10 minute read
INTERVIEW
Taking a TECHNOLOGY-BASED APPROACH
MARC DALY - HARD SERVICES AT SERVEU, DISCUSSES A VARIETY OF TOPICS AFFECTING THE FM INDUSTRY
With over 10 experiences in the FM industry Marc has led FM operations in the UAE, KSA & UK with a keen eye on efficiency improvement on asset performance and service delivery. With technology being the main driver for both these areas; Marc has played a leadership role in implementing technology in FM operations for leading clients to help deliver efficiency through their assets and achieve benefits to their budget bottom line. ENHANCING USER TECH EXPERIENCE Adapting to new technologies can be demanding but how can proptech vendors better position themselves to explain the intricacies of their product without time being wasted In-line with Dubai’s innovation-driven growth for the Dubai Strategic Plan 2030; we have implemented technology driven CAFM utilisation on 98% of our contracts. We have implemented a customised maintenance app exclusively for ServeU customers
at Expo 2020. Furthermore, we have provided many of our customers with handheld devices at no additional cost burden for them to log and track jobs being attended by our teams. Our revamped customer app for the B2C segment is ready to be launched with a core focus on the customer journey and experience which is not just seamless but extremely easy to use and navigate. In 2021 we also introduced an innovative issue logging mechanism whereby even if the customer does not have any app the issue can be logged using WhatsApp. What is even more interesting is that the customer’s report is immediately acknowledged with a reference number they can use to trace the status. This technology adaptation and our continuous innovation drive has resulted in us retaining more than 94% of our customers with win rate on new bids being in the high percentile as well.
The Property Technology firms have a strong advantage when it comes to solutions since, they have a very close collaboration with the Property Developers and Construction Prime Contractors which can be further extended to the FM companies. The statistics shows that there are only around one tenth of Proptech firms when compared to Fintech which creates a great niche for a seamless solution to provided right from design to facilities management enabling longevity to the asset life.
The Proptech companies are well positioned to provide bespoke solutions for FM services that will ultimately benefit owners and residents since their engagement from the design stage is very high.
MANAGING LARGE TASK-FORCE The value of employee well-being by the FM Companies and Clients contracting manpower services
Investing in our people is important as they are most asset in the organisation. At ServeU, we invest in people moving up, getting promotions and we recently has one our cleaners getting promoted to electrician due to the training we give and to motivate the employees to develop new skills.
At ServeU we have various initiatives technology driven and psychological that enables our employee engagement to be very strong and effective. We believe and practice that the role of the task force is not just to do their day job and the role of the management is not just to manage the task force. As management it is our responsibility to empower our task force to be more efficient and provide them with opportunities to progress. Herein lies successful management rather than having our employees on a leash.
EXPANDING INTO THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR How can the FM Industry break into the hospitality sector? Traditionally it was normal for the hospitality sector to outsource the soft services side of their but in 2021 we have engaged with some high-end hotel brands wherein we have provided MEP maintenance work force as well. From a client perspective they have a twofold approach to this move; firstly, assurance for the trained skillset that a FM company can provide and secondly engaging for a technology advantage whereby they can use the various technological practices of the FM company to maximise their asset value.
ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP WITH DEVELOPERS ON PROJECTS How can the FM Industry establish an open line of communication with developers at the beginning of new construction projects? The early engagement between a developer and a Facilities Management service provider is fundamental and imperative to maximise the performance and life of the building and associated assets. With the advancement of the UAE construction industry and the maturing FM market this engagement has started to surface with PPP (Public Private Partnership) consortiums engaging with FM Service Providers. ServeU has in the last 18 months been in dialogue with established organisations to foster this early engagement.
CONTRACTUAL GAPS What are some of the gaps seen by the FM Industry when it comes to contracts and tendering processes?
The legacy gaps in FM industry contracts have narrowed to a great extent over the last decade. This maturity in the FM market can be attributed to the awareness across the customers and the increased engagement between the customers and the FM service providers.
A key focus area to bridge the gap is the reporting and almost dynamic visibility of performance. At ServeU we firmly believe and propagate what Peter Drucker said, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure”. We continuously work with customers to develop and enhance reporting dashboards supported by PowerBI that gives them visibility and an awareness of our performance whilst allowing them to understand the performance of their assets.
ELEVATING THE ACCESS INDUSTRY
JLG INDUSTRIES, INC., AN OSHKOSH CORPORATION COMPANY, AND LEADING GLOBAL MANUFACTURER OF MOBILE ELEVATING WORK PLATFORMS (MEWPS) AND TELEHANDLERS, ELEVATES THE ACCESS INDUSTRY ONCE AGAIN WITH ITS NOW AVAILABLE ALL-ELECTRIC DAVINCI™AE1932 SCISSOR LIFT.
Featuring zero hydraulics to help eliminate job site leaks and zero emissions to help control job site pollution, this 19-ft (5.79 m) scissor lift is purpose-built for applications where stringent environmental regulations must be met.
Every component on the DaVinci scissor is fully optimized, including the control, lift, drive and steering systems, to reduce the machine’s energy consumption by up to 70% as compared to a traditional scissor lift. This reduced energy consumption allows for the use of a single, lithium ion battery.
