There has been a phenomenal digital transformation in property operations, in recent years. The global building automation industry is currently valued at a whopping AED 1 trillion, with the Middle East alone accounting for over AED 10 billion. The industry is poised for massive growth in the near future, thanks to an emerging consensus around the use of technology and automation to increase efficiencies, productivity, savings, and sustainability.

Although this accelerated post-pandemic tech-adoption is a welcome development, much of the sector continues to grapple with vendor-locked legacy building management systems, which are inflexible, and difficult to optimize. Past efforts to digitize the fragmented building-operations landscape were limited to a single function in the value chain; and fell well short of a cumulative, broader impact.

To address these challenges, Netix Global BV, a progressive building automation solutions provider, is launching Netix Novus – a first-of-its-kind Partner Program in the region - which aims to create an ecosystem of service providers, with state of the art solutions. The eventual goal is to empower facility managers and building owners across the Middle East, with intelligent and flexible, software and hardware tools. The Netix Novus Program will be launched on the 1st of September 2021, at Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa. The event will have over 1000 attendees from across the globe - both in person, as well as those joining a livestream across 20 countries - in a first-of-its kind hybrid industry event for the region.

Creating an ecosystem of open protocols and like-minded industry players

“Although digital transformation has benefited the industry tremendously, in recent years; building owners and FM operators are still being held back by OEM-led Building Management Systems that are siloed, locked-in, and dependent on multiple vendor protocols across portfolios,” said Sanjeevv Bhatia, the CEO of Netix Global BV. “We developed Netix Novus as a solution that enables seamless communication between the automation systems in a portfolio; to optimize the existing BMS, and unlock significant energy savings.

The Netix Novus Program will result in centralized facility management, lower cost of service, more savings, flexible, advanced and scalable systems, and better performance - a win-win for all”. The Netix Novus Partner Program is a result of the company’s keen understanding of the pain points of real estate stakeholders, especially post the Covid-19 outbreak. Following the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic, many building owners and operators realized just how obsolete, complicated, and inefficient, their existing building management systems were. FM operators and owners were being held back by a reliance on multiple vendors, reactive maintenance activities, and painstaking manual processes.

With the post-pandemic recovery in full swing, property operators are now also dealing with altered customer expectations, new sustainability regulations, and ROI pressures. And given budget limitations, due to a prolonged break in operations, many building owners cannot afford expensive system overhauls. This is where programs like Netix Novus make a compelling case, by giving partners the tools to unlock multiple revenue streams for customers - by optimizing and upgrading their systems. The Netix Novus Program will help organize a disorganized market; and allow partners to replicate the solutions and strategies that Netix has successfully implemented, as part of several projects across the region. “We recognized an opportunity to create a broader impact and to organize a fragmented market. When developing the Netix Novus Partner Program”, explained Sanjeevv. “Our primary motive is to lead the brownfield revolution in Middle East real estate, and overcome the long-standing gaps that are holding the industry back. The Netix Novus Program will replicate our successful open-protocol model, and empower property owners and operators across the region – and eventually globally - to manage their buildings more efficiently and profitably”.

 Breaking down the business case for partner programs

The inspiration for Netix Novus came from the successes that ODS Global was able to achieve, through its strategic partnership with Netix. ODS Global - a Dubai-based solutions provider, focused on connected buildings, smart cities, sustainability, and energy efficiency - leveraged the Netix Konnect Intelligent Command & Control Center (iICCC), and digital retrofit solutions, to unlock 75% savings in operating costs for Mazaya Towers, without replacing preexisting automation.

 Netix solutions were also pivotal to ODS Global landing the maintenance contract for Emaar’s 19 vertical communities, across Downtown Dubai and Dubai Creek Harbour; a three-year contract for 24 DAMAC buildings; a service agreement for retrofitting three Mazaya Tower buildings; integration projects at the Jafza Convention Centre; the BVLGARI Resort in Jumeirah Bay; the Pullman Hotel; and the Emirates Airlines Staff Accommodation in Dubai.

 Taking stock of these favourable outcomes for ODS Global, and hoping to scale up the impact, Netix developed its Novus Partner Program, and has onboarded ODS Global as its first Platinum Partner. “We have had a great initial response”, said Sanjeevv. “Even before the official launch, industry stalwarts, across the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and India, are expressing interest in joining the program. We are also at an advanced stage of discussions with a leading developer from Oman, to implement the program across 450 of their properties”.

Leading the Brownfield Revolution in Middle East real estate

 Middle East real estate is ripe for transformation; and an effective partner program will accelerate post-pandemic recovery, by helping the industry adapt to current and future challenges. In fact, the Netix Novus Program has an ‘Appleesque’ quality; in terms of providing a product and solution that can be readily and easily upgraded, and continuously improved - the definition of future-ready.

The Netix Novus Program aims to make innovation and expertise the calling cards of the regional real estate industry. It will help tech-enabled and smart building automation management become the norm; through the rise of an ecosystem of certified service providers, well versed in stateof-the-art building automation solutions.

 An ambitious agenda of the Netix Novus Program is to consolidate stakeholders across the real estate value chain; to deliver top-notch products and services, at unmatched price points. Partners will be in pole position, to lead the next growth cycle in property operations. And perhaps most importantly, initiatives such as the Netix Novus Partner Program could propel the Middle East real estate market to becoming the benchmark, for other markets around the globe to emulate.