Things To Keep In Mind When Looking For The Best Facility Maintenance

Published on: 04 March 2019 Last Updated on: 09 August 2019

The importance of a well-managed infrastructure in the success of a business cannot be underestimated. A properly maintained commercial property ensures efficient delivery of services, a safe and healthy working environment, optimum worker productivity, and customer satisfaction. It adds value to an organization, so it’s important to keep it in great shape.

Unfortunately, facility maintenance, upkeep, and repair can take up a massive chunk of a business’ operational expenses. The good news is that service contractors are specializing in commercial property maintenance without straining your annual budget. Outsourcing this business aspect is a cost-effective alternative that comes with several other benefits. Many businesses are now adopting this business structure. In fact, the global facility management market was estimated to reach $1.314 trillion in 2018.

With the help of reliable building maintenance services, costs are controlled, resources are maximized, standard services are delivered, and compliance with health and building codes is ascertained.

How to choose the right facility maintenance provider?

Facilities maintenance is an important part of your organization’s day-to-day operations. Once you outsource it with a third-party provider, the facilities management services become an integral part of your business. Their quality of service, whether it is good or bad, will reflect on your business.

Working with the inexperienced or ill-equipped provider can lead to a horrible partnership that can adversely affect customer satisfaction, business operations, and revenue potentials. This makes it vital for businesses to choose only the best.

Facility maintenance specialists at CSG share with us some things to keep in mind before zeroing in on a provider for your business.

Reference:

Any company can make an impressive marketing material. However, make sure to verify the claims of a potential provider. Ask for references that can vouch for the quality of services they offer.

Training and experience:

Employees of the facility maintenance provider become a de facto member of your company. They play an essential role in your business’ daily operations. As such, you want a provider with skilled, trained, and qualified personnel so that your clients get the best service experience. Furthermore, this should also ensure that they can execute their duties properly. Ask about development and training programs for service employees. Look for a company that considers continuous this a priority.

Flexibility:

Choose a commercial property maintenance contractor with a wide range of capabilities. A reliable facility maintenance services must be versatile and be able to respond to the ever-changing needs of your business quickly. This will ensure consistency in the delivery of services, efficient work processes, and reduced costs associated with hiring a different contractor. If your business is expanding, consider working with a company that offers scalable services or customizable plans and programs.

Supplies and equipment:

An excellent facility maintenance provider should be well-equipped with adequate and appropriate supplies and equipment. Check their inventory to validate their claims. This should help you assess their capability to meet your building maintenance needs. Verify the quality of the equipment and products they utilize.

Management and leadership:

This is a crucial aspect of any organization as it can have a significant impact on how tasks and responsibilities are accomplished. Poor leadership can lead to failed delivery of services. You want to know who will be managing the account. Explore their existing organizational culture and see how policies are utilized to achieve goals.

Transition process:

With proper risk management and transition plan, a change in facility maintenance provider could lead to disruption of services. As such, you want to check how the provider can guarantee a smooth handover and avoid any interruptions that could affect business operations.

Insurance:

To avoid any liabilities while their personnel is working on your premises, make sure to check their current insurance policies.

Availability:

Inquire about any blackout times in a provider’s schedule. Also, check about how they deal with sudden requests for additional personnel or new tasks.

Certifications:

Certifications such as CIMS Green Building, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliant, and Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CMS) ensure competence and compliance of a prospective contractor. Inquire about the certifications that the provider currently hold.

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Why In-Company Training Results in Better Employees

