Facility managers have the unenviable role of weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing facilities management. One of the most frequent questions has to be, “What is the return and benefits on my investment?”

Benefits of outsourcing maintenance to KKC

• The potential to reduce your overall running costs.
• Allowing your organization to focus on core activities.
• Freeing your organisation from costly investment in new technology.
• Reducing your direct management responsibility for recruitment, appraisals and grievance handling.
• Providing opportunities to replace old out-of-date working practices.
• Time freedom – less time spent of issues as it is now within someone elses care.

Having looked at the list of advantages of outsourcing facilities management for your cleaning contracts, food outlet services, security equipment or building repairs, there are some further factors to consider:

Staff management

Managing currently employed staff is challenging with outsourced facilities management. The TUPE transfer of staff process can be difficult for all concerned and raises many ethical issues. Will staff retain the same terms, conditions, the standard of employment protection, pay and pension provision?

Many potentially outsourceable roles are vital to an organization’s successful functioning. Though tapping into cost savings and expertise beyond the business is a great benefit, it’s important to maintain staff morale, motivation and enthusiasm for their role.

Costs and expertise

When outsourcing, consider the cost savings, specialisms and broader industry knowledge of best practices that may not otherwise be to hand.

The ability to concentrate on core business while specialist facilities providers effectively take away the burden of the estates’ upkeep can reduce costs and ensure compliance expertise alongside industry standards authorities.

The right expertise removes the likelihood of potential reputational damage from non-compliant services. Organisations need to adhere to all legislative standards.

Risk mitigation

Managing facilities with many providers may not maximise efficiencies and cost savings, but a multi-specialist approach can mitigate financial risk.

If something goes wrong with the internal facilities management team, this can have wide-ranging consequences. Outsourcing aspects of facilities management can help to minimise disruption across the organisation, only affecting parts of the business. For example, switching cleaning suppliers in isolation is relatively straightforward.

Positives and Negatives of Outsourcing

A mixed approach could be beneficial to maximise both core facilities, core equipment and non-core services. If you are looking at the outsourced facilities market to bring efficiency, innovation and, ultimately, value for money to your facilities management, here are several positives and negatives – advantages and disadvantages – to consider:

If you want to find an organisation to support facilities management, to achieve value for money while protecting your core business from risk, get in touch.