Sanjeevv Bhatia, Chairman, SB Group

UAE-based ODS Global, a sustainable Integrated Building Management Service provider, and U.S.-based Johnson Controls, a leading global building automation service provider, announced a strategic partnership early this year, to foster greater innovation and efficiencies in building operations.

The partnership between ODS Global and Johnson Controls embodies the evolving consumer sentiment driven by an increased focus on energy usage, sustainability and digital transformation. It includes the addition of the groundbreaking Building and Energy Management Systems (BEMS) offered by EasyIO, a subsidiary of Johnson Controls, to ODS’ existing services portfolio. EasyIO's range of BEMS and products can combine multiple protocols such as Sox, BACnet and Web API, and help create an integrated and connected model of building operations. This open-source technology can be seamlessly added to any management platform, regardless of whether it is deployed in conjunction with pre-existing infrastructure or as an installation within a new system.

Commenting on the partnership with Johnson Controls, Chairman of the SB Group, Sanjeevv Bhatia, emphasized the challenge of reconciling distinct vendor protocols and software licenses to achieve portfolio-wide energy efficiency and sustainability. “EasyIO marks a paradigm shift in energy management. With the UAE's real estate sector gearing up for a sustainable future, using a tech-driven approach, there is growing need for a solution such as EasyIO, which can help clients, engineers and contractors in the UAE, optimize savings, asset performance and end-user comfort across the entire real estate value chain, at portfolio scale.”

He further added, "At ODS Global, we have championed seamless, cost-effective and scalable integration of multi-vendor assets, to unlock unprecedented efficiencies and energy savings. By partnering with a leading innovator like Johnson Controls, we can deliver unique innovations, which transform the UAE real estate market, with new possibilities".

Such strategic partnerships and tech innovations are becoming commonplace in the building automation market, which is poised to reach a valuation of $273 billion by 2023. The UAE is emerging as a hotbed for these developments, with global market leaders and regional incumbents pooling their resources, policy makers facilitating a favourable ecosystem and customers driving focus on sustainability.