Soft services in FM refer to the non-technical and non-physical tasks that are focused on creating a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for the occupants of a facility. These services generally involve human interaction and are often outsourced to specialized service providers.

Soft FM provides a cleaner environment for staff or visitors, in turn, this creates a more productive place for your business. Cleanliness and maintenance contribute to your brand identity. If the building looks poor, it will reflect in the entity image, therefore, it is essential you maintain a professional and well looked after building. 

Brand identity can also gain you new customers/clients as people will see the effort and results, therefore. Hiring a company which specializes in soft services removes the day -to-day hassle, letting staff and visitors focus on what they are there for, giving more time to focus on more important tasks. It is required as an employer to work in accordance with health and safety guidelines, soft FM can do this for you.

FM Soft Services include cleaning, pest control, landscaping, waste management, catering & support services

The key soft services in facilities management

• Housekeeping services: 

Housekeeping is an essential part of a successful facilities management program and the range of soft services you enjoy. Ensuring that the environment is presentable, open spaces are well organized, common areas and corridors are clean, and shared equipment is functioning properly all contribute to smooth operations. Service providers can also help to identify any damage or maintenance needs so that these issues can be quickly resolved. With proper

housekeeping services in place, organizations can create efficient and productive workspaces that foster collaboration and wellbeing among their employees.

• Pest control: 

Pests, such as mice, ants or rats, can cause a wide range of issues in an area if they are not dealt with quickly and efficiently. Facilities managers need to be proactive in order to maintain the highest levels of hygiene and safety standards in a given building or complex while also keeping costs down. A good pest control protocol helps ensure that any infestations are dealt with quickly and professionally before they can become a larger problem. Forms of pest control range from identifying suitable prevention strategies to implementing treatment plans when necessary; these should all be tailored to meet the specific needs of a building or location. Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance: Maintenance of outdoor spaces, including gardening, lawn care, landscaping, and upkeep of green areas.

• Waste Management: 

This begins with ensuring the correct procedures are in place to identify, categorize and dispose of different types of waste. All those involved need to be properly trained and understand the policies set by regulatory bodies.

Many materials can be recycled or reused which significantly reduces waste going to landfill sites, while at the same time helping companies meet their environmental and sustainability targets. Proper waste management goes beyond merely removing unwanted items – it requires ensuring a sustainable method is used to deal with all kinds of waste so future generations can reap their benefits too.

• Catering and food services: 

Provision of food and beverages for cafeterias, canteens, or special events within the facility.

Soft services aren’t integrated into the building and directly benefit employees who interact with them. They’re not essential—instead, they’re meant to make the workplace more comfortable, enjoyable, or secure. Some additional examples include:

Soft service facility management team specialties:

• Trained and skilled staff.
• Execute the job by complying SOP’s & Quality standard.
• Latest & Updated Equipment utilization.
• Training & Certifying staff as per the global roles and regulations.
• Complying with Health & Safety standards.
• Accomplishing tasks in a timely manner.
• Skilled team with innovative approach & recommendation. 

About the author

Mohammed Mustafa is the Head of Operations at Esad Services, Saudi Arabia. Esad is a leading Facilities Management Company in KSA. They provide professional and

comprehensive Facility Management Services.