WHY VBFM is So Important and Matters More Than Ever in Today's Business Environment

In a world of rapid change, rising expectations, and constant disruption, organisations expect every department to contribute measurable value. Yet many Facilities Management (FM) teams still struggle to be recognized beyond maintenance and cost control.

That’s where Value-Based Facilities Management (VBFM) comes in. It reframes FM from a support function into a strategic partner, one that delivers value that truly matters to the organisation.

Why the Shift Is Urgent

Today’s business environment is complex. Companies face pressure to innovate, control costs, and maintain agility while ensuring safety, sustainability, and employee experience. FM sits at the intersection of all these needs, but only those who think beyond operations can thrive.

Traditional FM focuses on what is done. VBFM focuses on WHY it matters. It challenges practitioners to ask:

• How does this service enable business productivity?

• How do our facilities support innovation and sustainability?

• How does FM strengthen the organisation’s competitive advantage?

By answering these questions, FM practitioners move from being cost centre to business advantage.

The Essence of VBFM

At its heart, VBFM is a philosophy, a concept, and a practical approach.It’s built on the I-S-C FM Value Model:

• Identify Value: Understand what truly matters to the business and align FM direction with it.

• Sustain Value: Build systems and operations that maintain excellence and reliability.

• Contribute Value: Innovate, improve, and add measurable advantage to organizational success.

When these three elements work together, FM becomes a sustainable practice, one that continues to evolve, add relevance, and earn respect.

Why VBFM Matters Now

FM leaders today must navigate digital transformation, hybrid workplaces, ESG goals, and financial accountability. Without a clear philosophy like VBFM, it’s easy for FM to lose focus amid competing demands.

VBFM gives direction. It provides the why, what, and how behind every FM decision, ensuring that resources, priorities, and people are aligned with organisational purpose.It turns FM from a reactive service into a proactive business partner, one that facilitates business success instead of merely supporting it.

What This Means for FM Practitioners

When FM adopts a value-based mindset:

• Top management sees the function as strategic.

• Teams feel motivated and purposeful.

• Resources are optimised toward meaningful outcomes.

• FM earns recognition as a business advantage, not a cost center.

That’s why embracing the VBFM practice today is not just relevant, it is transformational.

Conclusion

The journey toward Value-Based Facilities Management starts with belief. When FM professionals understand WHY they do what they do, excellence naturally follows.

Now is the time to redefine FM, deliver value, and drive organisational success.

If you have not gotten a copy of the VBFM book, it is now available in PDF format at www.VBFMOnline.com .

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