Introduction

Facility Management (FM) is not only an exceptionally varied and exhilarating profession but, as a system-relevant industry worth billions, also a crisis-proof career path. Facility Management specifically covers the value-driving factors of real estate, facilities and personal services. As a key enabler of the digital transformation as well as healthy living and working environments in the private and public sectors, FM makes a significant contribution to identifying solutions applicable to major challenges and issues of socio-political and environmental relevance. This is all the more important for our networked world during times of great volatility, in which regulatory requirements and the needs of customers are changing fundamentally and at an ever-faster rate. Answers to these challenges can no longer be found in isolation, but mainly through new collaborative models in business ecosystems.

In times of growth as well as in times of crisis, the demand for qualified and experienced facility managers remains high, and demand is set to continue increasing in the coming years. The systematic focus of companies on their value-creating core processes aimed at boosting competitiveness leads to new and higher demands on the support areas, which are part of the entire value chain and an essential adjunct to the core business. Facility Management defines a company’s FM strategy and controls the value and cost development of the real estate and facilities along the entire life cycle. Facility Management (FM) and Facility Services (FS) are provided in different industries and sectors according to property-specific and customer-specific needs at all levels – strategic, tactical and operational – while FS also include strategic components:

Integration of FM/FS into the process model

 Source: Authors of publication

• A variety of company-relevant and user-centered activities are provided, ranging from individual service packages as FS to the fully integrated FM service spectrum. These include:
• the sustainable operation of real estate and facilities over the entire life cycle (FM at the planning and construction stages);
• acting as a catalyst for the entire company in driving forward the digital transformation;
• the development and implementation of sustainability strategies, thereby contributing to the implementation of net zero carbon;
• optimizing digital building systems with building infrastructure and use;
• introducing innovative concepts for the promotion of best working practices, health and well-being;
• the creation and improvement of the work environment, atmosphere, efficiency and productivity by providing services in logistics, catering, cleaning and safety/security

FM is therefore one of the key management disciplines involved in all aspects of the real estate life cycle.

FM as a management discipline

Source: Authors of publication