Glider and Virtual Helpdesk Partner to Bring Asset Intelligence to Building Operations
Glider Technology Limited (Glider) and Virtual Helpdesk Limited (VHD) have announced a strategic partnership to help asset owners maintain accurate, trusted and auditable building information throughout the operational life of their estates.
The partnership combines Glider’s Asset Intelligence discipline with VHD’s facilities and asset management platform. Together, the companies aim to connect asset information with planned and reactive maintenance, compliance activities and operational performance.
Connecting Building Information With Daily Operations
For asset owners, the partnership can help keep critical building information current, accessible and verifiable after construction handover. This can support compliance, safety and day-to-day decision-making across building portfolios.
Many organisations treat building information as a project deliverable rather than an operational asset. However, information can become fragmented as assets change, contractors are replaced and compliance requirements evolve.
As a result, records may become outdated or difficult to access. Therefore, asset owners need systems that keep building information useful throughout the life of a property.
Bringing Asset Intelligence Into the Building Lifecycle
Glider describes Asset Intelligence as a discipline that helps building teams find, trust and use the information required to keep assets safe, compliant and operational.
The approach covers the full building lifecycle, from design and construction through operation and eventual disposal. However, most of a building’s life occurs during operation, making reliable information particularly important during this stage.
By keeping information structured, governed and accessible, asset owners can make more informed operational decisions and demonstrate compliance more effectively.
Linking Asset Data With Maintenance and Compliance
The partnership will connect governed asset information with operational processes that continuously generate new data.
These processes include:
- Inspections
- Statutory compliance activities
- Certifications
- Reactive maintenance
- Planned preventive maintenance
- Service delivery
VHD will continue providing operational tools for facilities and estate teams to manage maintenance, compliance and service activities.
Meanwhile, Glider will provide the governed record that keeps asset data structured, validated and accessible throughout each building’s lifecycle.
Exploring Deeper Platform Integration
Glider and VHD are also exploring deeper technical integration between their platforms.
The proposed integration would allow information generated through VHD’s day-to-day field activities to feed back into Glider’s governed record. This could help keep asset information accurate and up to date as building conditions and maintenance activities change.
Combining information governance with operational asset management can help organisations reduce information risk, strengthen compliance and gain greater value from building data.
“Most organisations only really think about their building information twice: when it’s built, and when something’s gone wrong,” said Nick Hutchinson, Founder and Managing Partner at Glider Technology. “Everything in between gets left to chance. Partnering with VHD means the people running a building day to day are working from information they can trust, not just when it’s handed over, but for as long as it’s in use.”
Rob Nicoll, Director at Virtual Helpdesk, added: “Our customers depend on VHD to manage maintenance, compliance and day-to-day operations across their estates. Working with Glider means the information behind that work is just as reliable as the work itself. Together, we’re giving asset owners a more accurate, reliable view of their buildings and more confidence in the information they rely on every day.”
