Strategic development of the facilities management industry will increase the sustainability of real estate in Serbia.

Facility Management - FM (Facility Management) is a branch dealing with the management and maintenance of physical property, infrastructure and real estate, taking into account the activities and processes taking place in the facilities themselves and their immediate surroundings, explains Mr. Danilo Pušonja, director of Marera Property Management and president of FMBAS association, which was established by leading regional construction and property management companies.

He says that Facility Management companies generated revenues of more than 71 million euros in 2022, servicing and managing more than 8 million square meters of commercial space in Serbia.

What is Facility Management?

FM (Facility Management) is a branch of facilities management, which includes a range of services,''related to the management and maintenance of physical assets, infrastructure and real estate, and their maintenance, taking into account the activities and processes taking place in the facilities themselves and their immediate surroundings. Key industry segments include:

• real estate maintenance by planning and space management,
• equipment and plant maintenance,
• green space maintenance,
• site security,
• Ensuring environmental sustainability through energy efficiency, green building and other energy saving measures,
• property management,
• cleaning and hygiene services,
• winter services,
• Management''suppliers,
• budgeting and cost control,
• compliance with legal frameworks.

FM is essential for organizations and companies of all sizes and in a variety of sectors, including commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, government agencies and many others, because it optimizes resource utilization, improves the working environment and contributes to the overall success of any business.

About six months ago, you founded the Facilities Management Business Association of Serbia (FMBAS). What is the role of the association in this specific market and what are your goals?

FMBAS is a non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy, education and development support''standards.

How much revenue do Facility Management companies generate and how many square meters do they manage? "

FM-industry has an increasingly significant place in our economy, given that the largest companies operating in the FM segment generated revenues of more than 71 million euros in 2022, servicing and managing more than 8 million square meters of commercial space. On the other hand, the global market is significant and measured in billions of dollars with a leapfrog growth in the next ten years. Facility Management includes various services that require a diverse workforce, both skilled and unskilled.

How is the overall labor shortage in Serbia affecting your industry? Professional''FM industry training is one of the key initiatives of the FMBAS association, dedicated to improving the skills and professionalism of FM industry professionals. Our mission is aimed at achieving this goal and we are working together with the association on strategic solutions. In Serbia, there are currently no specialized training or education programs for specific profiles working in the FM industry. Therefore, FMBAS is developing educational programs structured according to standards, expectations and roles in a multifunctional industry, which were not previously available in the offer of vocational education.

What are the current trends in the Facility Management industry?

Trends in FM include outsourcing and an integrated approach to management and maintenance''facilities with operations automated as much as possible. Technology and digitalization have primarily brought innovative solutions to the real estate segment through smart buildings, and FM, as a responsible partner managing these systems, has had to train staff and implement more efficient team operations through various software solutions such as CAFM.

How much do our companies providing this type of service keep up with new trends in the Facility Management industry?

Our companies, first of all, adapt to the requirements of the market, i.e. the customers. The cultures and maturity of the companies providing these services vary; international user companies are clearly leading the way specifically''defined requirements and innovative solutions, while service providers adapt, adopting new industry trends as they go.

What do you want to achieve and present to us as you celebrate the association's one-year anniversary? What are your main plans for the future?

In May next year, I will celebrate a year of work at the head of the association. First of all, it is important to note that a large number of people have recognized that such an association is necessary, that they are ready to participate in the further development of the industry and to improve themselves. It is more meaningful to talk about the five-year plan, because it is during this period that significant changes are possible. They will occur after the introduction of new educational programs for FM and other' professionals'FM specialties and services, introducing standards for professional FM companies, educating the market on the role of FM for users and service providers. FM services, in addition to being equipped with resources, also involve skilled labor, equipment and mechanization, and the task of FMBAS association is to improve knowledge, processes and dynamics, as well as legislative framework for adequate development of the whole industry. We want to put Serbia on the map of developed countries in this industry and be the place where we will gather significant partners from the region.

Source: BIZLife Magazine Photo: Marera Property Management