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Alibaug – yes, it is worth the hype!

Accessibility

The growing interest in the town has further necessitated an increase in infrastructure that ensures hassle-free accessibility reducing the time and cost to travel to the coastal town.

The game changing the roll-on-roll-off ship, also known as the ‘RORO’ has been eased the commute between Mumbai and Alibaug since mid-2020. With the capacity to ferry over 125 vehicles and 500 passengers, even during monsoons, the RoRo service makes it easier for commuters to take their cars on the ferry instead of driving them to Alibaug or parking them in Mumbai. This has also helped Alibaug become a year round destination compared to the past when the pot hole filled roads and long commute, deterred Mumbaikar’s for 3-4 months during the monsoon season.

Another project that will have a positive impact on accessibility from Mumbai to Alibaug is the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), a 22 km bridge across the harbour from Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava on the mainland. Along with the proposed Karanjia to Rewas bridge, the driving distance from east/central Mumbai to Mandwa will be around 60kms.

The Virar-Alibaug multimodal corridor is a 128 km road with eight lanes, several flyovers, overpasses, underpasses, and a metro corridor that will also have an impact on commute once completed. The project, which is already under construction, promises significantly reduce travel times between North West Mumbai and Alibaug.

There is also a Marina also planned at Mandwa, but we haven’t gotten a firm update on this project as on date.

Real Estate

Owing to the pandemic, Alibaug has also quickly transitioned into a promising investment destination. With land prices having risen by over 300% in the decade in most villages across Alibaug, this growth in prices is significantly higher than in Mumbai during the same period.  The rise in gated communities and condo developments like Inner Circle, Oasis and Ekaante, is a testament to the market maturing from being a second home destination for the UHNI (Ultra High Net worth Individuals) of South Mumbai, to affordable options across price categories.

Another development on the real estate front is the increase in FSI (floor space index). FSI for the layman, determines the amount of area one can build on a piece of land. This increase in FSI has enabled home buyers or investors to buy smaller pieces of land to build a home v/s in the past.

Alibaug also offers a yield play, reasonable ROI (return on investment) for those investing in property which is put out on rent by players like Lohono Stays, Saffron stays, Vista Rooms, Spree etc.

Social Life

Alibaug is also popular location for adrenaline chasers and offer a wide array of activities like jet-skiing, paragliding, and challenging treks. From beaches, to farms, temples, synagogues, dargahs, and more, the island is rife with history, and has many stories to tell.

Alibaug also many upcoming restaurants offering a huge variety of cuisine ranging from local Maharashtrian coastal cuisine to Asian, Lebanese as well as Italian with the added convenience of door-to-door delivery.  

The seaside town also offers options for shopping and art enthusiasts with many pop-up stores and concept stores offering a host of lifestyle accessories, curated furniture, textiles, wall art, fragrances, imported gourmet snacks, organic produce etc. elevating the living experience.

Interested in Alibaug real estate? SILA is a Real Estate platform with operations in over 75 cities, managing 60+ million square feet of assets with 6000+ employees. Contact us, or visit us at Inner Circle today to learn more about our project in Alibaug.

Read more at https://silagroup.co.in/blog/alibaug-yes-it-is-worth-the-hype

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Will Work-from-Home continue into the Future?

The Logistical Angle

The WFH model effectively eliminates the need for long, stressful commutes, which have been observed to negatively impact employee welfare and productivity.

According to studies conducted in a pre-pandemic world, 4.4% of working-class professionals in India spent 1.45 to 2 hours travelling to work every morning, with the Travel Time Report Q1 2019 vs Q1 2018 stating that Indians spend 7% of their day commuting to the office, averaging less than 3 minutes per kilometre.

One of the major benefits of WFH from the perspective of employees and employers alike is the elimination of these long hours spent commuting, allowing for more time devoted to the work at hand.

On the other hand, WFH presents unique challenges in a nation such as India, where the lines between the personal and the professional can sometimes become blurred.

