Interesting thread and appropriate topic. Having been in this business for 20 years, it’s interesting to see how many different applications and acronyms can be spun off. All of this adds to the total confusion on the consumer side as to what they need and are purchasing. My own opinion is that CAFM is really a subset and specialized set of functions, usually revolving around occupancy and space. ‘Integrate Workplace Management Software’ could be anything, including CAFM, Infrastructure Management, Asset Management, HR, etc. To make matters even more confusing, many ERP/ERM software companies claim that their software encompasses many of the above as an integrated solution. If it’s an integrated software system that crosses multiple disciplines, like space, occupancy, real estate, network telecom then maybe the IWMS acronym is meaningful. If its it’s just space and occupancy (and maybe Real Estate, if space is tracked) then CAFM seems to work fine. But at the end of the day, because IWMS covers so many different applications it is not a very good descriptor other than a broad category of software applications.

Doug Dixon

Regards,

Giridhar

thank you all very much for your participation. And what about Total Infrastructure Management (TIFM) of Archibus? Does that make any sense or is this just an example of marketing semantics. Does it sound like the Archibus product has enhanced capabilities?

Yours sincerely,

Steven Hanks

Probably there will be a new term within next years, with the potential to confuse the market even more…

Definitely IWMS is better known in the US. A search at the IFMA site shows about 112 CAFM-results and 89 IWMS-results.

In Europe this is slightly different: BIFM(UK) shows 60 CAFM-results and just 1 IWMS. The German GEFMA even 0 IWMS and 86 CAFM-results. So far the statistics.

In my personal market experience CAFM is still strong associated with CAD: not only from naming but many ‘traditional’ CAFM solutions are founded on CAD graphics and CAD visualization engines. Solutions evolved from rather technical oriented engineering software (CAE) to proces supporting and real value adding management support software. Nothing wrong when giving this a different name.

Yours sincerely,

Jos Knops, Planon

I think Andy Fuhrman (CEO of OSCRE America’s) made a wonderful statement about IWMS in his Thought Leader Interview:

http://www.iwmsnews.com/2009/04/thought-leader-interviews-andy-fuhrman/

Having been there pretty much from the start of Computer Aided Facility Management (CAFM) movement, it’s my opinion a few individuals felt they could create a new marketing strategy over their competitors by developing a new term for their products. For those of you who remember, after CAFM came Computer Integrated Facility Management (CIFM) then came Integrated Workplace Management Systems.

Back in the early days of CAFM we were integrating these applications that contained modules for Space Planning & Forecasting, Move Management, Maintenance Management, Cable/IT Management, Equipment Asset Management and some modules by folks like Nick Springate for Electrical and HVAC. Even today there’s a range of capabilities different FM/CRE applications provide. They still need to be integrated with HR for New Hires & Terminations, Security or IT for Contractors, Finance, ERP and a host of other applications, just like CAFM applications were.

It’s all marketing semantics. IWMS is simply CAFM done correctly. I’m sure someone’s going to come with a new term in the next year or two that makes it sound like their product has enhanced capabilities, like Corporate Real Estate Enterprise Planning System (CREEPS), with catchy slogans such as ‘I’ve got the CREEPS….how about you?’

So I agree with Andy’s statement that a new term will come to our industry in the next two years leaving IWMS hardliners with feelings of nostalgia about the days of IWMS.

(About that time we might have to change the name of our website )

Yours Sincerely,

Steven Hanks

Various software vendors have started from different “centers of gravity” (some from space, some from real estate, some from projects) but all have expanded their offerings over time and moved toward a platform/functional module approach.

Is IWMS the right term? Maybe, maybe not. Is there a real market trend toward rationalizing the software platforms to support RE and FM organizations? Absolutely.

That trend is driven by the increasing centralization of RE/FM organizations and the growing realization of the value of collaboration within RE/FM departments, the value of better integration with other enterprise systems and, last but not least, the value of improving relationships between RE/FM and their internal customers, the business management and their supply chain.

My position? Let’s pick a name, whatever it is, move on and focus on solving customer problems!