— By Jay Black — LEDs are the secret to success when it comes to reducing facility costs. Facility maintenance and management can no doubt be expensive, hence why many managers are left to find options that can help them cut costs and be more efficient with their budgets. Of these everyday expenses, one which offers the most potential for reducing costs is energy — more specifically, lighting. According to Energy Star, approximately 657,000 retail buildings in the U.S. consume more than $20 billion in energy each year. While lighting …
Industry Voices
— By Jesse Wood — How document management software can help the restaurant industry. When your entire business is focused on bringing customers the services they need, paperwork often feels like it just gets in the way. However, in the digital age of virtual documents and cloud storage, the hassle is completely unnecessary. What is a Document Management System? Imagine a world without collating, sorting or searching for hours through big filing boxes of old documents for a single form. What if you didn’t even have to organize your own …
— By Mike Weber — Improve your total finished floor care program. They say that a first impression is usually what sticks, no matter what changes or upgrades are made later. When people enter your business, the first things they’re likely to see are your floors, which, depending on how clean or dirty the floors look, can shape their perceptions. Floors that appear dirty, scuffed or dull can convey the impression that the facility’s cleanliness standards are lacking. Studies have shown that facility appearance ratings can drop as much as …
— By Bradley Vanover — When epoxy pipe restoration makes (dollars and) sense. The first call to our national facilities maintenance group was an emergency. Sewage was backing up into the restroom of a major department store. Not good for business. Plumbers were called, quotes given, and shock ensued. Replacing old cast iron pipes is a pricey fix, but not a surprising one. Cast iron is notoriously subject to corrosion, particularly in waste lines where hydrogen sulfide gas forms. Drain cleaners, a common fix for slow-running pipes, often contain sulfuric …
— By Dan Diehl — Navigating the digital transformation of building products and services. The building products, services and solutions industry is being transformed. Like many industries before it, the market for commercial building products, services and solutions (BPSS) is undergoing a digital transformation. This sector has been a relative innovation laggard for several reasons, including: the long life cycles of buildings and major building systems; the fact that each building is somewhat unique, requiring engineered systems; and the win/lose legacy culture that traces its roots to the hardball construction …
— By Del Williams — Streamlining reporting, monitoring and operations requires a flexible POS system and quick, supportive vendor response. In the quick-service restaurant (QSR) arena, both established and emerging franchises understand the importance of choosing the right POS system to keep operations functioning smoothly. Although there are many options on the market, most POS systems offer similar technological advantages: the commonalities include hardware such as POS terminals with touchscreen interfaces and credit card swiping mechanisms as well as the software that ties to all to back office operations. Today, …
— By Wade Christensen — Preserve the value of your concrete floor. One of the most valuable assets of any commercial building is the concrete floor. It’s also the most likely abused. From restaurants and supermarkets to shopping malls and hospitals and everything in between, new and existing concrete floors need to be protected from everyday wear and potentially damaging substances. In 2018, Tin Roof Bars, a chain of popular restaurants in the South that is recognized for exceptional live music, an amazing culinary experience and a lively, eclectic venue, …
— By Richard Rast, BLUEFIN, LLC — Why roof preservation matters for retail and restaurant industries and the best solution to preserve roof life. Is your facility or building property protected from weather and unintended abuse threatening its roof? When a roof is neglected, human-caused and environmental elements can lead to premature commercial roof failure. Since roofs are often out of sight and out of mind, roofs are not a priority until an emergency happens. Proactive management can minimize the impact of premature roof failure, improve reliability and save money. …
— By David Goodwin — What is the process and timeline for making a sign? By its nature, the commercial sign-making process does not enjoy a simple timetable. Every sign is different and so are the circumstances that surround its journey from concept to installation. For a large sign, the complete process from initial consultation to installation should take a minimum of 12 weeks. The process takes longer for more complex projects with more extensive sign needs. For instance, a shopping center project with multiple items, such as monument signs, …
— By Ray Hatch — Turn changing regulations into new opportunities. As cities and states begin pushing harder toward their zero-waste goals, new regulations are being put into effect that will change the way businesses operate. For restaurants and food production, these new regulations are already being put into place across the country and can have staggering impacts on your workflows, production and profits. But it’s not all scary fines and penalties — in fact, if you do it right, you can take advantage of these changing regulations from something …