< Previous COMMENT 30 June 2021www.fm-middleeast.com Future of facilities management services is in creating safe workplaces By Alok Sharma, CEO, Shycocan Corporation T he 'New Normal' has brought with it a host of challenges. As waves of the pandemic continue to surge at periodic intervals; buildings, offices, warehouses, retail stores, and manufacturing facilities are yet to get back to business fully. However, essential services like healthcare, utilities, transportation, and ecommerce need to continue to be in operation posing a risk for the employees and customers alike. The facilities management teams are grappling with maintaining the buildings, as there are challenges of decreased revenue from offices not open, and increased risk to their personnel in running facilities of essential services like healthcare. The facilities management industry has been transforming itself to meet new challenges, like they have done in the past. What started off with automation a few decades back, coupled with efficiency in improvement of processes, evolved into a lot more in the last decade. Energy optimisation, analytics, integration brought in a lot of openness and new standards. The Internet of Things [IoT] also found a place of pride to provide efficient remote services to FMS personnel and has even revolutionised their service offering. It would be justified to say this pandemic has accelerated the next level in FMS with a renewed focus on safety. Safety is all set to dominate every requirement for buildings to get back to business. Safe environments are important and the future of all FMS related offerings. This comes as no surprise to the community of industry experts, realtors and FMS solution providers as safety has always been an important component in the FMS integrated mix. However, the new rules call for much more than the processes implemented till date. Some of them involve newer approaches to safety design, safety services, safety audits, technology integration and move beyond that into the dimension of innovative integrated safety solutions and services. Massive changes in technology will throw up the need for professional and trained facilities managers to implement and drive these new initiatives. The FMS industry players who are nimble-footed and bring forward this integration of technology services shall succeed in this new era. The ability to think holistically, implement strategic initiatives, yet be capable of moving quickly to adapt and execute to changes will become critical. Organisations shall divide jobs that are predominantly work from home or require employees to work from office. This shall create an opportunity for FMS companies to provide technology and services for safety of the employees whether at home, at office or while commuting to work. This has the ability to redefine the contours of the facilities management industry, if it grabs the opportunity to finally grow. As we look at the lifecycle of people’s safety from a 360º view, the solutions and services shall have to be looked at holistically. Some of these areas are (i) Integrating health parameters like temperature, oxygen levels, cough, etc, for every individual whether at home or office into a single dashboard for its customers (ii) Integrating technology for protection against the virus in employee CREATING SAFE WORKPLACESCOMMENT June 2021 31www.fm-middleeast.com Alok Sharma, CEO, Shycocan Corporation. transportation especially where shared services are used (iii) Build no-touch solutions for using building services like lifts, barriers, screening, etc. (iv) Implementing screening systems that are integrated with government apps that monitor people’s health so that a person at health risk identified at one location can be shared with other locations and authorities (v) Using devices and cameras integrated with thermal sensors for non-contact screening (vi) Implementing a new category of devices for “Viral-Defence” in the premises so that inhabitants can work without fear (vii) Using best practices like circulating more fresh air in the buildings while optimising energy usage by maintain warmer temperatures that still ensure occupant comfort. Integration of all these data points needs to be brought to the forefront, thereby allowing organisations to make data-driven decisions, probably even in real-time. This shift to real-time data is here to stay and a sign that the FMS industry will rise to the occasion when required and enable businesses to stay in business. The presence of thermal scanners, testing them without contact brings forth the opportunity to filter individuals in spaces and serve that data in real time to the building manager and the government. An app link with the local government's technology has been mandated across several countries to track and monitor temperature. This need will enter the realm of FMS and help design and maintain a safe environment. This level of safety monitoring is not limited to the incoming traffic but also individuals who work to keep the building running. As workforce limitation increases with a select percentage of people being allowed to work from office, the strain on the workforce has increased. Thus, it is critical that everyone is kept safe from the transmission of the virus. A revolutionary product, Shycocan is the world’s first ‘Virus Attenuation Device’ that reduces the indoor transmission of the virus without harming the inhabitants or the environment. The Shycocan is a technological device that attenuates, meaning, disables viruses in the current pandemic, thereby reducing transmission by 99.9%. This has been certified by some of the most stringent laboratories across the world. Each device protects about 1000 square feet of space and multiple devices can be installed to cover larger spaces. This pathbreaking device