In the month of March, CM today, along with sister magazines Clean Middle East and Waste & Recycling Middle East and Africa, hosted the second edition of the Synergy Series, which focused on the dynamic market of Saudi Arabia.

CM today hosted the first day of the three-day event, which saw the participation of several experts from Saudi Arabia's built environment. Saudi Arabia is witnessing tremendous transformations driven by the kingdom's vision 2030.

The Synergy Series explored emerging trends in sustainability and digitization through two panel discussions featuring several industry experts and two presentations by David Carey, Head of KSA FM Consulting, International Real Estate Partners, and Dr Islam Hamdi Elghonaimy, Associate professor, Department of Architecture and Interior Design, College of Engineering, University of Bahrain.

The event was supported by several leading companies such as WASCO, Reza Hygiene, Initial Saudi, Chbib, Facilio, and Tork.

The first panel discussion was titled 'Sustainability and Digital Innovation in KSA’s Built Environment'. The panel explored how technology, social and environmental trends are driving the Kingdom’s built environment and what is next in terms of project delivery, innovations and sustainability in the built environment. It was moderated by Karim Elnabawy, Associate Sustainability Consultant at AESG.

Here are a few takeaways from the discussion:

KARIM ELNABAWY, ASSOCIATE SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT, AESG

Saudi Arabia is leading by example in the sustainability movement, committing to reducing the harmful levels of greenhouse gasses that are contributing to climate change and by tackling sustainability issues and implementing environmental and sustainability programs that lead to both Vision 2030 and also the Net Zero initiative by 2060.

AMANI AL MOAJIL, GENERAL MANAGER - KSA ENOVA

Capitalizing on innovation and digitalisation actually drives the customer experience into a more positive one … It provides more flexibility, which can actually drive better management of cost, increase visibility, improve operational efficiency, and can be more attractive to the customer, when they are explained in a good way about the cost and time consuming perspective.

ANAS ALZAID, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, INITIAL SAUDI GROUP

We follow the clients. Client needs from facility management are changing. And that’s why automatically, the industry itself is changing to meet client needs. The client has set very challenging objectives for himself and for the people who work with him, including those looking after waste management, energy saving, and all the optimization.

JASON RUEHLAND, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MUHEEL SERVICES

Companies are working towards the basic manual agreed initiatives, from asking security guards to switch off the lights at night to save energy, right through to retrofit projects where they bring in the likes of assembled AC units to replace old stock to make them more efficient … In the next two years, we’ll see a lot of electric company cars coming into companies coming into the kingdom, which will then allow FM companies here to move into the electric environment.

SALIM BAIG, COO, SAUDI EMCOR COMPANY

FM Inception during the design and construction is very important. We can make sure that all the green initiatives of Vision 2030 are being met within the initial design stage. There are a lot of things in the construction fields and where you need some sort of spatial planning like the type of materials used. These things could also be planned to happen side by side with the construction.

The second panel discussion, titled 'Digital Strategies driving the various verticals of the built environment', explores the various digital strategies they have taken that have proven to be beneficial, the challenges faced, and how objectives can be met to drive success.

The panel was moderated by Samit Sheth, Digital Transformation Lead, Digital Solutions, Project and Development Services, JLL. Here are a few takeaways from the discussion

SAMIT SHETH, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION LEAD, DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, PROJECT AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, JLL

I see KSA having a very large opportunity to really get into the forefront of the industry in terms of PropTech and digitization if they are delivering buildings and the transition to facilities management is done through digital processes, whether it’s BIM, direct integration to CAFM using common data environments, that they can really take advantage of this opportunity.

AYMAN KICHLY, FOUNDER; MANAGING PARTNER, RAY LABS

It’s not just about collecting all the data. It’s about finding the right data and trying to mine it and to find exactly what you need. Because in some instances, if you have different types of clients, some data might be relevant for some but not the others … Also another important thing along with extracting raw data, is the knowledge that has to be added to gain value from it.

MOHAMED ABOU LABAN, CEO, DEYAAR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

So the key for us is to have access to data to make informed decisions, to be cost effective, to deliver quality service at all times, and to provide sustainable and steady service to the customer at any moment of time during the lifetime of the complex.

PRABHU RAMACHANDRAN, FOUNDER AND CEO, FACILIO

A key piece missing in the legacy systems of today is leadership. Traditional CAFM systems are used by the field force. What leadership gets is usually like a set of Excel sheets or simple reports. What is needed is a leadership app that provides all the data on finger tips, in terms of critical problems, aging assets, and which are the facilities that are wasting energy or water.

SAIED M BALAHA, DIRECTOR - PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LAND STERLING

Most landlords are not very well aware of PropTech and new technologies that are being incorporated here in the KSA market. Software specified for facility management and property management is very efficient nowadays. Of course, it has a long way to go to be more efficient than what it is now. And, a lot of companies in KSA are working towards that.

TAREK NIZAMEDDIN, CEO, AG FACILITIES

Clients are looking for peace of mind. They are looking for integrated services that give them comfort in their facility they are living, operating or working in. Landlords are looking for the best revenue for their properties. And all of it comes with integration – full integration between property and facility management.