When it comes to choosing facility management software, it can sometimes seem daunting. The options are increasing, and it may seem as if there’s a very thin line distinguishing between what each software offers.
For very busy facilities, two of the most common software you’ll encounter include the Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM) and the integrated workplace management system (IWMS). Let’s help you clear up any confusion and discover which one will work best for your facility.
We’ll start with an overview of CAFM.
Computer-Aided Facility Management (CAFM)
CAFM belongs in the category of legacy software. It is one of the earliest types of facility management solutions ever developed. At its core, CAFM is primarily intended for space planning and asset tracking. As its name implies, it uses Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technology to offer its users a digital representation of their space and the assets therein.
This powerful visual representation makes it a valuable tool for understanding how the space in an organization, and the items in that space, are being used floor-by-floor. With this much detailing, it simplifies functions like conference room booking, space planning, move management, tracking maintenance, and desk space usage.
Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS)
An IWMS is a software that offers functionalities to cover all the major areas of modern facility management:
- Real estate and property management.
- Asset management.
- Space planning and management.
- Lease management.
- Vendor management.
- Capital projects
- Space planning and management.
- Operations and maintenance
- Energy management
- Finance and accounting
IWMS vs CAFM
It offers you an all-inclusive platform for facilities management. Using an integrated workplace management system empowers you to monitor everything from making meeting room reservations to capital projects planning all in one system. In other words, you get the functions of CAFM but with much more functions and modules added to it.
There are specific advantages to this arrangement.
For a start, you eliminate the problems of information silos and redundancy. Redundancy and silos are common challenges that you will face if you try to integrate multiple data sources over a large network without deploying a system that is designed to handle that function.
For instance, imagine that you’re running a busy shopping mall. With an IWMS you can input and update information about occupancy, bookings, recent vacancies, leasing, etc in real-time and share that information with all other units without having to switch from one software to another. And, every member of your team can have access to the platform on the go through their mobile devices. So, as a space falls vacant, the cleaning/maintenance team can get notified whenever they may be, to tidy it up in preparation for the next user(s).
Admittedly, both CAFM And IWMS are useful for facility managers, but there’s no denying the fact that an IWMS offers more potential for increasing efficiency and saving costs.
Ultimately, consider what’s the priority for your company and how large your operations are. If space management, occupancy, move management, and asset tracking are what you need, a CAFM will suffice. But if your organization needs a system that is robust enough to handle every area of facility management seamlessly, then opt for an IWMS.
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Do you still need more information about IWMS and other facility management software? Or would you like to test our software for free?
We’d like to hear from you. We are confident in our ability to offer you a solution that’s just right for your business. Schedule a demo today and let’s talk.
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