Symbiot Business Group Responds to IFMA Study Streamlining National Out-Tasking via One Point Bidding & Billing.

Business Editors

LEXINGTON, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 2004

Recently, Symbiot Business Group, a national provider of multiple property services, has seen a doubling of its national contracts due to an innovative solution for a common FM dilemma.

A recent study conducted by the International Facility Managers Association (IFMA) identified how IFMA members manage outsourcing within their organizations. Approximately 4,000 North American members, including 271 members in Canada, were randomly selected to receive a six-page survey with an attached cover letter explaining the survey's importance.

Facility Manager's (FM's) preferred practice was out-tasking (i.e. hiring of individual, specialized vendors) over outsourcing (i.e. hiring of full-service, single source vendors). Although, in the last six years, the percentage of facility managers outsourcing has increased slightly, most workplace professionals continue to choose to out-task facility management functions.

While favored, this practice formerly had several drawbacks. Until recently out-tasking required top heavy local administration through numerous vendors and often added to the complexity of FM billings. Therefore, despite the desire for FM's to consolidate the number of vendors used, the average number of contract vendors was still at 20. 33 percent of respondents in the IFMA study rely on more vendors, rather than less, than they did two years prior.

Symbiot Business Group has responded offering a cutting-edge property service model that streamlines national out-tasking and outsourcing contracts through one point of billing.

"This is a first of its kind and every national interest will soon be jumping on board," says Raymond Van Beveren of EPT Management Company. EPT Management Company specializes in apartment management overseeing a portfolio of some 20,000 units owned by affiliate partners and investors in 16 southern and midwestern states. Beveren continues, "the Symbiot concept allows us to take that service nationwide without the costs of researching each market to find qualified vendors. We are pleased with the value that Symbiot brings to EPT."

Symbiot, founded in 2000, represents 537 partner companies and a combined annual buying strength of over $400 million. The Symbiot Landscape Network is the second-largest landscaping entity in the U.S. with over 300 members and nearly $1.1 billion in combined sales. Symbiot InteriorScape Network is the largest network of its kind in the United States. Other Symbiot networks include the Symbiot Pest Management Network -- set to be the nation's largest pest management network in 2004 -- The Symbiot Snow and Ice Removal Specialists and Symbiot Sweeping specialists. Symbiot Purchase Power Program (P3) links an elite group of equipment manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and other business partners to thousands of property service organizations. Symbiot is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. For more information about Symbiot, visit http://www.symbiot.biz or call [phone].