As a facilities manager, it’s easy to get caught up in the minutiae of the everyday. From ensuring that individual teams have what they need, to addressing concerns as they come up, there are lots of moving parts to juggle in a facility.

We’ve seen this scenario across industries time and time again, which is why it’s become a point of pride for us to have a team of facility specialists who use their expertise to build a program that leaves you more time to focus on your building, employees and bottom line.

It all starts with a facility assessment. Here, Chris Robertson, Sales Manager of Facility Solutions at Staples Professional, walks us through why this service can benefit your business now and in the long run.

What is a facility assessment?

A facility assessment looks at your workplace to find efficiencies in all areas, including product, processes and procurement. “Every facility is unique with its own challenges and needs,” says Robertson. “Because of this, it’s important that a facilities specialist be on site as it’s hard to virtually communicate the specific needs of an organization.”

What are the benefits of a facility assessment?

Each of our specialists have years of industry experience and use their knowledge to make recommendations to help you save time and money. For example, they may recommend cleaning equipment and products that can help you shave hours off labour or determine consolidation opportunities for product purchasing.

“Having a specialist assess your facility with a fresh set of eyes has benefits entirely on its own,” says Robertson. Whether you’re an existing or new customer, walking a specialist through the challenges you face — whether they’ve been ongoing or COVID-related — can help you determine solutions you might have not thought about previously.

Because Staples Professional’s specialists are constantly educating themselves via vendors on new technology and advancements, they can introduce you to new products that can help streamline your processes. “The training our teams receive is a value that’s not always found
with competitors,” says Robertson. With past and current customers, our specialists have introduced everything from safer products, new dilution control systems, and efficient dispensing options for cleaning products.

Need a facility checklist template? Start here

If you want to get a good sense of where your processes are at, grab a piece of paper and reflect on the following questions and statements:

● Who are your current vendors?

● What is your total spend in facilities?

● Make a list of items purchased with Current Price & Volume per annum (3 months of invoices) — if applicable.

● Do you utilize Contract Cleaning Services? (Yes/No)

● Is the cost of all supplies included in the Contract (e.g. towel, tissue, chemicals, bags)?

● Is the Contract Cleaning service invoicing you for the products?

● If yes, what products are supplied by the Building Service Contractor?

● If yes, are there any Cleaning Related Services that the Contractor does not perform?

● Is there a protocol established for deep cleaning/disinfection (COVID-19)?

● Is in-house staff up to date with regulatory compliance WHMIS?

● Is in-house staff up to date on training (i.e.: strip refinishing, washroom cleaning)?

Final thoughts

While recommendations made by our team of experts range from facility to facility, one thing remains the same: finding unique solutions tailored to each organization that can be sustained. “We’re not just box movers,” says Robertson. “We bring years of industry expertise and provide ongoing support to our customers whenever they run into challenges.”

Ready to get started on your facility assessment? Book your free consultation.

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