The world of today is continuously changing. Each new day brings new challenges and new problems. But, it also comes with unique learning opportunities. Just like the trials of modern business never stop; the same goes for education. The need for constant growth never stems, regardless of where you and your team are. If you are working apart, you can find an all-in-one training platform that can help you stay on top of your game. No matter how skilled and educated your employees are, it’s certain that they can benefit from additional in-company training. Here are some of the benefits that training can bring to you and your employees. Improved performance Let’s start with the essential thing - training brings improved performance and workers’ motivation. According to research, trained employees possess more knowledge and expertise than others. In return, this boosts their job performance and general efficiency of the workplace. They become more efficient and confident, which saves you valuable resources in the long run. Boost job satisfaction As stated above, the workplace of today continually comes with new challenges. And, if the workers aren’t able to adequately respond to those challenges, their morale drops. Also, low morale brings low job satisfaction, which brings confidence even further down, and the whole process becomes a self-sustaining vicious circle. Here’s research that proves that training sharpens employees’ hard skills, which improves their morale and job satisfaction. Training prepares employees for more significant responsibilities Training programs can also help prepare employees who are moving into higher roles and taking on more responsibilities in an organization. These programs will help them learn the skills that are needed to function effectively in their new positions. For instance, they may be trained in leadership skills or specific software they will use in their new role. Training saves you money Studies on workforce flow show that it almost takes, on average, roughly eight months for any new hire to reach their full productivity after selecting a new job. During this time, they will not be at the peak of their game, without a solid training program that can fill any knowledge and learning gaps that could be keeping an employee on backfoot. By ensuring that all new employees should have a solid understanding of needed skills and practices sooner rather than later, with the help of proper training you can save a plentiful chunk of money. Less need for supervision If the employees get actual scientific training, the responsibility of guidance is lessened also. Training does not eliminate the need for control, but it reduces the need for detailed and constant care. In turn, this means that the workers become more relaxed and less stressed, which once again means improved productivity and higher worker satisfaction. Training means fewer accidents Like with the previous point, it’s worth remembering that errors are likely to occur if the employees lack the knowledge and skills required to do a particular job. The plentiful trained an employee is, the less are the chances of doing disasters in the job, and the more proficient the employee becomes. With fewer setbacks and errors, the entire workplace becomes more comfortable, and that is one more way the overall confidence improves. It shows employees they are valued Performing training programs in the workplace will help the employees to feel like the company is investing in them. By teaching your employees new skills and techniques, they will become better workers and feel like more fruitful members. This will develop their moral value as well as their workplace capabilities. Training is also directly bound to an employee’s commitment levels. Without signs that you consider their development, some individuals no longer feel connected to their responsibility, either cognitively or emotionally, meaning that most will give the bare-minimum work effort. Quality training directly checks this influence. Training makes it easier to spot valuable workers When an organization requires a brand new set of skills, it tends to face great employment difficulties. Training can be used in locating out the most promising employees in the workforce. It can also help with eliminating the defects in the selection method. It is always a better way to pick and train the employees from within the company rather than seek skilled employees from external sources. Training strengthens adherence to the same standards across the board Every field has its peculiarities and requirements. Most of the time, new hires are not aware of the functioning of the organization. A significant benefit of training employees is that it boosts their attachment with the organization’s quality standards. Simultaneously, it equally strengthens the old workforce’s functioning and abilities, keeping them up to date with potential changes and improvements. It will improve your company’s reputation Research from Gallup notes that sixty-six percent of workers are not satisfied with the level of engagement their workplace provides them. But, if you pay attention to developing your workforce’s skills, expertise, and job satisfaction, people will spread the word. Thus, more competent people will join you. They will enjoy working in an organization where they can learn as well as utilize their abilities to maximize the productivity of the company. Employee training creates opportunities for internal promotions The advantages of training and development for an organization are varied. One of the significant beneficial sides of training is for employers to help and fill internal promotion positions. This is a feasible coast beneficial solution, as well, since hiring new talent is an expensive operation. Plus, your present employees are well informed about the organization's operations and work culture, so they can start working instantly. Conclusion As you have seen, quality training can have a direct positive impact on your bottom line. When your employees are more engaged and productive, profitability will also naturally grow, and by improving recollection rates through training, your company can keep valuable employees by its side. The general conclusion is that each of the benefits of train your employees won’t just only to improve your daily work advancements and put workers in a better situation to succeed; they will be responsible to set profitable outcomes for the newcomers. Training modules provide the benefit of developing a framework for regular work on employees’ strengths and ensure progress and profits. Read Also: What Are the Ways to Prepare a New Employee? How to Create an Effective Company Training Program Possible Reasons Why Your Employees Aren’t Too Productive and What to Do About It

