In the ever-evolving landscape of facilities management, the ability to make informed, data-driven decisions is paramount.
At Markon, we understand the complexities and challenges that come with managing extensive facility data. Our Facilities Visualization (F-VIZ) solution, which I developed in collaboration with my colleague, Kate Ressman, addresses these challenges head-on by combining multiple data sources into easy-to-navigate visualizations for senior leadership. This blog post delves into the problem, solution, and impact of our innovative approach, as well as the progress and the risks involved.
The Problem: Data Silos and Decision-Making
Facilities management often involves disparate data sources that are not easily integrated, making it difficult for leadership to make informed decisions about space utilization, budget investments, and square footage adjustments.
For instance, we have a client who uses ARCHIBUS as its system of record for facilities real property. However, additional data such as badging data, onboarding information, login details, and workstation usage are maintained across multiple other systems and departments, such as security, IT, and HR.
Currently, there is limited data transfer between these systems, which leads to inefficiencies and a lack of comprehensive insight. This fragmented data landscape hampers leadership's ability to make strategic decisions regarding space allocation, resource priorities, and budget investments.
The Solution: Integrated Data Visualizations
Markon's F-VIZ solution aims to break down these data silos by integrating multiple data sources into cohesive, easy-to-navigate visualizations. By combining data from ARCHIBUS, security, IT, and HR, we enable leadership to make informed, data-driven decisions.
Our approach involves:
- Data Integration: Creating robust connections between disparate systems, possibly using an Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) as a shared connection point
- Data Accuracy: Improving data accuracy through proper resourcing and maintenance, focusing on data review and audits
- Infrastructure Investment: Acquiring better server and PC equipment to support intensive data analysis and visualization
- COTS Programs: Empowering Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) programs and standards to improve efficiencies across the Intelligence Community (IC)
The Impact: Informed Decision-Making and Efficiency
By integrating data from various systems, Markon's F-VIZ solution provides leadership with the tools they need to make informed decisions about space usage, resource allocation, and budget investments.
Impacts include:
- Enhanced Space Utilization: Data-driven decisions on space allocation and square footage adjustments lead to budget savings and consolidated footprints
- Resource Prioritization: Improved insights into resource allocation, leading to more efficient use of budget and personnel
- Emergency Management: Enhanced accounting for personnel in facilities to assist security and Emergency Management
- Quick Visualizations: Providing quick, accurate visualizations that don’t require end-users to parse complex data sets
Risks and Challenges
While the benefits of the F-VIZ solution are substantial, there are several risks and challenges to consider within the defense community:
- Cost: The requirement for servers at every facility to track workstation usage without straining networks
- Data Accuracy: Potential inaccuracies in data and the fragility of system interfaces
- Infrastructure: Current hardware may not support intensive data analysis, and the fiber backbone in buildings may need upgrading
- Workforce: A lack of technical developers and workforce to support data accuracy and system maintenance
- Security: Issues like lack of port security and untracked facilities pose significant risks
Progress and Future Steps
Markon has already made significant progress by developing proof-of-concept dashboards with over a year of trending data.
Our next steps include:
- Server and Equipment Acquisition: To support the development of additional trend data
- Data Accuracy Improvement: Proper resourcing with a focus on data review and maintenance
- System Connections: Increasing connections between systems using an enterprise data warehouse (EDW) as a shared connection point
- Infrastructure Investment: Investing in better infrastructure to support data analysis and visualization
- COTS Programs: Empowering COTS programs to improve efficiencies across the IC.
Markon's F-VIZ solution represents a significant leap forward in facilities management. By integrating disparate data sources into cohesive visualizations, we empower leadership to make informed, data-driven decisions that enhance space utilization, resource prioritization, and budget investments. As we continue to refine and expand our solution, we remain committed to driving efficiency and effectiveness in facilities management.
Want to learn more and continue the conversation? Learn more and talk with our team of experts at booth 98 at the 2024 Intelligence and National Security Summit. Click here to let us know you'll be in attendance at the event, or visit the event website here to learn more and register. You may also be interested in downloading our free white paper, Breaking Down Silos: A Blueprint for Transformative Governmental Restructuring.
