Webinar: Shaping the future of facilities with a unique IFS model
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Discover how ABM Performance Solutions delivers efficiency, sustainability, and workforce resilience.
In the rapidly evolving world of large-scale facility operations, owners and operators face inconsistent standards across sites, escalating operational costs, talent shortages, and rising expectations around sustainability. In a recent Buildings Quick Chat interview webinar, Angela Culver, Vice President of ABM Performance Solutions, outlined how ABM’s integrated facility solutions (IFS) offering is addressing these issues through an integrated approach that blends technology, process optimization, and a deep commitment to partnership.
Watch the full webinar below.
Transcript
The core challenge: standardization and transparency
For organizations managing multiple sites across regions and states, lack of operational standardization is the number one barrier to efficiency. Disparate systems and reporting processes make it difficult to understand true operating costs, optimize resource allocation, or implement consistent service quality.
“The biggest thing that customers face is transparency in their facilities,” says Culver.
By focusing on integrated facility services, ABM helps clients standardize processes, unify data streams, and gain a clear line of sight into spend, performance, and opportunities for improvement.
The role of technology: Strategic, not just shiny
Culver stressed that technology is not a one-size-fits-all purchase. From IoT sensors to advanced Building Management Systems (BMS), technology should be strategically mapped to the unique needs of a facility, factoring in infrastructure, usage patterns, and mechanical systems.
Examples include:
- Occupancy sensors to reduce energy waste in unused spaces.
- Water flow monitoring to detect leaks and optimize consumption.
- Smart mechanical and electrical system controls to extend asset life.
The payoff? Once matched correctly, technology investments generate measurable ROI through energy savings, reduced downtime, and enhanced asset performance.
Workforce optimization in a tight labor market
In a sector grappling with labor shortages, ABM’s IFS model encourages creative talent solutions:
- Cross-training existing staff to expand skill sets.
- Internal “homegrown” initiatives to promote from within.
- Recruiting from outside industries and reskilling for facility management.
- Proactive succession planning to mitigate retirement gaps.
The underlying principle: aligning employee career goals with organizational needs not only fills positions but also drives retention and engagement.
Sustainability
While sustainability is often seen as a compliance or brand initiative, Culver reframed it as a direct driver of long-term cost efficiencies. Small, targeted actions, such as retrofitting water fixtures, reclaiming condensate from cooling towers, and auditing utility bills, can yield significant financial and environmental returns.
“We don’t want to pay for stuff that we aren’t using.”
By integrating sustainability into everyday operational decision-making, ABM helps clients reduce waste, optimize resource use, and meet growing ESG expectations.
ABM’s IFS model: Customized partnership
At the heart of ABM Performance Solutions is deep client partnership. This means:
- Conducting on-site assessments to understand operational realities.
- Customizing staffing models to fit unique priorities whether growth, smart buildings, or sustainability.
- Leveraging self-performance teams to control quality and costs.
- Supporting client core business focus while ABM optimizes facility performance.
ABM Performance Solutions is not about forcing clients into a preset mold. It’s about tailoring integrated solutions to each organization’s strategic goals.
Key takeaways for facility leaders
From this discussion, facility owners and operators can draw three actionable insights:
- Standardize and visualize operations to unlock efficiency and cost savings.
- Be intentional with technology; map it to actual facility needs before investing.
- Invest in people and sustainability as parallel paths to operational excellence.
Ready to unlock greater efficiency, sustainability, and performance across your facilities?
The ABM Performance Solutions team is here to help you identify opportunities, tailor strategies, and deliver measurable results through integrated facility management. Whether you’re looking to standardize operations, leverage smart technology, strengthen your workforce, or implement cost-saving sustainability practices, our experts partner with you every step of the way. Connect with an ABM specialist today and discover how ABM Performance Solutions can transform your operations into a smarter, more resilient, and future-ready enterprise.
