Even though it appears that we’re in the midst of a jobless economic recovery, facilities managers and their employees may find some solace from a recent study that has found reliability, client relations, scalability and training are the most important attributes influencing facilities management clients’ satisfaction with their outsourcing providers.

Once considered recession proof, the building services industry is not immune to the forces of a contracting economy, but those that provide quality services at a reasonable price still have a future, according to recent studies that say demand for their services and the products they use will continue to grow in the near future.

According to new market research from Reportlinker.com, U.S. clients are among the most satisfied worldwide with outsourced facilities management services delivery, with 77.2 percent reporting high vendor approval. UK and Australian clients followed, with 70.2 percent and 68.7 percent respectively. In other words, keep up the good work. It’s evidence of the professionalism of the industry, and the effectiveness of the products and equipment used by it. If you’re not getting the same kind of results, perhaps there’s information in the study that can help you achieve these types of numbers.

Another key finding is vendor dissatisfaction is uncommon in the facilities management industry among top ranked suppliers. Strong satisfaction is common in this niche business, occurring in 73.8 percent of all clients globally.

If you’re not happy with your supplier, you’ve come to the right place. The following pages include a comprehensive listing of manufacturers and the cleaning products and equipment they make to help facilities managers and building services professionals keep their customers happy and grow their businesses.

The Black Book Facilities Management user survey also found that there is room for significant growth in the facilities management market, which coincides with a Freedonia Group study that says world demand for industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaning chemicals is projected to grow to more than $38 billion in 2013.

In developing countries these gains will be prompted by overall increases in manufacturing activity, restaurant and hotel patronage, and buildings in need of janitorial services. Advances will also be boosted by greater use of more specialized floor care products, and single-purpose cleaners.

In more developed markets, value gains will be promoted by the increasing presence of environmentally compatible formulations and better performing, multi-functional cleaners offering sanitizing and other benefits.

Disinfectants and sanitizers will record the most rapid growth, with gains well above average. Growth will be driven by concerns about the spread of infectious diseases in health care facilities, and risks associated with foodborne pathogens in food processing and food handling establishments. These same trends will also promote gains for hand cleansers, which are increasingly formulated with antibacterial agents.

These are the types of products you’ll find on the following pages of this Buyers’ Guide, which features the top vendors from across the nation.

Thanks and good luck.