Amantra FM is bullish on the UAE integrated facilities management industry’s growth potential in 2023. The Dubai-headquartered niche facilities management company said the industry looks poised to register a healthy growth rate of 10% as trends shift in favour of differentiated services that lead to demonstrable outcomes such as energy and cost savings and reduced tenant/occupant churn. The industry’s technology adoption will be attuned to national priorities, according to Amantra FM, which has been vocal about its commitment to the UAE Vision 2025.

“The FM industry will be increasingly prefixed by the word ‘integrated’ in 2023, with stakeholders hoping to bridge silos between people, technologies and systems in facilities. It will lead to the standardization of computer-aided facility management (CaFM) adoption and IoT-led operations. The resulting impact on tenant experiences, energy conservation/management, sustainability goals, and cost savings will invite supportive government policies and incentives,” predicted Sangeetha B, CEO of Amantra FM.

Sangeetha’s belief about widespread technology adoption in the industry are supported by a few tell-tale signs in 2022. FM operators and owners have been in the market for IoT and CaFM solutions. The increased demand has, in turn, necessitated service providers to revamp their value propositions. Those developments have worked in favour of service providers, such as Amantra, who have operated within a business niche from the get-go.

“Differentiated services, along with niche marketing, are increasingly getting the better of mass marketing FM models. Though the pandemic was a causal factor behind this shift, there are structural trends, such as digital transformation. Owners and FM operators are inclined toward service providers who may not have broad-based solutions but show visible positive outcomes in their niche offerings,” explained Sangeetha.

Robotics-powered cleaning, which characterizes higher efficiency, lower labour requirements and reduced costs, is among the niche offerings sought by owners in the UAE. Sangeetha added that hard services pertaining to HVAC systems are being prioritized by owners who, following the pandemic, are more cognizant of indoor air quality (IAQ) standards. Such developments complement frameworks such as Abu Dhabi’s Safety and Security Planning Manual (SSPM) and bigger priorities like the UAE Vision 2025.

“We are proud to support the UAE’s aim of world leadership in sustainable development. Our commitment to the nation's vision is reflected in our endeavour to focus on sustainability through energy management, improving the air quality by using ion technology, and promoting the usage of green products,” Sangeetha added.

“In a nutshell, you can call the current period in the industry ‘the great re-engagement'. This juncture calls for FM companies to re-engage customers, align with their evolving expectations, and reconcile their budgets with larger goals such as sustainability. Simultaneously, there is a pressing need to re-engage employees as well, empowering their personal aspirations, ensuring their health and well-being, and creating a sense of community in the workplace. At Amantra FM, we have an open-door policy and upskilling initiatives in place. We intend to build on these strengths in 2023 while supporting facilities’ energy conservation and sustainability efforts through strategic partnerships and collaborations,” Sangeetha concluded.