Soft services and physical services are the two main divisions of facilities management. Soft services refer to the provision of varying-natured services that improve the working-/living environment at the location. Services such as the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, belongs to “hard” or “technical” services. Let’s have a look at the extensive range of soft services in facility management with their details and importance.
Housekeeping:
Dusting, floor cleaning, window panel cleaning, glass cleaning, carpet cleaning, vacuuming, spot cleaning, wall washing, machine cleaning, and planned maintenance are all included in housekeeping services. Professionals who are dispatched on the site following a series of training sessions efficiently carry out these activities. The housekeeping team’s mission is to maintain a spotless and livable environment on the property at all times.
Pantry Services:
These services focus on ensuring that the pantry has the necessary crockery, RO water filters, tea/coffee vending machines, water coolers, and food warmers. Regular inspections of all stock and equipment is mandatory to ensure proper operation, temperature control, and machine interior cleanliness. Keeping track of the materials’ and the crockery’s inventory maintaining the cleanliness of the cutlery and crockery in accordance with the standards set for pantry hygiene and serving visitors and other building occupants in accordance with industry best practices and SOPs.
Waste Management:
Managing and Reducing Wastes is a great challenge for very industry. Any type of building, including residential, commercial, educational, lodging, and hospitality institutions release certain amount of waste. Through a variety of methods, the facilities services team is essential to effective waste management and recycling.
- Providing two different garbage cans so wet and dry waste can be separated.
- Teaching the building’s residents how to separate wet and dry garbage at the source
- Placement of trash cans on all floors and podiums
- Daily collection, separation, and efficient disposal of dry and wet trash from each unit
- Keeping track of trash management reports and performance
- Acquisition of necessary waste processing machinery, such as composting machines and sewage treatment facilities, as needed.
Facade Cleaning:
Your building’s façade is exposed to a variety of external variables, such as rain, dust, pollution, the environment, changing weather patterns, etc. Cleaning the façade is a necessary in order to keep the property’s value and gleaming appearance. This is accomplished by cleaning with water, chemicals, and abrasives.
Administration and Payroll Services:
Soft services include managing the payroll and administrative tasks for on-site employees as well as taking action to enhance employee wellbeing. Coordination of tasks associated with this function is increasingly being handled by the facilities management provider.
Pest Control Services:
The goal of pest control services is to maintain the property free of pests including pigeons, flies, cockroaches, rodents, and mosquitoes. Due to their intrinsic dependence on one another, these services must be provided in conjunction with housekeeping services.
Help Desk:
For all inhabitants and visitors visiting the premises, the soft services experience starts at the front desk or helpdesk. Visitor management, which involves inputting visitor information and directing guests to the proper area and person while maintaining the security function, is an extension of the front desk role. A single point of contact (SPOC) for residents to escalate any concerns they may be experiencing on the property, such as water leaks, cleaning issues, electrical outages, etc., is the front desk/help desk. The support desk then sends a flag to the appropriate team to address the problem the residents have reported.
Soft facilities services
Soft services provide growth oriented working environment to boost morale and performance. They are not necessary; rather, they are intended to enhance the comfort, enjoyment, or security of the workplace. Several instances include:
- Building security
- Cleaning services
- Landscaping
- Office decorating
- Catering
- Office moves
Hard and soft services differ significantly from one another. Facility managers must comprehend how both contribute to a productive workplace.
Advantages for both employees and the company
The importance of soft services has a direct effect on workplace management in all organizations. They further impact employees’ productivity and job satisfaction. It’s critical to view them as investments in a more effective, productive workplace rather than as extras or unnecessary expenses.
Consider landscaping as an example. The cash flow or revenue of your company is unaffected by landscaping. But its impact on staff morale does have significance. Giving employees a space to eat their lunch or have a conversation outside makes them happier when they get to work in the morning. A work well done is immediately impacted by less stress and a good attitude. It does have an impact on revenue and cash flow.
Every soft service is the same in this regard. Although the service may not have a direct impact on business success, it will have indirect effects.
Enhancing the value of your place of employment
Soft services increase the value of an organization’s workplace, as many organizations frequently realize. Not financially, but rather qualitatively.
Even if having a catered lunch every Friday won’t increase the worth of your actual office space, it will improve staff morale. Additionally, it’s a fantastic approach to boost the benefits of your company and draw in and keep talent. Here, there is a cultural value addition. Employees feel valued and motivated to work hard.
Cleaning, redecorating, relocation, and other soft services are necessary to support the office space’s primary purpose of housing employees. Making sure employees feel welcomed, valued, and empowered is just as important as providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs.
Best facilities management practices
Facility Managers helps in effectively handle hard as well as soft services. A skilled workplace manager, however, also understands the importance of soft services. In addition to making the right investments in these services, they will also explain the advantages to win over stakeholders.
In order to determine which soft services are crucial, it is best to pay attention to employee input. Recognize the wants and needs of your staff. Create a method for receiving input, such as a suggestion box or an informal workplace poll. To determine the best course of action, consider the effectiveness and immediacy of the input.
Say the main complaint is that “you don’t feel safe leaving the building after dark.” This informs FMs of the necessity of onsite security. This soft service not only raises spirits but also demonstrates sincere concern for the welfare of the workforce. Compare this to ideas like “bringing in a masseuse” to distinguish between what’s necessary and what’s a perk.
Services for support are crucial
What do facilities management support services entail? Making sure your facilities meet your standards and support employees on a regular basis involves both soft and hard services. Soft services are what separate having facilities just from setting up a workplace. To manage support services effectively, it is best to link effort to results.
Rundown
Soft services are part of daily life and without these the office premises looks negative and dull. It was all about the soft services in facility management. Go for the best facility management company to provide you the soft services in the office premises.
