Positive outcome from the pandemic COVID19

By Pradeep Lala, CEO, and MD, Embassy Services Pvt Ltd Amidst the chaos and distress caused by the COVID19, Facility Management Organizations have shown great resilience by quickly adapting to the change caused by the global pandemic. While the crisis demands the world to come together on the battle and explore alternatives, be it through social distancing, remote work access, availability of critical supplies and protective measures for all and of course, all through effective resource management, it is imperative that organizations and its people extend their support and quickly adapt to the change in dynamics prevalent across all sectors across the globe. Being facility management organizations, we are cognizant of the criticality of the systems, process and the wellbeing of all the stakeholders. Continuing duties of critical and essential services are crucial to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all the stakeholders involved, especially in the case of business parks and residential communities. Failure to do so can result in considerable loss of health, failures in service delivery and reputational risk. This being the case, organisations have enforced various modes of workability resulting in efficiency, business continuity, and recovery. Whilst the on-ground personnel are deployed to ensure service delivery in technical operations, housekeeping, sanitization, horticulture and security, we believe safety and wellbeing is the utmost priority through nonclinical methods recommended such as Social Distancing, PPEs, job rotation, and education. During these volatile times, we work hand in hand with all the support staff by providing them with additional incentives over and above daily wages which has ensured motivation and demonstrated our commitment to keeping our park operational and safety of our extended arms. Meanwhile, the entire team have also ensured their commitment to the organizations by working from home through remote access and use of the latest communications technologies which allows for reasonable operational efficiency, thus decreasing losses to the stakeholders and organization. These teams have also helped in assisting action plans and awareness material required to educate on the pandemic. Right from legal teams seeking permissions to ensure smooth report to work for the on ground staff during the lockdown to EHS compliance mandates being passed to ensure the safety of facilities, Finance teams have leveraged on the use of cloud technologies to ensure a smooth transition of funds, marketing teams have worked well on reinstating the values of their organizations by aligning with a global view on the fight against COVID, HR departments have shouldered the responsibility of employee welfare through the provision of regimes and practices that would help increase remote work productivity, exercise practices for mental and physical fitness and by using technology to host fun work from home sessions that continue to keep the workforce connected and involved; a holistic effort by all teams has certainly reduced the footprint of the pandemic. We have always worked closely with the government through fund support and provided refreshment kiosks at our business parks for the Police Forces who are risking their lives in order to keep us safe during this lockdown. In the future, the world may explore options other than China to meet their manufacturing requirements, this may result in an opportunity during adversity. The territorial position of India coupled with the demographics of a young workforce makes it a suitable alternative to the aspiring need of the world. This along with the readiness to use technology such as IoT, and AI certainly allows gaining leverage on this possible need for industrial and manufacturing activities. While this growth must be approached with readiness, facility management companies would scale up and assist these industries through safety and upkeep of their facilities with utmost precaution, proactiveness, and proficiency The IFM the industry would need to gear up and be prepared to perform their tasks covering two major objectives - resilient Business continuity and Cost efficiency. Embassy Services (ESPL) demonstrated its ability to withstand the most adverse of circumstances like COVID19 and rendered continuous support to its clients and partners with their dedicated and motivated team.