From the responsibilities of living in large, joint families to locations with poor infrastructure and internet access, communication tools such as video conferencing are often inadequate when compared to the ease of a physical workspace.  

The Productivity Angle

According to a survey, the recent uptick of remote workers is in part due to rising rates of employee productivity in a WFH setting. 12. 86% of employees feel that working remotely reduces stress, owing to a better diet, more exercise, reduced or eliminated commute time, and a generally healthier lifestyle.

However, while a full-time remote working model is an effective strategy for independent freelancers, some would argue that it is not conducive to collaboration and teamwork.

Lacking a centralized office space, simple communication between employees has proved far more challenging. According to a global survey conducted by Buffer, 20% of remote workers identify communication and collaboration as an obstacle, with loneliness and an unhealthy work-life balance being the next most popular responses.

The Social Angle

The WFH model allows for higher rates of talent retention and lower staff attrition, with single parents and skilled professionals who cannot commute being recruited and retained at higher rates.

In fact, according to a recent survey by FlexJobs, 76% of workers stated that they would be more willing to stay with their current employer if they could work flexible hours, with a lowered 25% employee turnover rate being observed in companies that allow remote work as opposed to those that don’t, according to data from Owl Labs’ State of Remote Work report.

On the other hand, WFH has disrupted the standard of social interaction at the workplace, with loneliness becoming a global mental health concern in the pandemic era. This is especially evident in the case of millennial workers, for whom corporate IT and business parks double as social hubs, armed with amenities and services designed to attract and retain talent.

While WFH may not continue in the manner that it has over the last year, especially for warehouse operations and brick and mortar retail businesses, the benefits of remote work are undeniable, and the future will likely see more and more organisations adopting a more flexible, hybrid model.

SILA is one of Mumbai’s leading facility management companies that is involved in numerous project management, interior contracting and real estate advisory initiatives. Visit our website to learn more about our services, and find the right solution for your needs.

Read more at https://silagroup.co.in/blog/will-work-from-home-continue-into-the-future

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ESG in Real Estate

People are beginning to realize that way real estate is planned, developed, and operated post development, can have a significant impact on the environment and the society. From the rehabilitation of public spaces that indirectly attribute value to existing real estate; to affordable social housing and care centres; and an increased environmental focus in investment on new types of eco-friendly or green buildings that are trying to move towards ‘net zero’, this new trend has proven that sustainability has become increasingly vital.

Let us break down the of ESG in the Real Estate and Real Estate Services a bit more –

Environmental

In the Real Estate Sector, the design guidelines, and operating processes before, during and post construction are being revaluated. Air quality, energy usage, carbon emissions, water conservation, radiation management, waste management, surface hygiene (ATP), environmentally friendly procurement of material & equipment, biodiversity, waste management and afforestation are topics that developers and service providers are trying to address.  

Social

The social aspect of ESG relates topics such as gender, diversity, inclusion, organisational culture, and employee welfare.

In the real estate sector, social guidelines may refer to such criteria as job creation, gender diversity, the hiring of differently abled staff members, employee health and safety, learning and development programs, procurement from NGOs, employee welfare and engagement, and community welfare.

Governance

Governance in ESG refers specifically to corporate governance. ESG investors place value in the knowledge that management is conducted fairly and in the interest of all the stakeholders, and not just themselves. ESG guidelines for real estate include policies related to environmental, as well as financial discipline and compliance.

At SILA Group, we believe the global trend of sustainability in real estate and facility management is the need of the hour and must be encouraged. As part of our commitment to environmental and social sustainability, we are actively investing in building teams to meet our ESG goals, envisioning and enforcing compliance procedures and up-skilling our on-ground resources towards achieving a more sustainable corporate ecosystem.

Read more at https://silagroup.co.in/blog/esg-in-real-estate

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Future of Housekeeping Services in India

A Chat with Runal Dahiwade, CEO, Peppermint

Rushabh Vora, Co-Founder, SILA Group sat down with Runal Dahiwade, CEO, Peppermint, a leading Indian company who specialises in creating intelligent robots to automate floor cleaning, to discuss the future of housekeeping services in India and the need for automation in the integrated facilities management.