has low maintenance costs and only consumes power equal to a 40-watt light bulb. Additionally, unlike UV filters, sanitisers, and other methods of sanitisation, it’s completely safe for humans, animals and the environment. But more than anything, it is the only proven technology that can bring business and life back to normal. While newer technologies emerge, the objective for all of them is pretty clear. They must encourage people to get back to offices and working spaces, restart establishments and drive more business. They have to be reassuring for every employee or walk-in to create this overall change in attitude by replacing fear with assurance. In conclusion, safety services and solutions shall dominate the focus of the FMS industry as only once the inhabitants feel safe, buildings and businesses will restart. The industry has an opportunity to redefine its scope of work beyond the office building as many job roles convert to work from home, finally expanding the size of the industry. The industry needs to look beyond services only; and offer integrated solutions involving technology and services, as new challenges need to be overcome. Last but not the least, the FMS industry needs to be a torchbearer for implementation of viral-defence devices like Shycocan to ensure buildings are safe again, businesses can be back to normal and the FMS industry can be revived. BUILDING TRENDS 32 June 2021www.fm-middleeast.com CallisonRTKL unveils fi ve key trends in building net-zero cities in the MENA region FIVE KEY TRENDS IN BUILDING NET-ZERO CITIESBUILDING TRENDS June 2021 33www.fm-middleeast.com I ndustry experts from CallisonRTKL (CRTKL), the global architecture, planning and design firm, have revealed five key trends for the development of net-zero cities in the Middle East and North Africa region. Experts highlight the need to ensure sustainable construction materials, use design processes and tools to enable sustainable construction, implement smart cooling systems, and foster wider industry collaboration as key pillars of further net-zero development in the region. Energy used in net zero cities, be that in development or in use, is offset through the use of renewable energy sources to produce zero net energy consumption. With governments across the region pursuing key clean energy strategies over upcoming decades, including the UAE’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Saudi Arabia’s Green Saudi Initiative, enabling net-zero development across the region is a key aspect of driving wider sustainability savings. The announcement comes following CallisonRTKL’s recent launch of their new open-source platform, CLIMATESCOUT. The tool combines data with images, allowing planners to design buildings that respond to their environment by providing climate- specific design advice. The company has further committed to two significant goals across its some 2,000 projects under design around the world: all projects will be net zero carbon for operation by 2030 and carbon neutral (including embodied in construction materials) by 2050. Matthew Tribe, principal at CallisonRTKL, commented: “The MENA region is globally recognised for pioneering new technological sustainability solutions, yet with the region’s climate and economic growth strategies, enabling net-zero cities presents a challenge for planners in the Middle East to overcome. Our vision for regional sustainable development is premised on collaboration across the architecture and design sector, using data- focused digital tools to drive industry- wide learning and understanding. “CallisonRTKL’s pursuit of net- zero development across the global architecture sector is demonstrative of the wider climate issues which the world is facing, and how the design and construction industry has to meet its obligations as a sector. Through fostering new forms of industry wide collaboration, we hope to part of that broader conversation on enabling net- zero development that can benefit all.” The five key trends for enabling net- zero cities in the region are: 1. ZERO EMBODIED CARBON One of the central barriers to net-zero development can be in the selection of construction materials that developers BUILDING TRENDS 34 June 2021www.fm-middleeast.com Matt hew Tribe, principal at CallisonRTKL. WHEN DESIGNING FOR NET-ZERO, THE REQUIREMENT FOR CAREFUL PLANNING IS COMPOUNDED, AS DESIGNERS NOT ONLY HAVE TO CONSIDER THE ENERGY REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT A BUILDING, BUT ALSO FOR ITS OPERATION, ALONGSIDE ITS EVENTUAL DECOMMISSIONING. are using. Mining, transportation, and manufacturing building products have significant environmental costs: concrete, iron, and steel production produce around 9% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Not only do materials have environmental costs created solely in their production. They may be inefficient in helping a building optimise its energy consumption, and can also be environmentally costly to dispose of. Net-zero developers in the region have to take into consideration a significant range of factors when designing buildings, choosing materials which are not environmentally costly to produce, transport, or dispose of. While in other regions, materials such as timber are to enable net-zero development, the Middle East has to be innovative in adapting and reinventing products to be able to offset carbon emissions during manufacture. 