Prep Your Office For An Ergonomics Work Setting: Tips To Make It Perfect

A healthy and safe working environment is quite a product-oriented work environment. Regardless of the company’s size, some enterprises strive to prepare an ergonomically sound and capable workplace for their employees. Ergonomics is vital because it safeguards the employees' mental and physical health and well-being. Similarly, you can avoid issues like repeated injuries and overexertion by incorporating effectively designed ergonomics equipment. When there is poor ergonomic practice, it is the duty of every employee to ensure they are using good ergonomics at their own working station. With a desk, fancy chairs, and equipment, the world will not assist an employee who slumps and slouches in an awkward way at their desk. In this article, you will find certain important tips to help you focus on the office and create a productive and healthy working environment. Ways To Immediately Improve Your Workstation Ergonomics When you are uncomfortable at your desk or feel discomfort while working, it is due to a poorly positioned keyboard and monitor. It might further prevent an individual from reaching their full potential of working. Here is a list of tips to help you create an ergonomic working station. 1. Proper Height Display Monitor and other display devices should be placed at an eye level when your employees use them. Similarly, when viewing a display, one must not strain the neck or squint the eyes. Therefore, ergonomics is dedicated to employees not being required to alter their neck to right, left, down, and up to see a display. Thus, the principles apply to individuals with conventional single monitors and power the users in employing the multiple displays. 2. Good Working Posture Whether your employees work in a warehouse or within a corporate office, the top ergonomics priority is establishing an effective workstation. You need to ensure that your employees are able to stand or sit in the correct body posture. On the other hand, you need to see if they work in a relaxed position that requires no stress or excessive reaching to task completion. Standing at the workstation is also suggested and is a good ergonomics approach. This will ensure your employees stand straight and wrists and arms remain in a neutral position. 3. Keyboard Position With ergonomics, a proper keyword, a mouse, and other gadget configurations are just as significant as your employee posture regarding neutral body position. If the individual is reaching out for the mouse at a problematic place and has violated the parallel rule (inline) of wrist or elbow, then it might not be suitable for health reasons. Ensure the employees reach for input devices that can lead to excessive fatigue after lengthy exposure. You should place the mouse and keyboard where the employees can easily access them without neglecting any of the neutral body positioning rules. Furthermore, tailor your devices for the employee who is using them. Furthermore, both the devices should be tailored for the person using them. This might require an adjustable device for diverse users. Thus, flexibility or malleability is the most important element. 4. Adjustable Chairs And Desk You must prioritize purchasing high-quality commercial business furniture with adjustable chairs and equipment to maintain a good posture and a neutral body position. If you observe, there are individuals who have a poor sitting posture. On the other hand, there are employees who do not take breaks and sit constantly in one place for a long duration. This creates a risky situation of experiencing injuries and weariness to their neck and back. The more comfortable a chair and desk can be, the more you can tailor the individual's use. Similarly, when it comes to ergonomics, employees must sit comfortably and work with dedication rather than suffer from pain. 5. Reduced repetitive Movement The majority of business or corporate employees suffer from MSDs or Musculoskeletal disorders that occur due to repetitive movement. Even if your employee applies perfect ergonomics rules, repeating the same without any motion will cause them stress and later an injury. One of the best ways to combat the issue is by altering the duties and responsibilities. When they do something else and perform a different movement, even after a short time, it will eventually bringing down the capability for stress and injury. 6. Environmental Setting Often, the environmental setting is overlooked within a working station. Some essentials of ergonomics are proper lighting, convenience, humidity, and temperature. However, the lighting must not cause any glare on the computer screen. This denotes that your workplace should be equipped with soft light systems. Incorporate light that is good for working and reading and will be necessary for computer light. On the other hand, the settings of temperature are trickier since individual preferences differ. Avoid MSD among employees and reduce the working space temperature for a comfortable work experience. 7. Standing Up And Moving Around This is one of the most important tips for office employees: get up from your seat and move around. It is as simple as it can be. Once an hour, workers should get up from their seats and take a few minute breaks. You can also encourage your employees to take short breaks, walk, visit the restroom, or grab a cup of tea. Remember, a healthy working environment is a productive working environment. 8. Shield Your Eyes There are many business sectors that use computers regularly, and employees spend several hours each day. When you constantly work in front of the computer at a regular stretch of time, the blue light from the screen induces eye weariness and strain. In this situation, it is an effective method of incorporating ergonomics in your workstation to include preventive measures to keep employees motivated. It is your responsibility to look after the employee and their well-being. In order to do this, you might either wear blue glasses or rearrange the employee schedule of spending screen time. Summing Up Some of the major advantages of ergonomics working station include: Increased working satisfaction. Reduced number of employee compensation claims. Decreased sick leaves or less number of physical injuries. Therefore, the majority of professionals within different business sectors spend their working days at a desk. This is why it is crucial to adjust their desk and chairs to their comfort level. Thus, it is important to learn about workplace ergonomics as it can help you reduce fatigue, workplace injuries, and stress levels. Even if the employee is not in danger, you can contribute to making the workplace a pleasant atmosphere where individuals look forward to coming to work every day. Read Also: Remote Working In 2022: 5 Must-Have Tools—You Need To Know Sneak Peek Into The Working Of HR Department Five Reasons Why Freelancers Should Use a Coworking Space