1. Where is India today in terms of housekeeping robotics?

Ans: We are in the early years of housekeeping robots in India and catching momentum fast.

With sustainability and automation being key goals for this decade, along with fast urbanisation and infrastructure development all around, housekeeping robots are well positioned for rapid adoption across sectors and use-cases.

2. What’s next in terms of robots and automation in cleaning – new models.

Ans: Our mission is ‘to expedite the use of service robots ʼ and we are fully committed to make housekeeping robots across use-cases – Indoors, Outdoors, Horizontal and Vertical surfaces.

With our floor scrubber dryers (in two sizes of 45L and 100L) already in production, we have two new robots in the pipeline for indoor cleaning to be launched within the next 6 months (Carpet Cleaners and Vacuum Cleaners) followed by India’s first outdoor cleaning robot (Robotic Sweeper).

As an agile company, we are always ears for feedback from our customers and build robots leveraging our technology and production capabilities. Case-in-point were the significant enquiries for outdoor robots to clean the large canvas of land surrounding offices and factories; this led to us developing the first 100% autonomous outdoor sweeper robot, which is planned to start production within FY22.

3. Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced and currently face? Is the ROI stacking up India?

All physical technologies come in three phases – Big, Small & Invisible. Both in terms of their size and the mindspace they capture.

In similar fashion, we are at the “Big” stage of Housekeeping services automation in India where we see deep interest, varied expectations and many queries. “Robots” as a subject can evoke many expectations, some reasonable and some imaginary. It’s a challenge to align those to practical technology capabilities.

We overcome these by aligning the right expectations to start with. Our first goal is to educate the user, followed by delighting them with our robots + service.

Cost of manpower in India versus in developed countries makes for different approaches to ROI. Apart form direct costs, there is also the allied costs of supervision, attrition, consumables, utilities (water and electricity) which in unison makes the ROI very much in favour of the clients.

Industry standard for ROI for automation is 36 months and we are able to provide the ROI in less than 24. As operations of companies become multi-shift, the ability of robots to provide a consistent and predictable experience moves the consensus in our favour.

4. Which sectors do you see the most demand from?

Ans: At Peppermint Robots, our focus started from large spaces and hygiene conscious sectors.  Therefore our early customers have been from Food Processing, Pharmaceutical, Warehouses and Manufacturing.

With the newer robots in pipeline designed for more use-cases like carpets and soft floors, we are excited to deploy Peppermint across sectors like Hospitality, Offices as well. We also see a growing customer base in gated residential real estate projects who are entrusting facility management and housekeeping to professional third parties.

Read more at https://silagroup.co.in/blog/future-of-housekeeping-services-in-india

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History of Mumbai – Land and Real Estate (Chapter II)

A stroll through the busy streets and teeming alleyways of Mumbai is like a tour of its vibrant cultural and social history. Around every corner and every bend, a tale lies hidden, waiting to be discovered.

To the keen observer, the city of Mumbai is a storybook, with lines inked in the links of sprawling railway tracks, and punctuated by monuments to its illustrious past.

SILA, our Real Estate platform, was built upon the foundation of developing meaningful relationships, not only in our interactions with stakeholders and collaborators but also with the land we call our home. Join us, as we travel backwards in time to trace the roots of our beloved City of Dreams.

(This is Part 2 of the series A Brief History of Mumbai. Read Part 1 here)

The American Civil War and Establishment of Sassoon Docks

By 1850, Bombay had transformed into a major colonial mercantile and industrial city.

New developments, such as the establishment of the rail network in 1853 and increased employment opportunities attracted thousands of migrant workers.

