Why You Should Start Every FM Software Project with a Needs Assessment
Thinking about upgrading your facilities or workplace software? Before you dive into demos or product comparisons, there’s one essential step that often gets overlooked: a needs assessment.
At IMS Consulting, we believe a needs assessment is the smartest place to start. It helps you understand what your organization truly needs—and avoids costly mistakes down the road.
What Is a Needs Assessment?
A needs assessment is a structured process that helps you define your goals, challenges, and software requirements. It ensures you choose the right solution—not just the one with the most features.
During a needs assessment, we look at:
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Your current processes and tools
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Goals for space, people, and asset management
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How your teams work across locations
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Integration needs with systems like HR or finance
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User roles and reporting requirements
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Compliance and data tracking needs
This helps you focus on what really matters before investing in new technology.
Why It Matters for FM Software
Skipping a needs assessment can lead to:
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Paying for features you won’t use
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Choosing tools that don’t integrate well
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Low adoption by your team
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Delays, rework, and poor ROI
When you take time to assess your needs first, you set your team up for long-term success. You also get a clear plan for selecting, implementing, and using the software effectively.
How IMS Consulting Can Help
At IMS Consulting, our needs assessment process is practical, focused, and tailored to your organization. Here’s what we deliver:
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Interviews with key stakeholders – We gather input from facilities, IT, HR, and others.
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Gap analysis – We evaluate what’s working now and where your systems fall short.
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Process mapping – We document how tasks are done today and where improvements are needed.
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Technology recommendations – We suggest the best-fit platforms, like Archibus, ServiceNow WSD, or Esri.
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An action plan – We provide a step-by-step roadmap to guide your project from start to finish.
Start Smart, Finish Strong
Workplace and facilities software is a big investment. A needs assessment helps you make smarter decisions, avoid setbacks, and get the most from your tools.
Want to learn more about how IMS Consulting can help? Let’s talk.
About IMS Consulting:
For over a decade, IMS Consulting has been at the forefront of delivering comprehensive services across multiple platforms, including Archibus, ServiceNow, and ESRI, to our diverse clientele in both public and private sectors. As a dedicated small business, we offer personalized attention from experienced and certified consultants. Our experts collaborate closely with clients to deeply understand their operational processes, identify unique requirements, and uncover opportunities for enhanced management of their infrastructure. We are committed to helping you make informed capital budgeting decisions that yield benefits today and sustainably into the future.