5 MIN READ
Specify and procure FF&E and OS&E at scale with Fohlio today. Empower teams to move faster and improve their operational workflow with specification, prototyping, procurement, collaboration, and analytics tools.
Data centers used to be the quiet workhorses of the digital world. Not anymore.
Today, they’re the lifeblood of AI, cloud, and every always-on service we can’t live without. But with that elevated status comes a mess of complexity—especially when it comes to designing and procuring the highly specialized components they require.
From finding the right site to managing long-lead equipment orders, data center projects leave zero room for error. That’s where Fohlio comes in.
Let’s break down the biggest headaches in data center development—and how Fohlio turns chaos into clarity.
Design Phase: Where Complexity Begins
1. Site Selection Isn’t Just About Location Anymore
Zoning. Power infrastructure. Environmental impact. You’re not just picking a place—you’re planning for uptime, compliance, and growth.
How Fohlio helps:
Centralize your early planning. Compare site options, forecast costs, and make smarter decisions—fast. Everyone works off the same data, in the same place, at the same time.
2. Compliance Is a Moving Target
GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS—and the list keeps growing. Miss one box, and you're in deep water.
With Fohlio:
Track certifications, build out checklist templates, and embed compliance right into your design specs—so staying within bounds isn’t a guessing game.
3. Power and Cooling Infrastructure = High Stakes
AI and high-density compute loads need serious cooling and power. Planning for the now and the future is critical.
Fohlio’s solution:
Create tailored spec sets for power and HVAC, link them to procurement, and monitor performance benchmarks—all in one place.
4. Scalability Without Sticker Shock
You want modular, expandable infrastructure—but that flexibility can come with a hefty price tag if it’s not planned right.
How Fohlio helps:
Connect modular strategies to budget forecasts. Use visual dashboards to show how today’s decisions affect tomorrow’s spend.
5. TCO: The Budget Blind Spot
If you’re only looking at CapEx, you’re missing the full picture.
With Fohlio:
Track TCO in real time. Watch how spec changes impact both CapEx and OpEx—and base your budgets on real, historical data.
6. System Compatibility: No Room for Missteps
A mismatch between cooling, power, and networking gear can blow your schedule (and budget) to pieces.
Fohlio prevents that:
Standardize specs across vendors. Use a shared digital library to keep every stakeholder working from approved, compatible components.
Procurement Phase: Where Timelines Get Tight
1. Sourcing the Unicorns
Chillers, transformers, custom racks—you need them all, and you need them yesterday. But supply chain chaos says otherwise.
Fohlio simplifies sourcing:
Centralize your vendor catalogs, pricing history, and product specs. Create repeatable templates and take the guesswork out of sourcing.
2. Vetting Vendors: It’s Not Just About Price
A good price is meaningless if your gear shows up late—or broken.
Fohlio’s VRM tools:
Track vendor performance by quality, delivery times, and cost trends. Share scorecards across your team for smarter vendor choices.
3. 12–18 Month Lead Times? Plan Like a Pro
You can’t afford surprises when your electrical gear is 18 months out.
With Fohlio:
Tie your procurement plan to construction timelines. Set lead-time alerts. Flag potential delays before they wreck your schedule.
4. Keep Procurement Spend in Check
Prices fluctuate. Scope creeps. Budgets don’t.
Fohlio’s fix:
Track spend in real time. Compare vendor quotes, analyze cost patterns across projects, and negotiate from a position of power.
5. Contract Management: No More Paper-Chasing
Every spec comes with warranties, SLAs, and compliance clauses. Keeping track is a full-time job—unless it’s automated.
Enter Fohlio:
Store, compare, and link contracts to specific line items. You’ll always know what’s covered, what’s not, and where to find it.
6. Don’t Skip Quality Control
A missed QA check could mean a million-dollar oops.
Fohlio builds QA into the workflow:
Attach test certs, inspection requirements, and QA milestones to every order. No more “I thought someone else was checking that.”
7. Build a More Resilient Supply Chain
Disruptions happen. You need a Plan B before Plan A breaks.
Fohlio helps you prep:
Track at-risk items, document backup vendors, and pivot fast when the unexpected hits.
Design and Procurement: One Platform, One Truth
Design and procurement aren’t separate lanes—they’re part of the same highway. A design decision today affects what you’re buying tomorrow. And procurement delays may force changes to the design.
Fohlio keeps everyone—from designers and engineers to buyers and execs—on the same page. No silos, no bottlenecks, no miscommunication.
Fohlio Makes Best Practices... Actually Practicable
See CapEx and OpEx in one place
Track compliance across phases
Forecast procurement timelines
Optimize spending with real-time data
Collaborate through centralized libraries and live updates
From Blueprint to Buildout: Fohlio Has Your Back
Whether you’re planning a high-density AI hub or scaling a multi-site colocation campus, Fohlio gives you the control and visibility to get it right.
Smarter design. Smoother procurement. Fewer headaches.
Specify and procure FF&E and OS&E at scale with Fohlio today. Empower teams to move faster and improve their operational workflow with specification, prototyping, procurement, collaboration, and analytics tools.