Amongst the Baghdadi-Jewish migrants to the region was retired treasurer of Baghdad and licensee for British textiles in the Middle East, David Sassoon. Upon moving to the city, he sought and was granted, permission to continue his trade in Bombay.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sassoon#/media/File:David_Sassoon.jpg

Stonewalled by the tight-knit Parsi community, who had established their turf at the jetties of Ballard Pier, Sassoon decided to design and build his own dock for trading.

Built in 1875, Sassoon Docks was the first commercial wet dock in Western India.

During this time, the American Civil War saw a massive cotton shortage on the continent. Sassoon, who had been trading in Chinese opium and silks, and had established connections with Lancashire, proposed that a supply be exported from India instead.

With established trade routes between Bombay, China and America, and his very own port with a penetrative railway infrastructure, Sassoon proved to be a valuable asset to the Company.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Postcard_of_Bombay_showing_3_views_Wellcome_L0063422.jpg

However, Sassoon’s true relevance to the history of Bombay lies in his business acumen, which informed him that his true fortune lay in producing fabrics locally, rather than importing them from Lancashire.

By the 1860s he had set up 17 textile mills in Bombay, employing 20,000 workers.

The Dock, which still stands today, is located in the Colaba area of South Mumbai and inspired the design of the Princes Dock in the Bombay Presidency decades later.

The Rise and Fall of the Textile Industry

At the dawn of the 20th Century, Bombay had transformed from a trading town to a booming manufacturing centre, with more than 50 textile mills to its name.

With new employment opportunities, migrant workers flocked in from surrounding areas. By 1931 half of the city’s population was economically dependent on the textile industry.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/indias-first-textile-mill-332483-2016-08-02

Residential, institutional and infrastructural development had advanced in the southern regions and were now focused towards the north to accommodate this influx of labour.

Acres of land around the mills were allotted to mill owners at lower rates to encourage the development of the textile industry. These areas soon became the heart of the transforming city, as the Bombay skyline morphed, becoming defined by tall industrial chimneys and massive mill structures.

With 130 mills located in the Girangaon area— a word that means “Village of Mills” —Bombay’s textile industry was one of the Century’s largest.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girangaon#/media/File:Cotton_green_mill_mumbai.jpg

However, as newer industries developed, the mills became unprofitable, and quickly fell into disrepair.

The true end of the era came with the textile strike of 1982.

Over 50 textile mills and approximately 250,000 workers went on strike. After a long struggle, the strike was called off with no concessions provided to the workers.

Unfortunately, most industries had moved base out of Bombay by that time, and over 80 mills were shuttered, marking the end of Bombay’s textile industry.

Modern Redevelopment

The redevelopment and urbanisation of textile mills began in the 1990s.

Allowances were made for mill owners to sell a part of their land, and for the categorisation of the land to be changed from Industrial to Residential or Commercial.

The city skyline began to transform once again.

As Bombay turned to Mumbai, tall industrial chimneys were overshadowed by high-rise luxury towers, and urban development saw the transformation of areas such as Lower Parel, once known for its large textile mills, into thriving business complexes.

Today, Lower Parel is a premier zip code, with a mix of both residential and commercial real estate, boasting large luxury towers and serviced apartments.

Photo: Abhijit Bhatlekar/Mint

Source: https://www.livemint.com/Industry/PyqCrPOCAfRYBw22YquB2N/Untangling-the-knot-between-Mumbai-and-its-mills.html

The commercial capital and multi-cultural hub of India, Mumbai’s real estate houses some of the largest global financial institutions, business houses and Bollywood’s finest actors and actresses.

Once an archipelago of seven islands, the city now sprawls over a vast expanse of land. With a coastline that is expanding as quickly as its economy and its population, reclamation and development activities in the city continue to this day.

The Mumbai Coastal Road Project is an ambitious infrastructural undertaking that is expected to transform the city once again, by directly linking South Mumbai with the North by means of an expansive, 8-lane, 22.2-km long freeway.

The reclamation project, which is currently underway along the western coast of the city, is proposed not only to build a road but also includes other amenities the likes of vast public spaces, jogging parks, car parking structures and more.

