IT and facilities functions by Schwartz - Essay Example

 IT and facilities functions by SchwartzIn his article, Schwartz clearly emphasizes the need to integrate IT and facilities functions in order to achieve optimum energy savings, which is the need of the hour. Owing to increasing energy costs and the pressing need for saving energy as well as expenditure associated with energy consumption, it is important that companies focus on all aspects of operations and facilities that consume energy and require huge investments towards their maintenance.

Schwartz highlights various points where IT uses highly sophisticated equipment and systems that detect energy overload, overheating, energy usage etc. However, these systems are of no use to facilities management team. Ironically, facilities management holds the responsibility of costs saving, of which energy saving is a critical practice and core area where costs can be saved. Energy consumption is the maximum in the data center, as explained by Schwartz (p.1).Role of IT in facilities management has bee highlighted throughout the article.

Considering that data center consumes maximum energy, the virtualization technology helps in minimizing the number of servers required. Energy-saving virtualization technology is one reason IT is getting involved in energy infrastructure management (Schwartz, p.1). However, this system could be risky if the server fails. Here, facilities management comes into picture, which can help by involving in management of the data center. For this, the facilities manager should be equipped with IT working skills.

Sharplin, the CEO of Site Controls, emphasizes the need and benefits of IT in facilities management in the real estate industry, which include lower costs of energy, decreased equipment maintenance costs, reduce carbon footprint and increased efficiency (Schwartz, p.2). In this article, Schwartz clearly underpins the significance of involvement of facilities managers in IT functions and/or have substantial knowledge of IT that can be implemented for successful facilities management and cost-saving practices.

Indirectly, Schwartz also indicates that facilities management can be accomplished by using sophisticated IT systems; this would require facilities managers to be equipped with IT skills and understanding. This process would also require successful integration of facilities management and IT infrastructure. Integration between these two functions would again mean that facilities managers obtain a thorough understanding of working of IT systems. Usage of IT infrastructure for facilities management will enable facilities managers to effectively analyze energy usage and modify energy consumption as per the requirement.

This would not only ensure energy savings, but also cause minimum maintenance costs, especially in the data center or other areas that normally require high energy input. In conclusion, involvement of IT in facilities business can be very beneficial to the organization because this will enable usage of IT systems in facilities management, which in turn will help in efficient cost saving practices. The need for IT-based facilities management is emerging as an inevitable practice across various industries including real-estate industry.

Various sophisticated systems are being developed for this purpose. However, without effective knowledge of IT functionalities, the facilities manager will not be able to accomplish efficient management and cost-saving applications. Moreover, effective integration between IT function and facilities management is also crucial for achieving the desired outcomes.Works citedSchwartz, Ephraim. “Why IT Should Get in the Facilities Business.” PCWorld Business Center. 10 September 2008. (12 October 2011).

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/150862/why_it_should_get_in_the_facilities_business.html