How is Planon responding to the ever-changing needs of the FM world?

Digitalization and the growing demand for smart technologies are reshaping how we live, work, learn and play. Once seen as a place to simply do business, the office is changing. Workers now want social and interpersonal connections and to feel a sense of shared identity. It is the facility manager that is expected to deliver on these goals.

Planon is constantly evolving its software to meet the needs of its customers by integrating the diverse landscape of smart building technology, business solutions, and data into one single source. With our open platform approach - enterprise applications, vendor systems, and service contractors are easily integrated.

Our platform has a global reach, with services compatible with 12 different languages, providing all building stakeholders with actionable and meaningful insights to transform the future of the workplace and build better connections. 

Planon is committed to having a positive impact on users’ lives and the planet, empowering all to answer future needs and upcoming challenges. We invest 20 percent of revenue back into R&D for continuous improvement and innovation. We are proud to be recognized as a Leader in –among others– the Verdantix Green Quadrant®: Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS) 2022 and the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS CMMS Application 2021 Vendor Assessment.

What’s on the horizon in your field/industry, and how is Planon meeting those challenges and opportunities?

Planon recognizes that companies appreciate agile, innovative technology that gives them the freedom to use what works best for their requirements. With this in mind, we have developed an innovative open platform that allows clients and partners to develop their own applications to connect buildings, people and processes into one shared information platform.

Our new mobile platform also gives clients a higher degree of autonomy and flexibility over their working environment, helping to create more connected workspaces that inspire a sense of connection and shared identity.

These platforms provide users with continuous access to new features and functionalities that increase productivity and allow them to be successful in their roles.

Planon also focuses on providing clients with improved and innovative ways to utilize their real estate and facility management data. Enhancements to our products, include Planon Connect for Analytics, allowing our clients to integrate their Planon data with their existing BI tools to improve data analysis, and reporting to generate better insight into their operations and potential needs to improve and evolve their organization.

In 2020, Planon partnered with sustainability experts Schneider Electric, allowing us to bring solutions to our clients to help with their sustainability and ESG goals.

Why is it important to consider integrated solutions over point solutions?

At Planon, we constantly hear of companies implementing multiple point solutions to meet their workplace technology requirements. This investment over time has proven costly, complex, and time-consuming.

Typically, each department within one organization purchases a solution based on their own needs without considering the company’s requirements or the needs of other departments.

Examples include deploying separate solutions for space management, work order management, lease administration, energy and sustainability management, workplace mobile apps, to name a few.

Silos within the organization cause silos in the deployment of solutions. Or multiple service providers bring different technology tools to fulfill their services for the client. As a result, companies are left managing a mess of legacy point solutions that they must now stitch together through APIs to mimic an integrated platform.

With technology becoming ever-more sophisticated, companies should consider smart sustainable building management software that connects buildings, people and processes. Eliminating data silos and aligning solutions into one single-source platform will enable them to grow solutions as they grow their business without worrying about integrating separate point solutions.