Source: https://theprint.in/india/july-2023-is-target-for-first-phase-of-mumbais-showpiece-coastal-road-60-reclamation-done/571050/

With plans for an undersea tunnel and a road that promises to link Marine Lines in South Mumbai to Kandivali in the North, the project is expected to significantly decrease the average commute time in one of the world’s most congested cities.

With massive development projects, the likes of the Coastal Road in the works, the city of Mumbai is expected to grow and transform once again, shedding its past in exchange for a more promising future.

Once a trading town, Mumbai today is one of the fastest-growing economies of the world and a global city in its own right.

SILA is one of the leading facility management companies in Mumbai, that delivers excellence in facility management services, interior contracting and real estate advisory. It operates in 75+ cities, 6500+ employees and a client base of multiple Fortune 500 companies. For more information visit https://silagroup.co.in/

Read more at https://silagroup.co.in/blog/history-of-mumbai-land-and-real-estate-chapter-2

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With years of experience from managing 30 million+ sq. feet of real estate, SILA gives clients real estate advisory services, facility management & more.

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SILA has its Alibaug real estate development project, and also real estate development in Mumbai & Pune

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SILA is a globally recognised real estate developer, operating PAN India with 6,000+ employees to provide in-depth analysis, strategy and execution.

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SILA is a real estate services platform specializing in facility management, interior contracting and more.

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For best-in-class interior contracting services in India, strengthened through proprietary technology and experience, contact the SILA Group.

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We provide project management consulting & advisory services in India driven by well-engineered processes, technology and entrepreneurial spirit. Visit us to get a free quote!

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We have developed a unique technology, with efficient processes and skilled human resources to provide facility management and housekeeping services for our residential and industrial clients. Get in touch today!

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History of Mumbai – Land and Real Estate (Part 1)

The bustling metropolitan city of Mumbai is known as the Land of Dreams – a title that rings true in more ways than one.

Forged from the murky depths of the Arabian Sea and the raging fires of the industrial revolution, the port city of Mumbai has changed hands multiple times over its long and storied history, defining and redefining itself as it went.

A cornucopia of Gothic, Victorian, Art Deco, and modern contemporary architectural styles, Mumbai is an intricate tapestry of interwoven cultures, embellished with lasting remnants of its colonial past.

As part of our quest to foster a deeper connection with the land we call home, we explore the vibrant history of the nation’s financial capital.

The Kolis

The history of Mumbai can be traced back to the bloodlines of its earliest inhabitants.

Residing and thriving in the hidden ‘Koliwadas’ of the city— a term that means “A home that opens to the sea”— the Kolis, an over 500-year old aboriginal fishing tribe, remain a lasting influence on the coastal waters of the region.

Back in the days when Mumbai went by the title of Bombay— one of seven sister islands, including Colaba, Old Woman’s Island, Bombay, Mazagaon, Parel, Worli and Mahim—

the fishing tribe aided in the development of harbours and coastlines.

The islands of Kolbhat (now Colaba), Palva Bunder (now Apollo Bunder), Dongri, Mazagaon, Naigaum and Worli were named by the Kolis, with the name ‘Mumbai’ being attributed to the deity of ‘Mumbadevi’, worshipped by the tribe.

Captured from the Silhara dynasty and surrendered to the Portuguese in the year 1534, the area took on the title of ‘Bhom Bhaia’, meaning, ‘the good bay’

East India Company

As the English made port in the early 17th century, the area, and its surrounding islands, were gifted as dowry to King Charles II in 1661.

Unimpressed by the prospect of ruling such a remote region, the King leased the islands to the East India Company for a sum of 10 pounds of gold a year.

In 1687, the Company chose the island of Bombay for their headquarters, upon discovering its natural harbour.

The area, now known as Fort, is a thriving art and commercial district, deriving its name from the defensive fort, Fort George, built by the Company in the area surrounding Bombay Castle.

