Professionalism beats price when FMs buy water coolers, new research shows

Delivery & service beats even price as the top requirement when procuring water coolers, new research shows. This was the finding of a survey of Facilities Managers just released and conducted by the British Water Cooler Association. Nearly all (90 per cent) of FMs said that delivery and service level agreements were ‘important or very important’ when choosing a water cooler firm. Price was an enormous influence too with 85 per cent of those asked saying that this was important or very important to them. Only 3% didn’t mind about delivery and service and 2 per cent felt price wasn’t the priority. Nearly two-thirds (62%) recognised the benefits of BWCA membership in making purchasing decisions and even more – 81 per cent – saying that guarantees of health and hygiene procedures and processes mattered in their decision making. Nearly half (49%) said that being a member of any other trade association was unimportant to them. The survey was carried out by Angel Springs amongst visitors to the Facilities Show. Angel Springs’ MD, John Dundon, is chairman of the BWCA. He said: “Keeping abreast of what facilities managers think of our sector is important to us. The survey threw into sharp focus just what the priorities of some of this sector’s key customers need and expect”. Phillipa Atkinson-Clow, General Manager of the Association, (pictured below with John Dundon) said: “The BWCA rigorously audits member companies holding service, safety, health and hygiene as some of the highest priorities. It is gratifying to know that professional FMs agree with us that service level agreements and delivery are overwhelmingly the most crucial aspects – putting professionalism over even the issue of price”. To check for membership of the British Water Cooler Association, visit www.bwca.org.uk Other interesting views to emerge included • 65 per cent of respondents said appearance and style of the machines was important or very important. • The majority (48 per cent) of those who expressed a strong view said dealing with a local company was more important than buying from a national firm – the latter being preferred by less than a third of those asked. • Corporate Social Responsibility activity by the supplier mattered to just over half of respondents (56 per cent) with 14 per cent saying it didn’t matter to them.