Negating the “Management by Crisis” Scenario
Replacing Reactive Building Management with Intelligent Technology
Reactive management, often called “management by crisis”, is something every commercial property and facility manager has experienced.
A fault happens.
A tenant gets frustrated.
A phone call comes in.
And suddenly, a small issue becomes a major disruption.
This approach isn’t caused by poor management, it’s usually the result of limited visibility, limited technology, and systems that only respond once occupants are already upset.
So how do we reduce these crises?
How do we shift from reactive management to proactive building performance?
The answer lies in intelligent building technology.
When Buildings Used to Tell Us Something Was Wrong, Too Late
Back in the early days of building operations, faults were discovered by occupants:
- Someone stuck in a lift
- Air conditioning too hot… or too cold (sometimes both!)
- Hot water failures
- Doors jammed open
The process was simple:
- The tenant found the problem
- The tenant found the building manager’s number
- The tenant made an angry phone call
By the time management knew about it — it was already a crisis.
Alarms existed, but they were basic, unreliable, and rarely provided useful detail.
And the building manager was always seen as reactive.
Technology Has Changed; But Many Buildings Haven’t Used It Properly
Fast forward to today.
We live in a world of automation, sensors, live data, and accountability.
Your car now manages:
- Temperature
- Stability
- Collision prevention
- Traction control
- Adaptive cruise systems
All of this happens because:
👉 Sensors feed data to a processor
👉 The processor reacts instantly
👉 Problems are prevented — not discovered later
Buildings can operate exactly the same way.
How Intelligent Buildings Eliminate Crisis Management
Instead of waiting for complaints, intelligent buildings monitor critical assets in real time:
- Lifts & elevator faults
- Air conditioning plant performance
- Domestic hot water systems
- Car park ventilation & CO levels
- Roller doors & access systems
When something goes wrong:
✅ The system detects it instantly
✅ Emails or alerts go straight to management
✅ Contractors can be called immediately
✅ Occupants are informed early
The problem never becomes a crisis.
Turning the Strata Manager into the Hero
When intelligent alerts are shared automatically:
- Building Manager receives fault instantly
- Strata Manager is notified in real time
- Issues are tracked and documented
- Repairs are transparent
- Costs are expected — not surprises
Instead of chasing problems after complaints…
👉 You’re leading the response
👉 You’re informed before frustration builds
👉 You’re proactive, not reactive
That’s when clients see real value.
The Big Surprise: Most Buildings Already Have This Capability
Many apartment buildings and commercial properties already have:
- Building Management Systems (BMS)
- Automation controllers
- Sensors
- Communication networks
They’re just being used at 10–20% of their potential.
Often:
- The system was installed for basic compliance
- Nobody expanded its capabilities
- Nobody showed owners what it could really do
Which means:
💡 Massive performance upgrades are often far cheaper than people expect.
A Smart, Staged Approach That Works
Instead of big capital projects:
- Identify what systems already exist
- Assess what can be reused or upgraded
- Prioritise the biggest pain points
- Implement in stages (quarter by quarter)
- Measure results and ROI
This spreads cost while delivering immediate improvements.
The Real Results
✔ Fewer emergency calls
✔ Happier tenants and owners
✔ Better compliance reporting
✔ Lower operational risk
✔ Increased building value
✔ Improved energy efficiency
✔ Stronger trust in management
Crisis management becomes a thing of the past.
Sydney & Melbourne — Now Is the Perfect Time
With increasing compliance pressure, rising operating costs, and competitive contractor markets, intelligent building upgrades have never been more cost-effective.
At Performance Facility Management, we specialise in:
- Staged upgrade planning
- Building technology assessments
- BMS optimisation & upgrades
- Electrical & mechanical audits
- Energy efficiency opportunities