June 12, 2014

9 Reasons Hotels Need CMMS Software

Facility managers have their hands full with the day to day responsibilities of keeping the buildings in working order, overseeing employees, dealing with vendors, and mounting stacks of paperwork. If you manage a hotel property (or many hotels), then things can get even trickier. If only there were some way to make things a little simpler...Well, my friend, I am here to tell you there is. If you haven't employed the use of a CMMS yet (or even if you do), you should keep reading to see how this great piece of software can change your life.

There are so many benefits to computerized maintenance management software (CMMS), and to be frank, I am not sure how anyone in the facility maintenance and reliability industry can properly function without employing the use of some sort of maintenance software. Below are 9 reasons I think hotels, in particular, can benefit from its use.

Tracking Assets

I have said it before and I will say it again: there is, in my book, no way to properly care for your facility and the equipment under your care if you do not practice sound asset tracking principles. Without knowing what assets are under your care and their location (as well as the location of spare and replacement parts), it's pretty hard to perform maintenance tasks and stay on budget.

Safety Concerns

Hotels are frequented by guests night and day, and because of this, safety is a major concern. Poor lighting and visibility conditions in hallways and stairwells, leaks that can contribute to slips and falls, and unsanitary conditions such as sewage leaks are all things you need to stay on top of – and prevent – through proper preventative maintenance. A CMMS can help you do this and more!

Repeat Business

As with safety, repeat business – the meat and potatoes of any hotel chain – depends on a visitor"s experience. A big part of this is the facility itself – do the air conditioning and HVAC system work properly? How about the television and the Internet? How were the restroom facilities? Fixing problems as quickly as they arise – and performing preventative maintenance to make sure issues don't occur, is crucial. Stay on top of these things with maintenance software features.

Reporting

As hands-on as maintenance management jobs can be, a big portion of your responsibility is paperwork. Creating reports is essential to stay on track with your budget and prove that you performed due diligence in the event of a safety issue or equipment breakdown.

Documentation

CMMS are great at storing documentation – everything from information about the facility and machinery to vendor and warranty information. You can also store procedural documentation, reports, and any other sort of information you deem necessary to perform your job.

Cut Costs

Conducting preventative maintenance helps machines last longer and prevents minor problems from turning into major – and expensive – issues. A CMMS helps you schedule and track these PM work orders and also makes sure you do not double-order spare parts or machines – remember our talk about asset tracking above?

Increase Profits

Of course, at the end of the day, maintenance management software will not only save you money, but it will increase your profits by streamlining your department and saving you from becoming a dreaded cost-center. Other factors, such as increasing energy efficiency, all add up to make sure your hotel(s) stay in the black.

Improve Your Maintenance Routine

Another great thing about a CMMS" reporting features is that you can use this monthly, quarterly, and yearly function to spot weaknesses in your maintenance and worker schedule, then tweak and make improvements.

Justify Your Position

Finally, like any position within a company, your employer will want to know why you – and your staff – are pivotal to their company. With the handy toolset at your disposal, documentation features, and work-order/invoicing history, you will be able to prove that your role is not only crucial for the facility to run but that you also help increase the profits of the company as a whole. And that, my friend, is what's best for business!