What do facility managers want from their building service contractors?
DB: They want the same thing anyone wants when outsourcing a function — peace of mind. We outsource cleaning services here at IFMA and when I look back on why we did it, it wasn’t to save money, but to have peace of mind that the job would be handled correctly. Because our members are managing multiple functions, they can’t be experts at everything and they certainly aren’t experts at cleaning. Facility managers also want a commercial cleaning partner to respect the building occupants, to have clear understanding of expectations, and to be responsive. I also think it’s important that they understand the corporate strategies and provide their input on how they can help achieve those goals. CP: How can a BSC strengthen his relationship with a facility manager? DB: First and foremost, it’s more than keeping the place clean. When IFMA started, it gave equal weight to people, place and process. In the late ’90s, however, there was a strong focus on place when people were stuffed into cubicl