Bird’s eye view of Mumbai ‘Island City’ peninsula

Courtesy: http://www.noel-murphy.com/rotch/2013/08/19/evolutionary-mumbai-making-of-the-island-city/

The Mercantile Exodus to Colonial Bombay

In the 17th Century, coinciding with the Company’s move to Bombay, the previously booming mercantile society of Surat went into decline, as its port silted over.

Still, in the early stages of development, the Company encouraged the traders of Surat to set up their trade and merchant activities in the newly established and fortified British port.

133-year-old photo of American Singer’s Sewing Machine Company in Mumbai, taken in 1887 AD.

Courtesy: Twitter/ @GujaratHistory

With allowances being made for the establishment of homes and warehouses around the Fort area, a mass exodus of Surati traders to the virgin harbour of Bombay began.

Amongst the hordes were members of the Hindu community, the Ismaili Khoja and Dawoodi Bohra sects, as well as the colonially-favoured Parsi community, who were given licences to operate newly-built jetties along Ballard Pier.

It was also around this time that the Persian Gulf port of Basra in Iraq became a trading centre of the Company and Baghdadi Jews made their way to India, escaping the growing anti-Semitic sentiments of the region.

While the great Indian freedom struggle saw traders depart the city en masse for their homelands, remnants of the Surati merchant lineages are still alive in the city of Mumbai today, visible in the intricate stone and wooden mansions constructed by the Parsi traders of Darukhana, at the Mazagaon Docks, and in the Gujarati and Marwari dominated business hub of Kalbadevi.

The Great Fire of 1803

The segregation of this new Colonial Bombay within and around the Fort area was dictated by the perceived class hierarchy of English ideology, with colonial rulers and ‘elite’ Indians allocated residences within the fortified structure.

Smaller traders, white-collar workers and the working class were allotted residence outside the fort walls in largely congested areas, further divided on basis of class and regional identities.

This redistribution of the population onto newly-reclaimed land and within the Fort area paved the way for the establishment of Asia’s first dry dock, the Bombay Dock, commissioned by the Wadia family of shipwrights and naval architects from Surat in 1750.

This concentration of rapid urbanization in the Fort area continued until a massive fire broke out in 1803. Attributed to the congestion of the area, the fire completely engulfed the fort, as well as the residential and commercial areas around it.

A view of Bombay from Malabar Point.

Courtesy: http://www.bl.uk (British Library)

Upon identifying the cause of the fire, the Company turned their attention towards improvements in urban development and land dispersal, leading to an expansion of the fortified town.

Land reclamation activities began in earnest. The task of joining the seven islands was completed by 1838, with the resulting landmass constituting what is now known as South Mumbai.

SILA Group, Mumbai’s most trusted Real Estate platform and project management consultant, was built upon the foundation of developing meaningful relationships, not only in our interactions with stakeholders and collaborators but also with the land we call our home.

Ensuring positive high-value addition to each interaction, we look at building respectful collaborations and partnerships that help strengthen all of our relationships by providing facility management and housekeeping services.

SILA also carries out project management in alibaug real estate with its luxury property – Inner Circle.

Read more at https://silagroup.co.in/blog/history-of-mumbai-land-and-real-estate-part-1

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Facility Management Services – India FY ’22 Outlook

Most businesses have had to realign their strategies to address the effects of the pandemic. This black swan event has accelerated the adoption of technology, requiring companies to go digital a lot faster than anticipated.

For Facility Management services providers, the past twelve months have been challenging. We spent the first half of FY’21 on crisis management, both for our client’s facilities and for our own businesses. Health, safety, and hygiene in the built environment was the main focus for every stakeholder occupying an office, commercial/residential building, or manufacturing facility. As facility managers, we spent a lot of time researching the evolving Covid protection trends, processes, and technology. As we settled into the new normal in the second half of the fiscal year (FY’21), our energies shifted towards recovery as a company and what we needed to do to excel with the new world order.

