Facility Specialist and Multi Services

With advancements in facility management, major sectors (industrial and commercial establishments, banks, hotels, shopping malls, hospitals, residential complexes, educational institutes etc) have shifted their focus by investing in purpose-built facilities to optimise benefits and reducing costs. Facility management service is a major service sector in the world where organisations prefer outsourcing their human resource and other service requirements to specialist companies. In Pakistan organisations also facilities management services has become a specialised field in urban centers of Pakistan. Realizing the potential the facility management sector is constantly evolving, innovations are a constant factor and human resources (front office staff, back office staff, kitchen staff, technicians, janitorial manpower etc, the list is endless), real estate advisory, security, horticultural, technical & general maintenance is being administered by facility management companies.
Facility management organisations are spending more time and expertise on improving processes at strategic and operational levels and converting their client's requirements into viable solutions. The process begins by assessing a client's requirements in detail taking into account all possible scenarios, analysis after which emerging options are presented to the client. Once finalised the service providers' experts guarantee administrative consistence and regulatory compliance in addition to the best possible operations of each part of the task to achieve an ideal and safe environment for the client.
For any client, the outsourcing of its HR requirement is a win-win situation. First, the organisation does not have to go through the headache of dealing with the multifarious problems that are associated with administering its own employed work force. Second and most important, the management is free to concentrate fully on its core business, whatever that may be. Third, the reduced costs result in increased profit. To be competitive and be able to provide affordable & innovative services there is a constant need to develop expertise and have available sufficient portfolio of all HR categories. This is best achieved by studying market trends, keeping in regular touch with potential and existing customers and by offering the latest innovative, customised programs keeping in mind the end goal ie to provide proficient, instant and reliable services beneficial to the client who is actually interested in savings and increased profits.
One very important factor is to maintain service standards by specialised training of human resource engaged in delivering the services. Building the capacity of the staff requires tailor-made programs which can be achieved only if the service provider is updated about developments and changes in the industry knowledge and changing customer requirements. Very few organisations in the facility management services have ample investments in capacity building and training. This is where our Company, Facility Specialist & Multi Services (Private) Limited (FSMS) takes an edge over others in the field. FSMS was established in March 2013 this becoming a member of PATHFINDER GROUP's Security Services Division with the aim of providing Facility Management Services. FSMS provides a range of non-security staff & services tailored to meet the specific needs of customers. Even though non-security, FSMS' entire staff is trained in basic security. Before outsourcing, an organisation is responsible for the actions of their entire staff, and in many cases a substantial liability. When these same people are transferred to an outsource service provider, they may not even change desks but their legal status changes. They are no longer directly employed by (and responsible to) the parent organisation. This creates legal, security and compliance issues that have to be addressed through a contract between the client and the suppliers. This is one of the most complex areas of outsourcing and the service provider must be very careful. To ensure fidelity, as per FSMS policy each individual must go through an intensive background check before being recruited and trained to meet the service requirements of customers.
FSMS operates through 3 Regions, South Region (based at Karachi), Central Region (based at Lahore) and North Region (based at Islamabad). Each Region has several Branches manned by trained officers and support staff.
Training is one of our specialties. We operate 2 Training Schools known as PATHFINDER TRAINING FACILITIES (PTF) at Karachi and Islamabad where experts impart training not only o to every employee of its two sister companies in the GROUP, (1) Security & Management Services (Private) Ltd providing Guarding Services and (2) Wackenhut Pakistan (Private) Limited providing Cash-in-Transit Services but also FSMS' own employees before being assigned to any client.
At FSMS, we believe in constant communication with clients while providing and maintaining the desired quality for efficient services. Whether an organisation needs to staff a single position or needs to outsource its complete manpower, FSMS strives to meet expectations for quality results. Our focused, committed and trained HR Service Delivery and Relationship teams act as a single point of contact with our customers and associates.
Presently, we are providing the following services through our various offices in Pakistan: (1) Meet and Greet Services, details below (2) Payroll Solutions (3) Support Staff Services (4) On Call Maintenance Services (5) Airport Meet & Greet Services (6) Housekeeping Services (7) Event Management (8) Safety Trainings Courses (9) Maintenance Service.
Because of the uncertain security situation prevailing in Pakistan and the apprehension of arriving visitors, FSMS provides "Meet and Greet services" for passengers arriving at or departing from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad Airports. This service will be subsequently extended to Peshawar Airport. FSMS has trained and uniformed Protocol officers whose sole responsibility is to: (1) Meet and Greet at curbside with a placard with the passenger's name (2) Facilitation inside the Airport - Aircraft to Terminal (Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad) (3) Speedy clearance formalities (4) Assistance through immigration and security screening process (5) Access to VIP lounges (6) Porter assistance for luggage handling (7) Assistance for connecting flights. Protocol Officers are assisted by staff manning Meet and Greet Control Room which operates 24/7/365. Apart from walk-in customers for our Meet & Greet services, our regular customers for various services include (1) DHL (2) Happy Home Schools (3) Hewlett-Packard Pakistan (4) J&P Coats (5) Prime Safety Solutions (6) Nokia Mobiles (7) Style Textiles (8) Summit Bank (9) Torres AES (10) Western Union.
(The writer is Chief Operating Officer, Falicity Specialist and Multi Services)