2. PERFORMANCE DRIVEN DESIGN Not only do regional designers have to consider a range of environmental performance factors when assessing building materials. The whole process of design has to be driven by enabling social, economic, and environmental impact throughout the design phase. When designing a net-zero city, architects BUILDING TRENDS June 2021 35www.fm-middleeast.com cannot neglect one aspect for the benefit of another: no-one wants to live in a sustainable city that has no community spirit, or reside in an economic powerhouse that has no concern for green space. Using smart, digital design tools to able to foster performance driven design is a critical enabler of wider sustainable development across the Middle East region. Using computational models to be able to assess building’s lifetime energy consumption and development’s construction requirements can enable wider environmental savings in the future while meeting community’s needs today. Fostering and enabling design based on environmental performance is an additional central aspect of wider net- zero development. 3. AVAILABILITY OF DIGITAL DESIGN TOOLS Any design or architecture project requires careful planning and consultation to be able to bring it to reality. When designing for net-zero, the requirement for careful planning is compounded, as designers not only have to consider the energy required to construct a building, but also for its operation, alongside its eventual decommissioning. Such a level of planning for the entire lifecycle of a building requires thousands of individual data points to be conceptualised, creating significant challenges for any planner. Advanced digital and computational tools can help ease the pressure on architects, with modern software now able to match the complex planning requirements of a net-zero project. CallisonRTKL’s CLIMATESCOUT can be freely accessed and provides planners with insight into using suitable construction and design techniques to cater toward sustainable development. The evolution and proliferation of such tools among the architecture and design community will have major ramifications for how regional planners create net-zero cities in the Middle East. 4. KEEPING THE MIDDLE EAST COOL As a region with extreme temperatures, the Middle East has long been reliant on air conditioning to be able to sustain day- to-day life. Analysts have predicted that, by 2050, air conditioning will use around 13% of global electricity and produce 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. [i] For regional planners, being able to innovate new ways to keep cool is a key aspect of designing the net-zero city. When considering this, there is a key solution embedded in the region’s past. The iconic wind towers of the Gulf region have been tools used for the past three thousand years to increase ventilation into buildings and keep homes cool. By updating traditional structures to match 21st century requirements, CallisonRTKL’s Xylem Pods leverage technology to use wind to cool water, which then circulates through pads in buildings to keep areas cool compared to external temperatures. Combined with other construction techniques that can enable cooler climates, including solar responsive windows and filtered daylight, these cooling systems can create net-zero climate control in the Middle East. While the technology still needs to be developed further before being able to replace conventional air conditioning, it nevertheless represents an exciting opportunity for sustainable based climate control in the MENA region. 5. INDUSTRY WIDE COLLABORATION Enabling both regional and global net-zero development is a task that is greater than any design and architecture firm, both in its ethical imperative and its scale of technological and logistical co-ordination. Planners and architects from across the region have been, and will be, coming in closer cooperation with one another to solve key challenges that presented in the task of net-zero development. CallisonRTKL recently established its global industry collaboration platform, the CRTKL CoLab. Bringing together industry experts, policy makers, materials management specialists, design professionals, and more, the sessions, which were focused on construction waste in retail architecture, enabled key discussions on enabling net-zero development. Through participating in and hosting such discussions, the regional architecture and design industry can continue to move further toward enabling net-zero development in MENA. BRANDVIEW www.fm-middleeast.com36 June 2021 In an interview with Eng. Naif Al Habedi, general manager of Saudi-based United Saudi Maintenance & Services (USMS), he says that quality management has become a major aim for the firm. He elaborates: “Customers require and demand quality products and services. We firmly believe in delivering quality in order to pursue excellence. We strive in being the best we can so as to get ahead of our competitors.” Al Habedi says that the first thing that differentiates the firm is meeting the needs and expectations of all its stakeholders such as customers, suppliers, staff and the community at large. He adds: “We are proud to have achieved the highest recognised standards in ISO 9001 for QMS, ISO 14001 for EMS and ISO 45001 for OHSS which reinforces our commitment to deliver the highest quality.” The second thing that makes USMS stand apart is technology. Al Habedi says: “We are fully committed to procure the most modern technology to drive value-based solutions to our clients. The value of our current assets stand at SAR60m.” United Saudi Maintenance & Services is a fully Saudi-owned company established in 1990 with more than 31 of years of experience in providing FM services which makes it a leading player in the Saudi market. The firm is specialised in providing integrated facility management services in addition to offering specialised services of DCM (design, construct & maintain) contracts at KSA’s major projects. Al Habedi adds: “We are immensely proud of our association with some of the iconic projects in Saudi Arabia such as Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah, DOKAAE (Clock Tower) Makkah, 17 airports across KSA, royal palaces, exclusive