CAFM software without the enterprise weight
Fabric is a CAFM system for multi-site food and drink operators. It covers what computer-aided facilities management is meant to cover, assets, jobs, contractors, compliance and costs, and leaves out the parts built for hospitals and head offices.
Computer-aided facilities management, in plain terms
CAFM software is the system of record for everything that needs looking after across your sites: the building, the plant and the equipment, the people who fix it and the paperwork that proves it was done.
Most CAFM systems on the market were designed for large estates: hospitals, universities, corporate head offices. They are powerful, and they are priced and configured like it. A twelve-site bakery group does not need space planning, room booking or a six-month implementation. It needs to know that the extract was cleaned, the gas certificate is in date, the oven at site four keeps breaking and the contractor’s invoice matches the job.
Fabric is CAFM software built from that end. It was written by people who service coffee machines and run kitchens, for the operators who have to keep them running, and it is priced per site with no per-user fees.
The five parts of a CAFM system, connected
Each part of Fabric records something once, and everything else knows about it. A certificate uploaded against an asset shows on the site, the compliance view and the contractor who issued it.
Sites and assets
Every site and every piece of equipment has its own record: make, model, serial, location, warranty, history. See asset management.
Reactive maintenance
Faults raised by site teams, assigned to the right contractor with an SLA, followed to sign-off. See reactive maintenance.
Planned maintenance
PPM schedules for kitchen kit, extract, gas, electrical and water, with jobs raised before they fall due. See PPM software.
Contractors
Insurance, RAMS and accreditations on file, jobs dispatched by secure link, performance tracked. See contractor management.
Compliance
Certificates stored against the site and asset they belong to, with expiry dates and reminders. See compliance management.
Costs and invoices
Invoices matched to completed jobs, so spend is clear by site, asset and contractor, and nothing is paid twice.
A CAFM system that already knows what an espresso machine is
Generic CAFM software starts empty. You build the asset types, decide the service intervals and work out which certificates apply. Fabric starts with the equipment a café, bakery, restaurant or pub actually has, and the checks the law expects for it.
- Asset types for espresso machines, grinders, ovens, fridges, dishwashers, extract and HVAC
- PPM intervals for gas safety, TR19 extract cleaning, legionella, fire alarms, EICR and PSSR
- Job categories that match how kitchen faults are actually reported
- A contractor directory of firms who already work in food and drink
You can add anything else, from the building fabric to the till system, but the day-to-day kit is set up on day one.
Fabric against enterprise CAFM
Where Fabric sits next to the systems large estates use, and the managing agents many groups rely on instead.
| Enterprise CAFM | Fabric | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Weeks to months, often charged separately | Free for groups up to 25 sites; a guided rollout for larger estates |
| Pricing | By quote, often per user plus modules | Published per-site prices, no per-user fees |
| Contracts | Multi-year terms | Monthly, with 30 days’ notice |
| Contractor access | Paid licences or a separate portal | Free: secure job links by email, or the contractor portal |
| Asset library | Built from scratch | Hospitality equipment and checks ready to use |
| Who runs it | An FM team or managing agent | Your own operations team, with less admin |
If you are choosing between systems, our guides on how to choose CAFM software and what to ask before signing a CAFM contract set out the questions that matter.
What a CAFM system gives a multi-site operator
- One record per job, from fault to paid invoice
- Proof of compliance you can show an auditor or insurer in minutes
- A history for every asset, so repair-or-replace is a decision, not a guess
- Contractors who know what is expected and can be measured against it
- Spend you can explain by site, asset and contractor
Fabric is open now with a free 30-day trial. Bring your own sites, add your contractors and see what it looks like with real jobs in it.
Common questions
What is CAFM software?
CAFM stands for computer-aided facilities management. CAFM software keeps a record of your sites and assets and manages the maintenance work carried out on them: reactive repairs, planned servicing, contractor assignment, compliance certificates and costs. It replaces spreadsheets, email chains and paper job sheets with one system.
What is the difference between CAFM and CMMS?
A CMMS (computerised maintenance management system) is usually focused on maintenance jobs and assets, often in manufacturing. CAFM is broader and covers the building and its services, contractors and compliance as well. Fabric does both: it manages jobs against assets like a CMMS, and contractors, certificates and invoices like a CAFM.
Is Fabric suitable for a small group of sites?
Yes. Fabric is designed for groups from a handful of sites upwards, with free setup for groups of up to 25 sites. Larger estates get a guided rollout. There are no per-user fees, so site managers, engineers and contractors can all use it.
Which sectors is Fabric CAFM software built for?
Coffee shop chains, bakery chains, restaurant groups, pubs and bars, contract caterers and the FM service providers who look after them. The asset types, PPM schedules and compliance checks are set up for commercial kitchens and front-of-house equipment from the start.
Can contractors use Fabric without a licence?
Yes. Contractors receive a secure job link by email and update the job from it, or sign in to the free contractor portal. You never pay for contractor users.
How much does Fabric cost?
Fabric Core is £79 per site per month, or £67 a month paid annually, with optional bolt-ons for planned maintenance, compliance, contractors and costs. Fabric Complete, with everything included, is £129 per site per month, excluding VAT. There are no per-user fees and no long contracts.
Related
How to choose CAFM software
What to look for in CAFM software for a multi-site food and drink business: the questions to ask, the features that matter and the traps to avoid.
Facilities management software (CAFM)
Assets, jobs, contractors, compliance and invoices in one platform for multi-site UK operators. Free 30-day trial.
Read moreAsset management software
An asset register for every site, with the history, certificates and costs of each machine in one place. Free 30-day trial.
Read moreRun your estate on Fabric.
Try it free for 30 days with your own sites. No card needed, and we help you set up.