Current Local Status on Regulation Enforcement
When we talk about FM, most of the current players think of providing FM services to our clients in whatever way suits them best. This approach might work just fine if we are providing single or few services to small local clients.
However, the question we are always asking to ourselves is; shall we be content with what we do and have now, or shall we move a step further and look beyond traditional ways of FM practices?
In other words, shall we work under fragmentized local market standards, or be a truly IFM service provider?
The obvious answer is that every FM service provider would love to be an IFM service provider one and work under internationally recognized standards and rules.
The reason is very simple, the IFM world has no boundaries. It means that whether our operations are in Korea or abroad, having that unique set of FM standards and rules is something of great importance to an organization.
We have all heard of ISO related to the FM which governs standards, initiatives and frameworks for better global standards and practices. It is the way forward for the FM industry, because it will serve as the center of magnitude in the filed we are operating in.
But, if we think this is the way forward, then we must ask the following questions to ourselves;
o Are we doing enough to raise the IFM status?
The true answer is NO. The IFM is in early stages here in Korea and many current players do not have that IFM mindset of what and how shall the IFM process be delivered.
For most of the local players, venturing into the real world of IFM with all of standards and requirements attached to, it is indeed beyond their capabilities or simply too much to bear with. Another factor is due to language barriers as many local players are struggling to attract youth multilingual talent.
o Is it better to have a standardized terminology and contracts?
Absolutely Yes.
Why? Because of a very simple reason, it will require much less time to spend on navigating through different standards and regulations. This gives us that very valuable time and energy to focus instead on how can the IFM services be delivered in the timeliest manner, cost effective, and quality standard.
o Are we doing enough to support and implement this initiative?
Except with some large global/regional players, there is much more work to be done by the local players if they wish to look at the future.
o Is our voice being heard across the table?
As these standards will set the roadshow for many countries involved, we might as well say that for our voice to be heard, we need to not just watch as these standards are being set, but also actively getting involved while being set.
So far there has not been much activity from the local players.
o What and how these standards can be more effective for all the stakeholders involved?
As with all new standards or regulations on their early stages, we need to actively get involved now as they progress.
An example is contractual matters. By having a standardized FM contractual body, it can give all of us much relief since we will now roughly what these contract requirements are everywhere we operate. However, to get to that right template, we need the right local input.
However, as with any answers, the best answers to these questions come by looking no further than ourselves first. If we take a moment and think, we can certainly see a local fragmentized industry with multiple global or local players with little to no interaction with each other.
We recognize the fact that there can’t be a truly global IFM company without a truly global standardized process. Although we have come a long way and improvements have been made, we understand that there is more to be done in terms of movement, regulation, or enforcement of the ISO requirements.
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