MOBILE APPS IN FM SECTOR CREATING NEW WAVE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

With the proliferation of facilities management (FM) services, technology has taken the centre stage, transforming practices in the industry. Digital transformation has become a necessity as the industry seeks to meet the ever-evolving requirements of the people. The evolution of technology in the FM sector has created a new paradigm with two aspects to this disruption. The first is automation of the business processes and the other is introduction of a variety of data systems.

But the question that lingers is how the sector streamlines people, processes, and technology for its uninterrupted functioning.

Though the term digital transformation is quite common currently, to leverage its potential it must be endowed with practicality. In the FM sector, the backbone of digital transformation is ensuring better connections and collaborations with the team. As the sector gets more competitive and dynamic, it requires a new environment which ensures enhanced service quality, productivity, and performance.

Surprisingly, this can be attained with the help of simple mobile applications. For ServeU, one of the UAE’s leading FM solutions providers and a subsidiary of Union Properties, this has been a key reason for its smooth functioning.

Recently, ServeU launched two business-to-business (B2B) mobile applications for clients with residential and commercial properties with an aim to enhance customer interaction and satisfaction, especially during emergency situations. The apps enable seamless interactions with the corporates, allows them to make quick service requests and even reschedule booked services. The apps, which are specifically designed and developed on Microsoft’s backend system in Dynamic 365 Field Service, ensure a digitalised FM ecosystem. ServeU believes in the potential of mobile applications beyond the convenience it offers, as it can act as a key catalyst for digital transformation in the FM sector. Digital transformation has become a critical element in every market and organisations that are reluctant to adapt to changes may end up in turmoil in the years to come. In the competitive market, offering excellent services is one of the key drivers for customer retention and increased profitability. In addition, the companies in the FM sector often come under excessive pressure to achieve operational efficiency, add value to their business, and reduce costs. By using mobile apps with clear and easily accessible workflows, FM managers can ensure that their service teams are guided through the service tasks, ensuring consistency, reducing customer criticisms, and improving effectiveness. Moreover, mobile apps can be highly helpful in figuring out better, faster, and easier ways to carry out various tasks. It enables players in the FM sector to easily adapt to market changes and customer requirements, as well as to stay on top of a frequently evolving industry.

Globally, mobile apps for FM services have already transformed facilities management, ushering in a new wave of digital transformation in the sector. Numerous organisations have started integrating mobile devices with wider FM software, as it has the potential to reap enormous benefits by aiding fast, costeffective, and more precise decisions. Furthermore, considering the customer demand which keeps on evolving, FM service providers must be able to respond to these changes in order to retain their position in the market. The new generation of FM mobile applications allows companies to adapt to these changes through a wide variety of choices from innovative designs to intuitive layouts, and much more. Since mobile technology shows no sign of losing prominence any time soon, the FM sector can widely harness the capabilities of cutting-edge mobile apps.

Announces Entertainment Destination In Tabuk Worth Over Sar 1 Billion At Furas

Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced the beginning of construction of its entertainment destination in Tabuk at the Municipal Investment Forum (Furas), organised by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (MoMRA). With a development value of more than SAR 1 billion, SEVEN’s entertainment destination in Tabuk will transform the entertainment landscape in the region with a wide range of attractions and experiences.

Designed by world-renowned architects, Gensler, SEVEN’s entertainment destination in Tabuk is set on over 72,500 square metres of built-up area and on a land area of 40,000 square metres. Located on King Faisal Road, the entertainment destination is designed as a village nestled between gardens and recreational spaces, creating an extension of this environment within. The entertainment destination welcomes guests under a coloured glass canopy inspired by local arts and traditions. An innovative hydroponic tower, inspired by, and paying homage to, the agricultural contribution of the city to the Kingdom, creates an iconic attraction in the heart of the entertainment destination.

During a signing ceremony at the Municipal Investment Forum, SEVEN awarded the development contract to build the entertainment destination to AL BAWANI CO. LTD., a leading Saudi-owned and managed company.

Abdullah AlDawood, Chairman, SEVEN, said: “We are excited to be bringing our exciting new entertainment experiences to the people of Tabuk. We have appreciated the city’s rich culture and heritage in the development of our entertainment destination, infusing it with Tabuk’s unique features and ensuring that our destination will cater to the needs of all in Tabuk. Our entertainment destination gates will support the local economy, create job opportunities for the city’s people, and enrich the lives of those living in and visiting Tabuk.”

Fakher AlShawaf, Group CEO, Albawani Holding, said: “We are thrilled to be part of SEVEN’s entertainment project in Tabuk. Our commitment to SEVEN is to deliver worldclass entertainment facilities. The entertainment sector is growing rapidly in the Kingdom, and we aspire to support it to become a social and economic catalyst.”

Visitors will be offered a wide range of exciting attractions including a 4,000 square metre highly immersive family entertainment centre, a second junior family entertainment centre for the little ones, as well as a Discovery Adventures centre; an indoor attraction that provides a unique edutainment experience that integrates Discovery content developed in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery.

SEVEN’s entertainment destination in Tabuk will also feature an e-karting experience under Mattel’s Hot Wheels brand for both adults and children to enjoy, a 12hole indoor adventure golf course integrating the latest technology to tailor individual experiences, a 10-lane futuristic bowling experience and a 10-screen cinema. There will also be a multi-purpose event space hosting a variety of events and a wide variety of local and international retail, food and beverage outlets.

SEVEN is investing more than SAR 50 billion to build 21 entertainment destinations which will provide unique and innovative world-class entertainment experiences and global partnerships from within the sector. SEVEN recently announced the beginning of construction of its entertainment destination in the Al Hamra district of Riyadh as well as the location of the upcoming projects in 14 cities across the Kingdom: Riyadh, Kharj, Makkah, Jeddah, Taif, Dammam, Khobar, Al Ahsa, Madinah, Yanbu, Abha, Jazan, Buraidah, and Tabuk. Saudi Entertainment Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of PIF, is mandated to invest in, develop, and operate entertainment destinations and create a sustainable entertainment sector that caters to the needs of all in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with the highest and latest international standards.