“The DaVinci AE1932 scissor lift represents the next generation of electrification,” says Shashank Bhatia, senior director of engineering for MEWPs at JLG. “While there is no shortage of battery-powered or electric scissor lifts on the market today, these other models continue to include hydraulic cylinders for actuation, which require hydraulic oil for operation, leaving the possibility open for messy leaks on sensitive job sites. JLG continues to push the envelope in innovation around the entire construction ecosystem, from our rental partners to job sites. This new JLG all-electric machine unlocks new possibilities and applications where these types of machines could not be used in the past due to concerns surrounding leaks.”
Control System DaVinci™ lifts use a distributed architecture where each system (lift, drive and steer) is connected independently, helping reduce voltage drops and latency,
while enabling the control system on the scissor to connect and communicate directly with each system.
Because the control system is fully connected to the entire machine, the DaVinci scissor can transmit data back to operators, fleet managers and service technicians via Bluetooth and cellular networks. This sets the stage for new features like the DaVinciGo app. This app provides real-time machine health and battery status information and the ability for service technicians to perform remote diagnostics and push over-the-air software updates. Drive System The drive system on the all-electric DaVinci lift has permanent magnets which generate torque and create motion to spin the motor. It is estimated that permanent magnet performance can increase the efficiency of a motor by up to 20-30% on average. Motors with permanent magnets have a long life and require zero serviceability.
Steer System For smooth operation, the independent controllers of the DaVinci lift’s steering system are designed to help reduce tire scrubbing on job sites, which helps control tire wear and limits damage to sensitive flooring.
The AE1932’s intuitive steering system allows DaVinci lift operators to easily maneuver the machine into and around, narrow-access and space-restricted areas to get work done where it’s needed.
Lift System The lift system on the new DaVinci scissor lift is designed with an electromechanical lift actuator, replacing the hydraulic cylinder design of traditional electric scissor lifts. Since there are no hydraulics, the AE1932 does not leak, which means it can be used without diapers. “The simplified design makes the AE1932 noticeably different when working at height,” says Nunez.
“Traditional battery-powered lifts have hoses routed throughout the scissor stack, whereas the DaVinci lift has no hoses for a clean, modern appearance with significantly reduced maintenance and service requirements.”
Furthermore, the DaVinci scissor lift system is engineered to recover energy as the platform descends, sending it back to the battery to help maximize use between charges.
Battery System DaVinci lifts can be fully charged in as little as 3-1/2 hours, increasing its utilization throughout the workday as compared to traditional electric powered lifts that require up to 3 times longer to charge. For additional productivity gains, the system can also be opportunity charged in 5 minutes or less for 100 ft (30.48 m) of drive, plus enough torque for loading. >>>
The DaVinci lift’s lithium-ion battery can last up to 10-years, which means that the battery should not need to be replaced, and requires no maintenance, throughout the entire design-life of the scissor lift. In addition, the DaVinci lift features an advanced battery management system that monitors the machine’s charge and usage, while providing detailed diagnostic information about the battery and charge systems via the DavinciGo App.
Performance Specs The all-electric DaVinci AE1932 scissor lift answers the industry’s expectation for performance and productivity in 19-ft (5.79 m) scissor lifts, including an indoor/outdoor 606 lb (275 kg) capacity rating. The DaVinci AE1932 lift has a 4-mph (0.80 km) travel speed, which is up to 2x faster than a traditional scissor lift.
This enables the machine to move quickly around job sites. Another productivity enhancing feature is progressive elevated drive speed. This function slows the unit down as its elevated, instead of defaulting to 0.5 mph like a standard scissor lift, a JLG industry first.
The machine has a compact footprint, weighs 3,450-lbs (1,564.89 kg) and 25% gradeability. DaVinci lifts also comply with the latest ANSI and CSA industry standards, featuring a load sensing system, selfclosing gate and the JLG QuikFold rail system. It comes standard with JLG™ Mobile Control, allowing users to drive, steer and load the scissor lift from any iOS or Android mobile device. “With its productivity features for end-users, the DaVinci AE1932 scissor lift sets a new benchmark in the industry for both performance and maintenance,” says Nunez.
DRIVE THE NEW WAY
NEW IVECO T-WAY: HIGH PRODUCTIVITY AND SAFETY ON OFF-ROAD TERRAINS
With a complete line-up of AWD and PWD versions and the the 16-speed HI-TRONIX automated gearbox, the IVECO T-WAY features a host of functionalities such as Rocking Mode, Off-road Mode, Creeping Mode and 4 reverse gears to tackle with ease the toughest off-road conditions. The new architecture of the EBS system, combined with disc brakes on all wheels, greatly improves the vehicle’s performance and the driver’s safety in the most demanding applications.
NEW IVECO S-WAY: HIGH TECHNOLOGY AND EFFICIENCY FOR ON-ROAD MISSIONS
The new IVECO S-WAY, with a completely redesigned and reinforced cab, offers a wide choice of Euro III/V diesel engines, a delivering class-leading power from 360 HP to 560 HP Euro III / 570 HP Euro V and superior fuel-saving devices, such as anti-idling feature, Ecoswitch, Ecoroll and Smart Alternator. 12-speed HI-TRONIX automated transmission with the most advanced technology in its category, electronic clutch and best-in-class torque-to-weight ratio.
