4 misconceptions with outsourcing your facility maintenance services

The first item to address here is the use of "outsourcing" which typically is not associated with anything positive. When people hear that their company are looking to outsource it typically means that they have found cheaper solutions elsewhere, typically overseas, and will consequently be laying off employees in the foreseeable future.

A more accurate, and positive way of describing this engagement would be the creation of partnerships with industry experts. For example, instead of building an entire construction department with the associated overhead and uncertainty during downturns in the economy, you could partner with someone to meet your needs on a flexible basis. You have the resources available if you need them, but do not have to worry about unnecessary wages, layoffs, and hiring sprees, all of which can be extremely expensive. Does it make sense for you to outsource?

As a project management company, we always partner with our clients rather than replace them. We need gate keepers on the inside of the corporate office to communicate with the multitude of stakeholders involved in the creation and upkeep of branded environments. Without representatives on the inside, this process would be much rockier and there is a high chance that confusion would occur. We act as an extension of our client's team and supplement their efforts on an as need basis.

(1) I will lose my job

As mentioned above, partnering with a project management company supplements your team rather than replacing it. You all of a sudden are equipped with a team of more than 30 trade expert project managers who can address any challenges you are facing within your branded environments. If the economy takes a turn for the worse yup do not have to worry about laying off employees, you just wouldn't use our team as much. Then when the economy gets back on track we would resume normal activity. By partnering with a project management company you have the flexibility to scale up or down in a very short time-frame, without the red tape typically associated with human resources.

(2) It will cost me more money

This is often a concern, especially when it comes to the wonderful people in procurement who are always looking for ways to reduce expenses. By partnering with a project management company, you are no longer on the hook for the huge HR fees associated with hiring and firing, payroll taxes, benefits, 401k contributions, professional development etc. You pay as you go and have the freedom to scale up or down without the headaches of dealing with full time employees. There are huge cost savings associated with this, and there is the huge benefit of being able to turn things off as workloads drop. Once holiday season hits, most construction activity stops which means you would be paying construction project managers for just sitting around. If you partner with someone, then you just don't pay them anything as you aren't using them at that time. This is a much more efficient use of personnel and resources, and is something that procurement departments love once they understand the mechanics of the partnership.

(3) I will lose control

As mentioned above, when you partner with a project management company, you are still the one who makes the decisions. Your partners just execute them. You set things out the way you would like them to run from the very first engagement and you hold your partner accountable to your standards. You would be naive to go into the relationship without taking advantage of the knowledge and expertise that your partner brings to the table, but once expectations are set, you are still calling the shots.

Bonus Tip: Although you are in charge, look to create a relationship in which both parties can thrive. Look to learn from what your partner has to offer, ways in which they can save you time and money, and ultimately make your life easier. At the end of the day, they are there to support you and make your life easier!

(4) I won't know what's happening

As with any relationship, it is critical to set expectations as early on in the relationship as possible. You are paying your project management partner on an as need basis, so they are constantly earning your business. This provides you with a lot of control and authority and typically means that you will always be receiving only the very highest level of service. Set up regular communication channels, reporting frequencies and check-ins to make sure that all parties are on the same page.

If you find yourself in a position where you are struggling to find the time, money and resources required to maintain your branded environments, a partnership could be just what you are looking for. Go into the negotiations with an open mind, knowing that you hold all the aces, and no-one is after your job! You are the critical piece inside your corporate office, and without you, your project management partner will not be successful.

If you are interested in finding out more about what is involved with partnering with a project management company, we would love to chat with you! You can schedule a consultation with our team today to explore ways in which we can help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of your branded environments without breaking the bank. We look forward to supporting you and your team.