Back to blog 10/20/2021

Successful Transition Phase in Outsourcing Janitorial Services

Contributed by Garrett Goralski, Regional Sales Executive

Making a transition from an existing janitorial service provider to a new one or from a self-performing model to a professionally managed outsourced program, it is essential to make the most of the transition phase with a comprehensive, value-driven approach. While it may appear like a simple process of entering a contract with a new service provider, the transition phase for a new janitorial service partner must quantify and articulate clear objectives to be achieved in the future.

As the workplace safety guidelines have radically evolved since the pandemic started, businesses in various industries that used to depend on an in-house cleaning program are seeking to outsource their janitorial and facilities maintenance functions to a professional service provider. Simultaneously, there is a significant number of customers already using these professional services but are willing to move to another company for different reasons. Irrespective of the reasons behind the decision, there are some businesses that begin their search for a new janitorial partner with a myopic approach – one where they focus on finding a company that can simply fill in the service gaps that their previous service provider failed to deliver. As a result, these businesses miss out on the opportunity of reaching out to a potential partner that can not only fill in the gaps and discrepancies successfully, but can also meet a greater number of objectives and deliver more value than before.

A practical approach with effective results requires assessing potential service partners on their complete service capabilities, scope of work, and service transition plan. When a janitorial company executes a structured plan to manage all phases of service transition, it lays the groundwork for the success of the cleaning and maintenance program in the long run. The transition phase also works as an opportunity to address wide-ranging potential issues that, if resolved after start-of-service, can be time-consuming and costly. Similarly, a pre-determined framework for the transition phase assures a seamless experience for the customer with no operational downtime or waste of time, money, and resources.

Diversified Maintenance initiates the transition phase with insights on the existing scope of work, service gaps, areas for improvement, and customer requirements. With a dedicated transition team for each new customer, the preliminary steps are implemented at least 30 days prior to the anticipated start of service contract period. To learn more about the transition timeline, phases, and milestones for a new contract, send me a note at: Garrett Goralski ggoralski@diversifiedm.com.