Mar 11 2009
An MBA survey released in February found that $171 billion in loans held by non-bank lenders for commercial and multi-family properties will mature this year. Real estate experts are concerned that the credit crunch may result in numerous foreclosures among commercial buildings. Retail centers are among the hardest hit in the commercial sector with vacancy rates in U.S. malls as high as 7.1%, the highest rate since real estate research firm Reis Inc. started tracking the figure in 2000.
Today's economic environment creates more pressure than ever on property managers to meet the demands of owners, tenants, and other stakeholders in today's market. Service companies are required to provide value beyond the status quo. However, for vendors like Servi-Tek Janitorial Services, delivering costs savings to their clients is all in a day's work.
With corporate offices located in San Diego, Servi-Tek's founders combine over forty years of industry experience and offer technological advancements typically ignored by the service industry. Through Servi-Trak(TM), their proprietary web-based system, they deliver accurate information in real time through on-site inspections and reporting. Servi-Trak(TM) provides property managers a virtual extension of their facilities from the convenience of their desktop, which means more time to address other needs.
"It's not enough to provide the technology without making sure it's implemented correctly," said Eric Friz, one of the company's founders. "Our quality assurance program has helped us to reduce human error through checks and balances. Additionally, QA managers visit our customers regularly to make sure each job was done right."
Market data shows that 30-50% of demand charges are energy costs. Where most companies take a zone cleaning approach which lights up the entire building while cleaning, Servi-Tek cleans one floor at a time. Servi-Tek's unique approach to team cleaning reduces utility costs by 5-10%.
"We have a long-standing relationship with Servi-Tek, and that is what it is, a relationship," said Theresa Langerman, Senior Property Manager for Scripps Health. "The service they provide goes beyond other cleaning companies. They give the best value possible by reducing energy costs, providing excellent quality assurance, and the tools to make my job as easy as possible."
Leveraging partnerships is another way that service companies can pass along savings to their customers. Servi-Tek utilizes vendor relationships to offer savings in the form of rebates on consumable supplies.
Additionally, combining resources through smart relationships is another way that vendors can affect the bottom line. Servi-Tek works with security consulting firms that specialize in surveillance and associate training. The result is a savings up to 33% in combined security and janitorial services.
For example, Servi-Tek works with one consulting firm with an approach to security that saves money and is more effective than most security companies. The firm only hires retired or active duty police officers with the proper training to address any security risk. Video surveillance is their primary tool for monitoring a property at a fraction of the cost of security patrol.
For Servi-Tek, it is not just "janitorial as usual." By combining technology with functional tools that improve efficiency in the workplace, Servi-Tek provides unparalleled service in the industry. Through their proprietary Servi-Trak(TM) system, clients have access to a tailored and trackable web-based database that delivers accurate information and timely service. Developing lasting relationships with their clients and associates is the cornerstone of their success. Servi-Tek provides environmentally friendly janitorial services to clients in California, Arizona, and Nevada. For more information on Servi-Tek, visit www.servi-tek.net.