Interview Looking also at the growth of cities around the world, I felt there was an opportunity to develop and implement a technology that improves and augments the human experience in the built environment, thereby improving living conditions and spaces. While I was there, I also noticed how little diversity there was within this sector. The industry has been dominated by four main players since the start and I felt there was room for innovation. Innovation comes from diversity; in genders, backgrounds, interests, experiences and ages, and that’s a big part of what this industry was missing.
Who do your engineers have to work closely alongside to ensure that the best system suits the needs of a building?
The company recently won the maintenance contract with KeolisAmey Docklands, for London DLR lift and escalator maintenance, how does it feel to win these contracts?
Talk us through one of the most challenging projects the company have worked on so far
It felt fantastic and it’s an honour to work with KeolisAmey Docklands and support a critical part of London’s transport network, and an iconic symbol of the dockland’s regeneration. At its height prior to lockdown, the DLR accommodated 122.3 million passenger journeys, and we are looking forward to deploying our technology to accommodate similar passenger flows as we come to terms with the Covid crisis.
Our engineers use our smart technology to manage their workload and benefit from performance related pay. They work alongside property and asset managers, procurement teams, and consultants to bring about highly transparent and effective maintenance solutions. Consequently, we reduce the breakdown rate by three which means the customer conversation becomes productive: about how we can add value to the building and build customer experience.
KeolisAmeyDocklands is immensely rewarding and an honour to work on. It was also important to show that we could scale up, and supplying our technology solutions to the elevators and escalators on an iconic transport network was a great way of doing that. What motivates you? The opportunity to challenge the status quo through innovation. I want to use the tech to empower people on the ground. I think it is the only way to realise smart cities.
Construction and property is an exciting sector to innovate in. One of my favourite sayings is. ‘Imagine what you could achieve if you were not afraid.’ I am always looking towards the next challenge, the next horizon, and I will never stop thinking about the new solutions we can bring to the building and construction industry. What are the plans for the company for the future? We have just opened a new office in Singapore, which has one of the most sophisticated built environments in the world and have already struck a deal with Singapore public procurement platforms. Looking further ahead, we want to expand globally, particularly into the United States. We also want to invest in IoT research and development and create solutions for all regulated building operations and become the leading global player in the smart building sector.
Construction UK Magazine - October 2021 33