private residences, and leading universities to name a few. “I take pride in leading a team of 4,600+ colleagues, our biggest asset, who strive hard to exceed the expectations of our 50+ trusted clients ENG. NAIF AL HABEDI, GENERAL MANAGER OF UNITED SAUDI MAINTENANCE & SERVICES (USMS), BELIEVES IN DELIVERING QUALITY IN ORDER TO PURSUE EXCELLENCE 24x7 in a very challenging environment. I am currently leading the integration of key services within our conglomerate to create one of the biggest platform to cater to the needs of the changing scenario in the Saudi market. “We also take pride in supporting the local community by engaging and employing them in our projects. We increased localisation from 10% in 2019 to 25% in 2021, an industry leading example. In line with KSA Vision 2030 of creating more employment for local nationals, we are aiming to reach 35% of localisation by 2022 by introducing accelerated development programmes to attract the best local talent. In addition, we embarked on promoting the diversity at the work place by hiring about 200+ female staff, both local and expats, across our projects during the last two years and aim to recruit an additional 100+ before the end of this year. SAUDI MARKET “KSA’s Vision 2030 envisaged by our QUALITY FIRST USMS has signed a contract with the largest female university in the world – Princess Nora University in Riyadh.BRANDVIEW www.fm-middleeast.comJune 2021 37 state-of-the-art and modern road sweepers at a cost of $1m for a newly acquired project in Riyadh even if it meant compromising on the profit line, but eventually it will help us in winning the trust of our client paving the way for long-term business relationship.” Saudi Arabia is leading the way in the smart transformation and construction of cities such as Neom Smart City, King Abdullah Economic City, King Abdullah Financial District, and Qiddiya and USMA is working continuously to remain at the forefront of these developments, says Al Habedi. “The technology transformation will bring us closer to our mission of achieving exceptional customer happiness in an engaging, safe and secure environment through the delivery of innovative solutions by our trusted, talented professionals.” USMS has signed contracts with the largest female university in the world – Princess Nora Bint Abdel Rehman University in Riyadh – and also with King Abdullah Economic City in Jeddah – the futuristic and smart city. Al Habedi concludes: “We are also in the final stages of finalising the expansion of our contract with one of our key clients, RPA, which is estimated to double our revenue. Once materialised, these projects will potentially add additional revenue of SAR800m and 3,500+ staff on board by 2022.” beloved King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and inspirational changes made by our Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud provided the biggest opportunities to date in Saudi Arabia,” says Al Habedi. Based on a most recent report, Al Habedi says, the Saudi Arabian facility management market size stood at $31,264.1m in 2020, and is expected to demonstrate a CAGR of 11.1% during the forecast period (2021–2030). Further, the increase in construction activities, along with the growth of the tourism sector of the country, is one of the major factors propelling the Saudi Arabian FM industry. Some of the iconic giga-projects announced as part of the Vision 2030 include Neom Smart City, Red Sea Resort Project, Qiddiya Entertainment City and Amaala Red Sea Riviera. Al Habedi adds: “The size and magnitude of these projects offer immense opportunities; in fact, we have our presence already in Neom with one of our key clients which is a testament to our focus in achieving our ambition.” However, with the continued growth of the FM industry in the region comes the trend of improving service levels and more demanding client requirements with optimum quality. Al Habedi says: “We have to take on these challenges ensuring service standards are met, while carefully managing delivery costs to ensure assets are maintained at their optimum condition. In the midst of these trends of improved service specifications and rigorous cost management, technology is emerging as a key differentiator for leading FM service providers. “Facilities management has evolved from simply managing buildings to delivering a delightful experience. Now empowered with technology, FM teams have shifted their focus from cost-centric services towards creating value-driven services. We will be fully utilising the latest innovative technology to provide and receive the very highest standard of service and customer satisfaction and the greatest example is the procurement of three IN LINE WITH THE KSA VISION 2030 OF CREATING MORE EMPLOYMENT FOR LOCAL NATIONALS, WE ARE AIMING TO REACH 35% OF LOCALISATION BY 2022 BY INTRODUCING ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES TO ATTRACT THE BEST LOCAL TALENT. King Abdullah Economic City, Jeddah. Eng. Naif Al Habedi, general manager, USMS.FMME Awards 2021 in association with www.fm-middleeast.com38 June 2021 SILVER SPONSORSCATEGORY SPONSORSSTRATEGIC SPONSOR FACILITIES & CONTRACTING PLATINUM SPONSOR MEET THE SPONSORS What does FM Middle East Awards mean to you? What are you looking forward to at the awards this year? Service providers and industry experts await the yearly FM Middle East Awards event to celebrate their achievements and meet their colleagues from around the industry. We believe this year it will be special as it will be in person and back to the norm after the virtual event of 2020. FM Middle East Awards is an excellent opportunity to see the accomplishments of our peers in the market and see how the facilities management market is evolving year on year. From our end, Deyaar FM is looking forward to a wonderful evening