Enterprise Visibility into Facility Information Increases Productivity, Reduces Costs and Improves Customer Service

Business Wire, August 28, 2007

Customer Results and a Recent Report from Aberdeen Group Validate Findings

RALEIGH, N.C. -- FM:Systems, a leading provider of integrated workplace management systems (IWMS) and computer-aided facility management (CAFM), announced today a growing trend in facilities management as organizations move to web-based technology to better share facilities information, providing enterprise-wide visibility. As a result, many FM:Systems customers report improvements in customer service and productivity as well as reduced facilities costs.

"Companies are growing out of managing their facilities with spreadsheets or departmental systems, and are looking to technology to provide a new way to collaborate with a broader range of stakeholders across the organization," said Michael Schley, president and CEO of FM:Systems. "This new trend has proven to be extremely beneficial in terms of saving time, effort and money."

Aberdeen Group, a leading provider of fact based research and marketing intelligence, recently released a research report, "Real Estate and Facilities Life Cycle Management; The Three Keys to Success: Visibility, Visibility, Visibility" in which the firm surveyed 250 organizations for best practices in facility management. According to the report, "visibility into costs and processes is the key to success in managing real estate and facilities." The report also summarizes accounts from best-in-class organizations and their achievements in this area, such as:

* 5 percent average reduction in total cost of occupancy

* 3.5 percent average reduction in lease costs

* 3.3 percent average reduction in maintenance costs

"With the significant impact real estate and facilities lifecycle management can have on the enterprise, managers of these groups are working more and more with their executives to link their business plans with the strategic goals of the organization," notes Andrew Bartolini, research director and practice leader at Aberdeen Group. "The key for continued success will be solutions that provide an enterprise-wide platform for collaboration and for visibility into spend and process."

Aberdeen Survey Reveals FM:Systems Customers are Realizing Dramatic Results

FM:Systems customers that participated in the survey were, on average, more likely to report high levels of visibility into facilities spend and process in Aberdeen's survey.

Comparisons of FM:Systems customers against the entire survey base revealed dramatic results. One key metric was space utilization, where FM:Systems customers reported utilization rates of 93 percent, which was 12 percent higher than the survey average of 83 percent.

The report also found that FM:Systems customers are more focused on strategic issues, revealing the benefits of automating routine functions of facility management. "The FM:Systems customers who participated in this research effort distinguished themselves and reported visibility rates that were comparable to the Best in Class," adds Bartolini.

CA links improved space utilization to significant recurring savings

With 80 locations in North America, CA knew that it could generate significant savings by optimizing use of space and minimizing vacant space. However, they also knew that they would have to improve visibility into facility utilization for the facilities group, business managers and others involved in real estate decisions.

Based on results from the North America implementation, CA estimates that across a global real estate portfolio of more than 6.7 million square feet it will realize reductions in portfolio costs which will result in significant recurring savings. As a result of improved processes and supporting technology they conservatively estimate they will receive more than a 400 percent return on investment on the initiative in less than three years with a payback period of less than a year.

"Increased visibility enables our executives and facilities team to make better strategic decisions that affect our entire organization," said Robert Paul, vice president of Americas facilities for CA. "Having access to real-time data means we are always aware of where the company stands in terms of utilization of our properties, which results in significant savings to the bottom line."

About FM:Systems, Inc.

By connecting people, place and process, FM:Systems helps facilities and real estate professionals improve customer service, reduce costs and increase productivity enterprise-wide. FM:Systems web-based software improves management of space, occupancy, moves, maintenance, leases and property. Customer results include: real estate costs reduced by 10 percent, move spend reduced by 83 percent, enterprise productivity savings of $1.5 million and an internal customer satisfaction rate of 97 percent.

Many of the world's leading organizations rely on FM:Systems products including CA, Devon Energy, Freddie Mac, GMAC Financial Services, Herman Miller, Indiana University, Lockheed Martin, NASD, Northwestern University, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Progress Energy, Target Stores and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.