
2. Decide the hierarchies that you wish to report to and the codes that are going to be used to categorize resources and maintenance faults
3. Asset, property and facilities information should be clear and recognizable by the team on retrieving relevant information from the CAFM system

• System and Data accuracy

1. Authorize limited people to enter the required information in the system’s database and to maintain the updates regularly. This ensures consistency and check in accuracy
2. Decide on the implementation timescales of the new system and subsequently schedule and execute the associated administrative and training tasks
3. Check for the accuracy of all the data and for its updation upto latest information, prior to loading

• Online integration

1. Decide whether the system will be standalone or networked.
2. Fix on the number of users, who will need access to the system from different departments
3. Decide on the access rights of all users
4. If there is a requirement for varying levels of access, then the system’s security options will need to be reviewed. Perhaps establish a dedicated project team/group within the organisation.

• Training

1. Success of the implementation of the CAFM system depends on the level and rate of utilization of the system, by your users
2. Some staff might demonstrate reluctance to change and to adapt the new working practices and changes in the workplace
3. Users must feel they are getting personal gain from the software and that it is improving the quality of their work on a daily basis
4. Training is essential; it may be useful in many cases for the CAFM supplier to setup two sets of data on the system; one for training purposes and another for live data (This will allow the staff to practise on the system prior to going live, without impacting the live data)

• Process Management
  

1. Freeze the timeline of going live with the CAFM.
2. Preferably split phases in your “go live” process provided the data size is huge
3. Please note that it is often worth piloting the implementation in a controlled environment or having a trial run of the new system before launching it across your organisation.

• Time for being futuristic

1. Keep up regular updation of your system
2. Archive information when no longer in use
3. Look to the future for opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce cost run

This will secure the product’s initial and future success and positively reflect on the facilities department.

Conclusion

If your company has made the decision to install a computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) system, or is in the process of making the decision, the chances are you are fully aware of these above important points of uimplementation so that it helps you in bringing: a reduction in costs and eventually improved productivity…

I mean the number of items in our update list is a little longer today…Let me put them forward one by one.

We have come up with a Standard Edition over FacilitiesDesk 5. (Difference between FacilitiesDesk Standard Edition & Enterprise Edition)

FacilitiesDesk Standard Edition is Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) tailored to help managers like you to take control of the complete maintenance management of your facilities across the globe from this single console.

• Maintenance management
• Preventive or Scheduled Maintenance management
• Breakdown maintenance request management
• Tracking and monitoring the work orders
• Asset management and Tracking
• Purchase Orders Management and Tracking
• Contracts Creation, Management and Tracking
• Generation of n number of Reports with varied permutations and combinations of parameters
• Comprehensive KnowledgeBase
• User-Friendly Configuration Wizard

On the whole, FacilitiesDesk standard edition provides all that you need to have in full-fledged and productive Maintenance HelpDesk (CMMS).

Below are the major Issues fixed along with this release: (Current FacilitiesDesk 5 users upgrade to ServicePack Build 5001)

1. Option provided for editing and viewing requester location details in the maintenance request details page
2. Worktrade delete option has been provided
3. Maintenance Request view form customizer now offers you to add your own urgency level options
4. Options for supervisors to edit user location in the requester details page
5. On importing requesters details from csv – option for importing the login and user names too is provided
6. Option for adding room type is provided on importing room details from csv and in bulk create room wizard
7. Issue in assigning a craftsperson to a maintenance request is fixed
8. Issues on editing the craftperson details are fixed
9. Navigation issue on viewing the consecutive batch of resources from list view is fixed

There were many more issues fixed which are relatively less critical but put together will improve the usability of the product.

Hope the users are aware of the FacilitiesDesk 5’s Chinese and French version. Now FacilitiesDesk 5 is also available in Polish.

Happy Facility Management!!

Please get back to us with your feedbacks. Feel free to mail your suggestions, views, and opinions about the product.

Email: support@faciltiesdesk.com

Download: http://manageengine.adventnet.com/products/facilities-desk/download.html

PhoneToll Free
US: +1 888 720 9500
Intl: +1 925 924 9500

Hello Readers,

You are already aware that FacilitiesDesk uses AutoCAD Revit Architecture Suite software, which includes AutoCAD® and Revit® Architecture software application with its release of FacilitiesDesk 5
For the benefit of users using this new edition we have made a simple video screen-cast on using AutoCAD feature of FacilitiesDesk…pl take time to visit the screen-cast @ http://manageengine.adventnet.com/products/facilities-desk/autocadintegration.html

Thanks!

Nandini

Following the our release of FacilitiesDesk 5 we recently spent a rejuvenating 3-day break in a hill station “Chickmangalore” - Karnataka. Lush green hills, coffee estates, gardens amidst the mist - Epitome of bliss!!

Letting you know, We are back fully recharged to work on our future offerings on product side..

Cheers!

Team FacilitiesDesk

Dear Readers,

We have released the FacilitiesDesk 5.0

Following are the new salient features of the CAFM software:

• Auto CAD integration
  
• Room booking
• Enhanced Requester Login
• Maintenance Templates
• MSSQL support

And FacilitiesDesk is now available in Chinese and French.

For more details on this new release pl view the following related links:

FD 5 can be downloaded from, http://manageengine.adventnet.com/products/facilities-desk/download.html

Website: http://manageengine.adventnet.com/products/facilities-desk/index.html

Demo: http://demo.facilitiesdesk.com/

Will keep you all posted on the updates!!

We are working on upgrade pack which should be available shortly. Existing FD customers, please bear with us on the delay. Once the upgrade pack is available, on applying the same, existing customers will be able to access Professional edition.

Your feedback/inputs/comments/evaluation are most welcome!!

You can reach us in this forums or for more customized support mail us at support@facilitiesdesk.com

Thanks,
Nandini

Its always a delight to deliver what was promised!!
Through my previous post, you knew the list of expected deliverables..here are the details..

• AutoCAD Integration.

FacilitiesDesk, the web-based CAFM now enables the users to apply CAD’s DWF to import the space data and inturn have a CAD view to ease the facility and asset management..below are few screen shots:

• MSSQL support - we got the green signal from the testing team, FacilitiesDesk is tested with MSSQL and support is declared

• No more suspense on which other languages will FacilitiesDesk be available in - French and Chinese too!!
• Other than these we have few more…coming up along with this release pack…
  • Enhanced requester view
  • Room booking – get benefitted with the help of AutoCAD enabled space management features to have hassle free room booking.
  • We have customizable breakdown maintenance requests templates available in FacilitiesDesk5.

Looking forward to catch you all with the “Released” blog banking on your subsequent feedback…

Regards,

Nandini

FacilitiesDesk had a great start at the TFM show in Chicago…nonetheless its because of you enthusiastic crowd visiting us. Thanks to all our visitors on Day-1, it was great meeting all the people we met yesterday (in just 3 hours on the floor). And we are excited about the Day-2 which is about to start in an hours time… If you are in the area, do drop in(Booth no:720)..we will love to tell you what FacilitiesDesk can do for you. And in case you can’t make it, send us a line at support@facilitiesdesk.com.

Looking forward to more support…Cheers-Nandini!!