GENERAL FAQ'S: 
 
1.  Is it possible to have one company service all of my locations?

2.  Are there any service providers who can provide me with multiple services?

3.  Is it possible to have one service provider serve as a management company for all of my site's "soft services"?

4.  I have several locations in different states.  You state that you can offer me supplies at reduced costs and improve the consistency of those products purchased at each site.  How does this work?

5.  I am considering changing cleaning service providers.  In setting up a bid for services should I give the bidders the price I am willing to pay, then allow them to define for me what they will do for that price?

6.  My service provider is not providing me with the service I want at the quality levels I need.  Is it time to look for another provider?

7.  My supplier has presented me with a menu list of items they can do, and the cost for each item.  Is this a good way to get the job done?

8.  I have an internal service provider.  Would there be any benefit in outsourcing that service?

9.  How do I know that the service I am purchasing is at an optimized and fair level?


 GREEN FRIENDLY FAQ'S:                  Click globe to visit our green page for more information

1.  What is "Green Friendly"?

2.  What is "Green Cleaning"?

3.  Aren't "Green" products more expensive to use?

4.  I've heard that "Green" products take more time to do the same job as non-green products.  How will that benefit my bottom line costs since labor/productivity is the major cost of doing my business?

5.  How do I know whether a product I am using is considered "Green Friendly"?

6.  What other "Green" initiatives are there and how can I participate?

 
1.  It is possible to have one provider for multiple locations.  However, a cleaning service is only as good as its management structure at the local level.  For this reason, many of the larger companies will charge more for a service than a local provider would simply because they have to install management at the local level which results in the cost being passed onto the client.  However, the smaller provider may not be able to give you all you need.  The best case scenario is to start with clearly developed specifications, then qualify the list of bidders based on their ability to provide all you need.  It is 1Class strategy to seek both small and large providers who have management support structure already in place.  Otherwise, we may seek to offer a larger opportunity so that management cost may be minimized for all clients.

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2.  Yes, there are several service providers who have core competencies in a variety of fields.  But you have to be careful.  While some say they are capable, they may have limitations in service competency and proficiency.  1Class looks for only those providers who are professionals in everything assigned to them.

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3.  Although possible, it is a very difficult proposition to have one provider for all "soft services".  Since many of these "soft services" are labor intensive you can run into a situation where laborers from one service area are moved to another if the need becomes greater.  What is sacrificed is expertise, productivity, and quality.  If the goal is to have limited points of contact, it is far better to group services into like activities, then seek potential bidders with core competencies in the groupings you've identified.  Integrated facility management companies have had success in doing this. 

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4.  Through extensive distribution networks, we are able to set up a program whereby each site receives the products they need at an optimal cost.  In addition, we can set up a program where you define the products with input from each site.  Through this program, we can then work with distribution to set up a central reporting mechanism so that you are certain that the defined products are purchased and maximize the bulk buying leverage you have.

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5.  I would not advise this.  Allowing service providers to tell you what you want means you will get what they want and not necessarily what you need.  This doesn't mean that they aren't trying to meet your needs.  It simply means that their definition of your needs may not match up exactly with your expectations.  My suggestion would be to use the 1Class specification development tool to accurately define your needs.  We would then be able to provide that information to the bidders so that they are all bidding on a level playing field.  This would also allow you to accurately compare proposals for like work.

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6.  Not necessarily.  Service providers, whether cleaning, landscaping, waste hauling, etc., all have one thing in common - to give the customer what he/she wants.  In order to do this, they need a well-defined Statement of Work (SOW).  In addition, regular audits of their adherence to that SOW will go a long way toward getting you the service and quality you need.  At 1Class, we have defined SOW's and a Supplier Management Program that are site-specific. 

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7.  It all depends.  If you are working on a very limited budget, it may be ok to do a menu.  However, I've found that initially it is much better to have a well defined list of needs.  Following that, most service providers will want to partner with you to eliminate unnecessary items and/or frequencies, which is a far better approach.  For example, it may seem important to you to have exterior windows washed once per month, but your cleaning provider may discover that the windows only need to be done every three months to achieve your desired results.  Working with the service provider insures the business partnership will ultimately bring you the best results. 

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8.  Aside from the savings incurred from not having to pay benefits, I believe that services, whether done internally or externally, need to be treated as a business.  In other words, internal services should be held to the same standards as external services.  If your service is internal and you don't want to outsource it, then I would suggest optimizing for productivity and maximizing supply costs.  While it doesn't happen often, I have seen services that were more cost effective when done internally.  Let 1Class validate the "true" cost of the service for you and make recommendations on how to make the service cost competitive.

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9.  At 1Class we have invested considerable time and energy in getting benchmark cost and productivity data at the local, regional, national, and global level.  In evaluating your services, we can tell you what you should be paying for what you are receiving.
 
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1.  Green Friendly is the philosophy and methodology of using products, processes, and procedures that , a) won't harm the environment, b) are safe to use, c) minimize the use of natural resources, and, d) reuse the waste that we generate.  It is a philosophy that should play a major role in governing the decisions we make for cleaning, grounds maintenance, building operations, etc.

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2.  Green Cleaning is the process of using cleaning chemicals that are less toxic, and therefore safer for the service provider, the environment, and the end user.

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3.  Not necessarily.  1Class research has found a number of "Green" products that are actually less expensive than their non-friendly counterparts.  For more information on where to get these products, send us an e-mail request.

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4.  Not all "Green" products fit in that category. Some actually perform better and in less time than their counterparts.  In addition, "Green" products will cut down on the number of lost time injuries that a service provider experiences.

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5.  At 1Class we use the "Green Seal" as validation that a specific product is "Green Certified" however we may recommend other products which have applied for the lengthy Green Seal Certification process.  Ultimately, we will look for products that are friendliest to the environment while at the same time giving you the performance you need.

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6.  Aside from product control, there are building control initiatives (energy designs, lighting, etc.) and recycling initiatives.  In addition, there is what I like to refer to as "closing the loop" - the process of buying products made from recycled materials for use in a business setting.  There are a large variety of these products running the gamut from clothing, such as uniforms, to recycle and waste containers, and so on.  The recycle content can vary in each product so let 1Class assist you in getting the most for your money.  We have resources that will seek the best product for your needs at the best possible pricing.

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