Cheat Sheet for Finding the Perfect FM Consultant

Given the increasing complexities and higher performance demands of the FM industry, choosing an FM consultant can be a strategic move to stay competitive. However, not all facilities management consultancies are created equal. After all, the challenges placed on facilities management teams have never been heavier, requiring hands-on experience and tested approaches. These include:

• Improving efficiency while driving cost savings
• Dealing with labor shortages, especially for skilled technicians
• Improving sustainability and energy consumption
• Responding to changing customer and employee expectations
• Playing catch-up on technology capabilities

How do you go about choosing an FM consultant who can help overcome these obstacles while delivering measurable results? Read on to learn what to look for in the vetting process to find the right FM consultant for your organization.

What Is FM Consulting?

FM consulting involves evaluating existing operations and developing tailored strategies to maximize the performance of an organization’s facilities with the aim of enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, bolstering technology integration, and supporting Net Zero and other sustainability initiatives.

Organizations seek FM consultants to help them unlock the value in their facilities management and address specific challenges.

 

Finding the Right FM Consultant: 9 Things to Look For

Effective facilities management consultancies share the following qualities:

1. They have credibility

In FM consulting, there are no officially recognized certifications or credentials, which means anyone can set up shop as an FM consultant and give you a playbook for how to run your facilities management. This makes it vital to verify their credibility through proven experience and client references.

“Credibility in facilities management translates to field experience — someone who’s in the trenches doing it every day,” says Richard Nuttall, president of City Consulting Services (CCS), City’s consulting business backed by 40 years of global experience as the world’s largest integrated facilities management firm. “Since they do it for a living, they bring authentic experience and can share proven processes to accelerate your path to success.”

An FM consultant should have a track record of delivering facilities management services at a cost reduction and should be able to provide client references to validate their claims. According to Richard, “They should invite you to talk to their current customers.”

2. They have a robust discovery and evaluation process

Look for FM consultants who are willing to go into the field to observe operations for themselves in order to deliver impactful, meaningful advice.

“Any consultant who is truly experienced will want to roll up their sleeves and immerse themselves in your organization,” Richard explains. Even before signing a contract, it’s not uncommon for FM consultants to tour facilities and meet the team so that they’re collecting data from day one. It’s even customary for some FM consultants to require a fee for their evaluation process.

Any consultant who is truly experienced will want to roll up their sleeves and immerse themselves in your organization.Richard Nuttall, President at CCS

3. They make data-driven recommendations

Closely related to the point above, a true professional in the field of facilities management emphasizes data as the backbone of any recommendation.

Many organizations struggle to reliably capture vital facilities management data at the source, such as what they’re spending per square foot or per equipment type. Establishing and properly configuring work management and asset management systems for data collection and analysis is instrumental to crafting an effective strategy.

One of the first steps a proficient FM consultant will take is to ensure critical information is readily available and then evaluate that data.

4. They speak technician

If, like many businesses, your organization is looking to build or optimize their own internal facilities team and are struggling to find properly trained technicians or continually develop their existing team, make sure the prospective FM consultant excels in these areas.

For example, CCS can create custom training programs tailored to an organization’s unique needs. Through the First Coast Technical Academy, world-class training facility in Jacksonville, FL dedicated to upskilling technicians, CCS is also able to offer clients real hands-on trainings that enable them to take their technical team to the next level in a short two to three days.

Additionally, their talent acquisition experts have recruited thousands of technicians for City’s IFM partners since 2020 and can help fill an open position in as soon as 22 days due to their robust talent network.

5. They’re innovators

Thanks to unprecedented technological advancements, regulatory changes, and evolving customer expectations, facilities management has become a field where continuous innovation isn’t a nice-to-have but a necessity.

This is where having cross-industry experience and a global facilities management portfolio can be particularly advantageous. An FM consultant with access to innovation across industries and around the world in terms of technology, technical workforce development, cost reduction, and sustainability can offer clients speedier, cutting-edge solutions based on tested approaches.

6. They drive cost savings

Probably the greatest consideration for any organization that manages multiple facilities is cost control.

“For businesses of scale, one way to unlock cost savings may be to deliver services themselves,” Richard says. However, self-delivery presents two major challenges: cost control and uncertainty in the labor market caused by a workforce shortage across the globe.

An experienced FM consultant can help overcome these obstacles with proven processes for technical acquisition and development as well as strategic cost reduction.

7. They offer true partnership in the form of guaranteed service

Many facilities management consultancies promise value, but not all deliver it transparently. To ensure a beneficial partnership, choose an FM consultant who can back up their recommendations with a service guarantee.

“At CCS, our incentive model is based on the success of our clients,” Richard explains. “If an organization implements our recommendations, we’ll link our revenue streams to guaranteed savings in their business. In this way, it’s a true partnership because we underpin our success by ensuring their success.”

8. They listen to your needs

While less experienced FM consultants may recommend a cookie-cutter approach to the challenges your organization is facing, true professionals know that every business is unique and its needs are constantly evolving based on market dynamics.

This requires listening attentively to your needs as well as the ability to deliver according to those needs. During the vetting process, ensure the prospective consultancy demonstrates good listening skills and proposes a customized approach to your specific challenges.

9. … And they can adapt accordingly

Opting for an FM consultant who has the flexibility to both hand you the playbook and deliver it can greatly ensure success. Whether you need a strategy to scale your technician workforce over the next few years or hands-on help with recruiting and training a team of technicians to specified standards for increasing equipment uptime, their adaptability ensures they can meet your requirements effectively.

Four Decades of Global Facilities Management Expertise

Partnering with an FM consultant is a big move for your business. Taking the time to choose the right FM consultancy for your needs will ensure optimal performance and cost efficiency.

With our 40 years of global experience, City Consulting Services (CCS) offers unparalleled facilities management expertise and flexibility. Whether you’re seeking asset management, capital replacement, or technical workforce strategies, we’ll help you develop proven processes to maximize performance — and we can even help you implement them. Learn more about our FM consulting services.