where we will share our accomplishments and success of year 2020. How has Deyaar FM fared over the last 12 months and what were some of the biggest learnings? Considering all the challenges faced last year due to the pandemic, Deyaar FM had a positive 2020. The firm achieved a 25% growth in revenue, in addition to increasing its workforce by 32%. The most important thing was keeping everyone motivated throughout the year. Subsequently, the DFM team rose to the challenge and mobilised various projects, in a timely manner, with hundreds of personnel during those challenging times, as well as maintaining the same service level across the portfolio. Our biggest learnings during 2020, were related to dealing with the pandemic. We updated our business continuity plan to be in line with a pandemic scenario; we became more agile, flexible and task focused. We learned how to work efficiently from home or in a hybrid model. We dived into the details of disinfection and sanitisation services in line with international standards and municipality regulations. A QUICK CHAT WITH MOHAMAD ABOU LABAN, CEO, DEYAAR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, THE SILVER SPONSOR FOR THE FMME AWARDS 2021 DEYAAR FM HAS INVESTED HEAVILY IN TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THE PAST 2 YEARS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH NEW APPLICATIONS AND SYSTEM INTEGRATIONS. What are some of the immediate initiatives and innovations Deyaar FM plans to undertake in the coming months? Deyaar FM has invested heavily in technology within the past 2 years and we will continue to invest in technology and digital transformation through new applications and system integrations. Furthermore, Deyaar FM has completed the set up for its new training facility in Dubai and we await lifting the travel restrictions from the UK to acquire our BICSc certification. FMME Awards 2021 in association with www.fm-middleeast.comJune 2021 39 CATEGORY SPONSORS TECHNOLOGY SPONSOR A LIVE EVENT As a silver sponsor, what does the FM Awards mean to you and your business? What are you looking forward to? The FMME awards are very important not only to Farnek, but for every professional FM organisation in the region. First of all it helps to raise the industry bar across all areas of FM, encouraging companies to go that extra mile, recognising extraordinary achievements and celebrating excellence in the presence of our industry colleagues. They also provide an authentic benchmark against which companies can measure their own performance, by identifying and sharing best practice, so that we can not only learn from each other, but we can inspire each other What I am looking forward to most about the awards is attending a live event once again! Even with social distancing or maybe organising a hybrid event, it will be another step in the right direction. As FM professionals it is our responsibility to lead by example and show that we can provide a safe environment for our own event, which will undoubtedly give confidence to the authorities and other event organisers, as we progress towards the new normal, post Covid. How has Farnek fared over the last 12 months and what were some of the biggest learnings? Much has been made of the challenges that the whole FM industry has faced over the past 12 months, but as the vaccine rollout gathers momentum and we ease beyond the final stages of social restrictions, I’d like to focus on what we have learned and the opportunities that lie ahead. The outbreak has shown us that hotels, shopping malls, restaurants, offices and government buildings will continue to require a more advanced cleaning regime and professional management to ensure healthy distancing. I think this will be led by market demand - people will want their personal space to be respected and will not tolerate unhealthy facilities, which will include A/C and ventilation systems. We are also witnessing a period of economic adjustment in the market and this has been borne out by the number of mergers and acquisitions we’ve seen so far this year. Consolidation, with innovation, sustainability and technology will continue to drive the market. What are some of the immediate initiatives and innovation Farnek plans to undertake in the coming months? Well, last year shortly after the lockdown we introduced sanitisation tunnels, FOR THE FMME AWARDS 2021, MARKUS OBERLIN, CEO OF FARNEK, SAYS THAT HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING A LIVE EVENT ONCE AGAIN training for all staff about the new government hygiene regulations and we implemented a new contactless face recognition system to measure the temperature and monitor the attendance of all employees. In addition, we achieved GBAC STAR accreditation for our head office facility in Dubai, which was the first FM facility to be accredited by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, the global cleaning industry trade association, in the Middle East. We introduced virtual energy audits for building owners and managers, which was more cost-effective and safer for staff, by avoiding personal visits by technicians, we now have an online option. Earlier this year we moved 5,000 staff into their new state-of-the-art accommodation centre in Dubai South, which features a vertical rooftop garden, which will grow up to 3,000 different types of salad plants. We also launched an in-house smart fleet management solution that not only optimises the performance of our transport fleet, but also improves service delivery to its customers. Finally, most recently we launched a new hospitality division having won the contract for the Expo Village. Our scope of work will consist of managing the reservation services, concierge, front office services and housekeeping, for the 2,273 apartments within the Expo 2020 site. Next >