The following are three key trends that we expect play out for the Facilities Management Sector in India in FY’22 –

1. Technology Adoption & the Shift Towards a Solution Based Delivery model

Customers will begin to demand a solution based, SLA driven model over the traditional cost-plus model that is prevalent in the Indian FM Industry today.

Technology in FM has been evolving over the past decade. There are multiple solutions available, ranging from Robotics to IoT Sensors for Predictive Maintenance and Digital process management. Technology solutions have been unviable due to the high costs of the technology vs the low cost of skilled workers in India. The return on investment (ROI) has not been attractive enough, especially in a price sensitive segment such as Property Management. However, this is bound to change over the next decade, as we strongly believe that the shift will begin now. You will begin seeing a lot more IoT solutions implemented, more Robots Cleaning, and less paper checklists at RE projects and offices in a year from today.

2. Increased Focus on the Well Being of the Occupants and Employees

For the past few years, leading up to the Covid, we experienced an increasing demand for collaborative spaces – offices, commercial parks, airports, buildings, malls.  The occupant experience was beginning to play a vital role in real estate asset management. Over the next twelve months, factors that affect the well-being of occupants will begin to matter more. Facility Management companies will need to begin paying heed to sustainability and wellness – Monitoring Air Quality, Efficient Waste & Water Management, Radiation (from phone towers), Hygiene & Disinfection, Pest Management, Cleaning and Housekeeping.

Both owners and occupants of facilities will be more aware of the latest technology, process and systems related to sanitization and hygiene. Occupants will also want to know what is being done at their facility to keep them safe. Facility Managers must communicate effectively.

3. Unorganized Service Providers that do not focus on technology will become less relevant over time.

The size addressable market for Facilities Management services will only grow in India over the next year. Covid-19 has helped accelerate the demand for organized facility managers to take over from the unorganized service providers. Organized service providers are now beginning to grow their presence in sectors such as logistics, warehouse operations and manufacturing. These sectors were previously only serviced by unorganized contractors. Customers will demand more productivity from their service providers, to de-densify spaces as much as possible. This will only be possible with the adoption of technology.

Read more at https://silagroup.co.in/blog/facility-management-services-india-fy-22-outlook

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What is IoT? How has it changed modern Facility Management

The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to the billions of physical devices around the world that are now connected to the internet, all collecting and sharing data. With the use of wired or wireless networks often using the same IP (Internet Protocol), it is possible to turn anything, from something as small as a pill to something as big as an aeroplane, into a part of the IoT.

Connecting up all these different objects makes the mere fabric of the world around us smarter and more responsive, enabling them to communicate in real-time data without involving a human being, effectively merging the digital and physical universes.

Need for IoT

The increasing concern with energy waste, pollution, and utility costs, combined with the higher expectations from tenants creates enormous pressure on Integrated Facility Management companies to optimize their services. Most sites are not equipped to offer the data and real-time response required from managers to make informed decisions concerning comfort, efficiency, and staff productivity.

A software system for facility management using IoT can monitor the state of equipment and alert the manager in case of warning signs and a more consolidated way to build a functional communication framework. Using tools like report generators makes it easier for team members to report the results of their work. Adopting digital calendars is a way to keep track of calls and meetings, thus improving the discipline and awareness of the team.

Rather than the old login-password two-factor authentication, modern-day systems add a captcha test, biometric authentication, public-and-private key pairs, and other advanced security tools to ensure the system is not accessible for intruders and data leaks are unlikely.

Use of IoT in Facility Management

Many organizations such as SILA are increasing their implementation of IoT and analytics to improve operations and save money. There are many concrete ways that new digital technology can materially improve facility management. They include:

1. Data-driven decisions and automated analysis

Building automation systems produce an enormous amount of data. If accessed and analyzed, this data can provide transparency and help management make smarter decisions. Property managers can get a full picture of the ongoings within buildings, and make evidence-based decisions. Information is power and if used correctly;  it can increase productivity, ROI, and help management make better decisions faster.

