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Software developers, or the wizards behind the curtain, possess the intrinsic ability to connect people to technology. Through simplicity and innovation, they are able to fortify the processes of various industries and enhance their operational efficiencies. And yet, they have been unable to build fit-for-purpose software for a large part of the facilities management (FM) sector. The assertion comes from Richard Ham, the founder of FMClarity, Australia’s fastest-growing FM solution provider. Did software engineers fall short as a result of lack of collaboration with real estate professionals, or their inability to understand the requirements of the property management industry?
It’s hard to find a person better equipped to answer those questions than Ham. As a fifth-generation real estate agent, Ham, who holds a Masters in Property, spent more than 15 years managing commercial assets for large corporations such as PwC and JLL before undertaking a single mission: to create simple, intuitive software that simplifies the job of managing facilities/properties.
Ham’s pledge to transform the FM software marketplace was “born out of a need” more so than his desire to pursue entrepreneurship. During his years managing a commercial property, Ham concluded that the assortment of FM software in the market was mired with complexities. The realization came in 2014 when PwC sought a solution capable of managing their vast national portfolio. “When I surveyed the marketplace, I realized the FM software was clunky, laborious, and difficult to comprehend. I felt that the software industry didn’t accurately capture how we did business,” says Ham, who has managed prime Victorian properties such as the Melbourne Water Building and the Government Services Building in Dandenong.
"For years, fms have accepted these mundane administrative functions a part of their job. At fmclarity, we are challenging that notion by streamlining the entire document management aspect"
In trying to decipher the siloed software in the market, Ham reasoned that the disconnect between FM solution providers and the property industry stemmed from the drastic changes in the day-to-day functions of facilities managers. “Traditionally, FM software was developed for hands-on blue-collared engineers that specialized in maintaining assets for the manufacturing sector. This meant that FM software required facilities managers to register every asset and track them in a plucker format-type system,” explains Ham.
Today, facilities managers “manage services rather than just assets”—a seismic shift in their everyday functions that hasn’t reflected in the FM software. “The industry is now driven by white-collared facilities managers who manage teams and contractors, all while maintaining their risk and compliance. They are not managing just assets anymore,” adds Ham. Frustrated by the overly “asset-based FM software” in the marketplace, Ham tapped into his inner technologist and set about driving change by laying the groundwork for FMClarity.
Bringing Simplicity to FM Software
As a retort to convoluted FM tools in the marketplace, FMClarity has developed simple yet powerful software that reduces the data entry process for FM professionals and simplifies the complex tasks of managing facilities, documents, and compliance. The cloud-based platform, titled FMC Core, allows facilities managers to automate tasks they have been doing manually for years, thereby presenting them with the opportunity to focus on adding value elsewhere. “The software captures every single requirement for facilities and commercial property managers from both a service and risk and compliance perspective,” explains Ham.
FMC Core handles the entire property management cycle from initial work order request all the way to invoicing as well as managing documents, assets, suppliers, risk, and compliance. A collaborative platform that brings together various stakeholders under the same roof, FMC Core enables facilities managers to transition from the traditional approach of phone calls, emails, and follow-ups, to real-time decision-making. Since each stakeholder in the property business—occupiers, property managers, strata managers, suppliers—performs different functions, FMClarity adopted a multi-tenant approach while developing its platform. Again, Ham points to his practical experience of working as a financial property manager, base building facility manager, and even a tenancy facility manager.
We Layered the Software With Functionalities Based on Specific Roles Played by Property Managers, Occupiers, Tenants, and Suppliers
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