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How to Optimize Your Facility Assets

Ysa Gonzales

Ysa Gonzales

6 minute read
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Introduction

Asset management is no longer just about keeping track of what you own. It’s about making smarter decisions at every stage—decisions that reduce costs, extend asset lifespans, and improve overall efficiency.

Leading facilities teams know that collaboration is key, bringing together expertise from across facilities, finance, engineering, accounting, and procurement.

With the right tools, your team can stop reacting to problems and start optimizing assets proactively.

A smart asset management solution doesn’t just help you manage—it empowers your team to deliver real savings and efficiency that directly impact your company’s success.

What is the importance of data in asset management?

Asset optimization begins with access to the right data—real-time, accurate, and tailored to the needs of every team involved. From facilities to finance, having a shared view of asset data ensures better decisions and smoother operations.

Not all assets are created equal, and neither are their priorities. That’s why modern software must provide an asset-centric view, organizing key data points by asset class, type, and location. This approach ensures every stakeholder gets the context they need to make smarter, faster decisions.

Are legacy systems slowing you down?

Operations teams need assets that work when and where they’re needed—it’s that simple. But legacy asset management tools, often siloed within departments or built on outdated spreadsheets, make this harder than it should be.

To optimize assets effectively, modern solutions must go beyond basic tracking. They need to integrate seamlessly with work order and project management systems, ensuring a unified approach to maintaining, operating, and renewing assets. This integration not only eliminates inefficiencies but also provides the realtime insights teams need to make smarter, faster decisions.

What are some key features you should look for?

Integration with Work Order Management

Seamless integration between asset management and work order systems is critical for maximizing efficiency and reducing costs. This integration enables:

  • A complete, asset-focused history of maintenance activities.
  • Real-time insights into asset health to guide repair vs. replacement decisions.
  • Streamlined workflows for preventative and reactive maintenance, driving significant financial benefits.

Data Accessibility Across Teams

Modern asset management tools must ensure that every team—facilities, finance, procurement, and more—has the right level of access to the data they need.

Role-based permissions enable:

  • Collaborative decision-making by tailoring data views to each team’s expertise.
  • Customized alerts and communications to ensure individuals receive critical updates in their preferred format (email, text, or in-app notifications).
  • Timely access to information based on task priority, helping teams act faster and more effectively.

Asset Tagging

Modern solutions should make asset tagging seamless and effective. By integrating asset tags into your facilities management system, technicians and teams can:

  • Instantly access an asset’s full history with a quick scan in the field or on a desktop.
  • Gain a complete view of maintenance records, enabling faster and more informed decisions.

Flexibility to Manage Unique Asset Classes

Not all assets are the same, and your management system should reflect that. Modern solutions must allow:

  • Custom workflows and communications tailored to each asset class.
  • Searchable and reportable custom fields to capture the unique attributes of different assets

This flexibility helps facilities teams optimize processes and adapt to the specific needs of each asset type, driving efficiency and better decision-making.

Smart Automation for Warranty and Call Avoidance

Automation is key to saving time and cutting costs in asset management. By automating workflows for in-warranty maintenance, facilities teams can:

  • Avoid unnecessary expenses by ensuring warranty repairs are routed to the correct providers.
  • Dispatch the right suppliers quickly and efficiently.

Additional features like call avoidance checklists and duplicate work order alerts further streamline operations, reducing redundant tasks and unnecessary costs.

Robust Reporting and Analytics

Accurate, up-to-date data is the foundation of effective asset management. Modern solutions should provide:

  • Comprehensive Reporting: All data fields, including custom ones, should be accessible for analysis, supporting planning and decision-making.
  • Role-Based Insights: Tailored reports ensure every team gets the data they need while maintaining secure access.
  • Seamless Integrations: Advanced APIs enable connections with other enterprise systems, ensuring a unified view across platforms.

With these capabilities, facilities teams can uncover trends, improve planning, and make data-driven decisions that optimize asset performance and reduce costs.

How can you use asset data to make smarter purchases?

Modern asset management software goes beyond the facilities team—it empowers procurement, finance, and other departments to optimize asset value.

With rich, detailed data (e.g., tracking HVAC Brand A vs. Brand B), teams can:

  • Analyze total cost of ownership by combining acquisition costs, performance data, and maintenance expenses.
  • Use these insights to negotiate better contracts with national service providers or suppliers.

This holistic view gives organizations the leverage they need to make smarter purchasing decisions and maximize long-term value.

What should you know about optimizing asset value at the end of life?

Retiring assets is more than just a write-off—it’s an opportunity to optimize value. A modern asset management solution helps facilities teams make smarter decisions with:

  • Capital Planning Data: Insights into acquisition price, book value, and historical maintenance costs to guide repair vs. replace decisions in real-time. For example, a quick visual comparison can reveal whether a $4K repair is worth it or if it’s time to replace the asset.
  • Asset Condition Tracking: Tools to monitor the condition of assets, providing a clear snapshot of which items are nearing the end of their lifecycle.

This data empowers teams across the organization:

  • Facilities can plan replacement projects efficiently.
  • Procurement can negotiate better deals for new purchases.
  • Engineering can evaluate brand performance (e.g., Brand A vs. Brand B).
  • Finance can prepare for capital expenditures with confidence.

By leveraging these insights, businesses can save money, avoid surprises, and make the most of their assets—even at the end of their lifecycle.

Conclusion

When evaluating facility management software, it’s essential to choose a solution that combines robust work order management, asset management, and data analytics. Modern systems like these don’t just help you stay organized—they deliver measurable savings and efficiencies, often paying for themselves within months of implementation.

Fexa offers a comprehensive facilities management solution designed to optimize your operations, reduce costs, and unlock the full value of your assets.

With proven results, including a potential ROI of 250%+ in the first year, we’re confident Fexa can transform the way you manage your facilities.