From one-man cleaning company to industry leader in 65 years »Leadersnet
Since it was founded in 1956, the entire industry has become highly professional – pandemic as a digitization booster.
ISS has been in Austria for 65 years. The company has grown from a one-man cleaning company to a technology facility management (FM) company since its inception in 1956. Today the company offers an extensive service portfolio: from cleaning and building technology to staff catering, security and support services and workplace design. Over the past 65 years, the company’s services, as well as the entire branch of the economy, have become highly professional.
Rethinking the market
Above all, die. The pandemic not only brought new challenges, but also positive things, as ISS Austria CEO Erich Steinreiber revealed at a press conference on Thursday: “Our services have never been so positively received and appreciated. The pandemic has also been a digitization booster . “
Gerhard Komarek, state guardian of monument, facade and building cleaning, is convinced that the market has started to rethink and that services in the FM area will have a different status in the future: “In the future, cleaning services will not only be seen as a cost factor.” FM service providers created the basis for this themselves during the pandemic, says Komarek: “Many companies were very flexible and developed innovative solutions on their own initiative. Above all, they have shown that they are doing system-relevant work.”
New digital solutions for managing buildings
For ISS Austria, the corona pandemic was also an occasion to implement new solutions for changing customer needs. In addition to the launch of a completely newly certified cleaning product called “Pure Space”, around 100 decontamination experts were internally trained and receptionists were trained as hygiene stewards in a very short time. – A reaction to the higher hygiene requirements.
In Komarek’s view, the increased hygiene awareness will also be maintained in the future. The chances are good that the services of facility service providers like ISS Austria will continue to be valued in the “New Normal”, which will come sometime after the end of the pandemic. Steinreiber: “In the ‘New Normal’, home offices will become part of everyday life in many companies. This also has an impact on the management of real estate.” Last year, ISS already took precautions for this and launched a new service field called Workplace – which is dedicated to the workplace design of the future. The office will no longer be the classic workplace in the future.
Solutions in the proptech area
Many new digital solutions are already being used by ISS customers around the world – above all in the areas of sensor technology and the Internet of Things (iOT). The main task here is to manage the intelligent networking of all collected data in order to generate tailor-made work orders from this information – in real time using an app.
The detection of malfunctions, such as broken lamps or the targeted refilling of dispensers, is possible thanks to sensors. Access controls, automatic body temperature measurements and alarm centers also work digitally, only the control remains with the employees: inside. The increase in efficiency that can be achieved through complete documentation, transparency and increased service quality.
Cooperation with weXelerate
In order to break new ground, ISS Austria has been cooperating with the weXelerate innovation ecosystem since this year. Awi Lifshitz, managing director of weXelerate, on the partnership: “The facility area is currently experiencing a radical disruption, especially in the PropTech area. In addition to know-how and inspiring trends from the innovation scene, we are networking ISS with other companies in order to find the best partners together To find ideas and solutions. “
“The use of digital technologies means added value in every respect,” Steinreiber is convinced. “For us, however, it is clear: it WILL ALWAYS be the person who creates spaces to feel good. Digital tools can support this.” That is why one is investing enormously in qualification measures for employees, such as an audio learning tool as an alternative to digital learning, e-learning and micro-learning and internal training from training campaigns. (how)
Pictures from the press conference can be found here shortly.