2. Efficient employee performance

The Internet of Things helps remove daily frustrations from the workplace by seamlessly guiding the team through the day. Environmental sensors help ensure that the temperature and humidity levels at the facility are optimal. Thanks to connected systems, tracking facility area takes less time — thus, your team will be able to process more orders every day.

3. Reduced operating costs

Hospitality, healthcare, office space facilities and housekeeping services use the Internet of Things data to find patterns in usage. Connected tools help determine when the demand for resources is lower than usual and reduce energy and heat consumption. Thus, using IoT, electric utilities and other operating costs decrease.

4. Risk Mitigation

IoT is a huge leap for facility managers in terms of contingency planning and physical security. Connected cameras, implanted tags, beacons for ID confirmation, and other tools help detect threats and eliminate them quickly to avoid crises at the facility. The technology provides facility managers with an extensive pool of high-value data, helping support the decision-making process.

What does the future hold for IoT?

Acceleration of technological development; growing information exchange between developed and developing countries; as well as developing countries participating in technology development will shape the landscape of facilty and project management. The subsequent consequences to the facility management industry, is that it will benefit from increasing labour costs as well as collaborative networking systems.

Read more at https://silagroup.co.in/blog/what-is-iot-how-has-it-changed-modern-facility-management

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G. D. SOMANI – SILA Case Study

Project Details

G.D. Somani Memorial School opened in 1975, making its position in the top five schools of South Mumbai. Located in the well-known area of Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, the school had a requirement for housekeeping services to not only maintain the structure of the 6-storey school building but also to look after the well-being of the children in the school.

Our Services

We started our facility management services at G. D. Somani in February 2017. After a standard detailed audit of the facility and keeping their specific needs in mind, we deployed a staff strength of 94 team members at their premises. The deployed staff were trained in undertaking housekeeping services, cleaning, and maintenance work. In addition to the standard service offerings, we also provided bus drivers, conductors and peons. The team at G.D. Somani primarily consists of supervisors and housekeeping workers. To address G. D. Somani’s unique needs, we also provide childcare facilities, thereby eliminating the facility’s needs to have multiple vendors in place.

Challenges Faced

To counter the on-site attendance maintenance which had hitherto been very poor and resulting in payroll loops and discrepancies, SILA used its proprietary compliance software called ‘ SILA Connect, ‘ which eliminated compliance barriers and put regulatory systems in place.

Sila looks after project management, turnkey interior contracting, and real estate asset management under its various real estate services. SILA currently manages over 65 million square feet of Real Estate Assets across Commercial, Industrial, Retail, Hospitality and Residential sectors. For more information visit https://silagroup.co.in/

Read more at https://silagroup.co.in/case-study/g-d-somani

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ICICI LOMBARD – SILA Case Study

About the Project

Established in 2001, ICICI Lombard is a subsidiary of ICICI Bank, one of the leading banks in India. One of the pioneers in the insurance field, ICICI Lombard has branches across the country, and needed a facility management company that could look after the facility needs of all its sites in Mumbai.

Our Services

We have been providing our Facility Management services at ICICI Lombard for 3 years now. The services are spread across the branches in Malad, Prabhadevi, Lower Parel, Port Blair, Vashi, and Vikhroli. We currently have a total of 158 staff managing and servicing ICICI Lombard sites, of which 48 staff are purely deployed for security. Our services mainly include housekeeping, pantry services, security, technical services and pest control services.

Value Created

Initially there was a lot of ambiguity in the payroll and compliance process which was later eradicated with SILA’s proprietary platform ‘SILA Connect’, which helped in streamlining the process. We also conducted a PCC (police clearance certificate) and BVC (background verification check) to ensure that the background of the staff had a clean check.

Sila group delivers excellence in their housekeeping services and warehouse operations under its integrated facilities management services. Our Facility Management services team uses a combination of technology, engineered processes, and skilled human resources to efficiently manage Real Estate for our clients. For more information visit https://silagroup.co.in/

Read more at https://silagroup.co.in/case-study/icici-lombard