Why Your Business Needs Call Center Tracking

Customer service is the cornerstone of your business's success. It's also the key to keeping the customers you already have. In fact, companies with a thought-out customer service approach enjoy a 92% retention rate. If the bulk of your customer service efforts is in the hands of a call center, it's important you make this operation as efficient as possible. To do this, you need detailed information about what's going on behind the scenes. Utilizing call center tracking is the best way to get this data. Implementing call center tracking software will help show you where improvements need to be made. The result is a better customer experience. Monitoring your call center can help your business in a number of ways. Read on to learn more! 1. Understand Your Revenue and ROI: Knowing what products and services are driving revenue is important for any business. It allows you to make decisions about future products and improve ones that aren't doing so well. By tracking your call center, you know what customers are more excited about and what they find troublesome about your products. You'll be able to see the source of each call to get a better grasp on exactly where most of your profit is coming from. This data will also help you understand what your return on investment is for the marketing campaigns you're creating for each product. Where your calls are coming from clues you into which advertising channels are working. Tracking call center metrics makes all this very easy. Detailed reports from your tracking software will lay all this out in an easy-to-read manner. 2. Measure Adherence to Scheduling: A huge benefit of tracking your call center is a better understanding of the KPI (key performance indicator) of your customer service reps. This information will help you streamline your call center scheduling. You may be asking yourself how this works. Well, you can monitor inbound and outbound calls, the average length of calls, and the location of inbound callers. All this helps you improve in-house scheduling and reduce the chance of calls going unattended. You'll also be able to measure the productivity of each rep. You'll then know if your call center isn't robust enough and if certain employees are causing bottlenecks. All this information helps call center managers create a more well-oiled, effective operation. It also greatly helps with optimal shift scheduling so customers are more efficiently serviced. 3. Refine Marketing Strategies: Detailed call monitoring provides invaluable information about your customers you wouldn't otherwise have access to. Such information includes customer loyalty, purchasing trends, and who your potential customers are. Think of call center tracking as a way of becoming more familiar with your target audience. All this information allows you to make changes and strategize future marketing efforts. It can also give you some insight into which strategies you should do away with. Your marketing team can use this information to focus their efforts on the right channels. They'll also be able to better understand the strengths of your products and services and emphasize them in advertising campaigns. All this will have a positive effect on your overall revenue and help maximize your ROI. 4. Recording and Routing Calls: Call center tracking software provides the capability to record calls between your reps and customers. This feature can help in a number of ways. First, you'll be able to get a firsthand account of what problems customers are having with your products and services. You'll also be able to tell which products consumers like the best and what elements of your product are the most desirable. This data will allow you to refine your product and make more informed decisions on future designs. Recording calls will also help you determine which employees need further training and which have the potential for promotion. Tracking software will also help in figuring out kinks in your routing procedures. This is important, as misrouted customer service calls can lead to a loss of existing customers. 5. Improve Your Quality of Service: One of the biggest benefits of tracking calls is the effect it can have on the quality of customer service you're providing. You'll be able to pinpoint exactly where setbacks occur in your current operation and remediate them. Find out how easy it is for callers to reach a solution to their problems. If the process is difficult, you'll need to take means to streamline it. You can also see what the average wait time is for callers. If you notice customers abandoning the call because of long delays, you know you have a problem. This is where you can use caller id reputation to filter out the callers whom you must prioritize to make the most out of the conversion. Are you seeing missed calls or routing issues? You may need to beef up your staff or reposition certain employees. You may even find that a virtual receptionist service would benefit your operation. Whatever solution is right for you, call tracking services can expose areas that need improvement. 6. Cut Down on Employee Turnover: A high turnover rate causes a loss of time and money. When you track your call center, you're able to fully understand the skill level of each employee and the overall morale of your department. You can then make changes to your training protocol. It also provides an opportunity to appropriately place employees in roles more suited to their strengths. All of this makes for a much healthier work environment. It also creates a more rewarding experience for each employee. These things are key to keeping your turnover rates low. Boost Your Customer Service with Call Center Tracking: Knowing what's working and what's not is the first step in creating the best possible customer experience for your business. Implementing call center tracking can allow you to undercover information about your operation so you can make educated improvements. Call tracking software has come a long way and now offers many features that can help you streamline your customer service process. Look into implementing it for your call center and let your customer experience evolve. For more articles that will expand your knowledge in the business world, check out our blog. Read Also: Top 4 Creative Team Building Ideas For A Call Center Industry This 2016

Things To Keep In Mind When Looking For The Best Facility Maintenance