For years, the facilities department in one state found itself locked in a battle. Not the kind fought with wrenches and blueprints, but rather a budgetary tug-of-war with the state legislature.
Every funding cycle, the same argument played out. The facilities team would put forward their request, citing the number of buildings, ongoing maintenance needs, and urgent repairs. But the numbers? They were high, vaguely justified, stitched together from aging spreadsheets and estimates passed along through the game of telephone.
The legislature, skeptical as ever, continued to push back. They wanted proof. Hard data. Something concrete. But facilities didn’t have the tools to provide it.
Without a true building inventory, without precise work order cost tracking, the department couldn’t confidently justify their budget needs.
And so, the battles continued.
Then came a shift, the State went on the journey to commission our Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS).
Facilities were now equipped with a well-documented case for funding, backed by real usage trends, maintenance costs, and projected future needs. The state’s decision-makers started listening. They saw the value of investing in facilities upkeep instead of constantly playing catch-up when breakdowns occurred. For the first time in years, facilities experts were seen not as negotiators, but as trusted advisors. Ultimately, benefitting the people they serve.
So the adage goes: You can't always get what you want… but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.