Propelling the Architecture and Construction Industry Forward with Trust and Collaboration

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In recent years, Singapore’s construction industry has gone through continuous transformation focusing on improving productivity, reducing cost, improving safety and creating better jobs as part of the Industry Transformation Map (ITM). ITM is an initiative largely underpinned by digital transformation, launched by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA)in 2017

During the BCA-REDAS Built Environment and Property Prospects Seminar in January 2020, BCA noted that the industry was “making steady progress” towards the agency’s target of having 40 to 60 Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) projects implemented and IDD capabilities in 150 to 180 firms by 2020. IDD uses a collaborative modelling technology called Building Information Modelling (BIM) to capture the 3D virtual representation of buildings and the information required for the construction process,along with advanced Infocomm and smart technologies. It is one of the key thrusts to enable the industry to achieve process improvement and collaboration among project partners.

Streamlining Workflow with Trust and Collaboration

Aside from construction demand reduction, COVID-19 has also put additional pressures on the operating budgets of Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC) firms. At the same time, they need to cope with additional health and safety requirements, lesser availability of manpower and opaque market conditions. Inarguably, the road to recovery will be an arduous one. However, if AEC firms can leverage on the power of collaboration to improve productivity, they can ensure that projects can still be delivered on a timely manner, and as such create a more efficient way of working in this new normal.

Large number of collaborators, from architects to engineers, and other stakeholders needs to be involved in every project. Working virtually on projects of any complexity has never been easy, but with the right BIM solutions, it can be. Advanced BIM solutions, such as the GRAPHSOFT Archicad 24, allow for features such as smart change tracking and real-time notifications on relevant changes to the working model, resulting in accurate information that helps with timely decision-making. Enhanced collaboration and communication also means that the numerous stakeholders working on a project can resolve issues faster and reduce the risk of misinformation. Having all members of the team working on a BIM model in one shared design hub also strengthens the team performance and builds trust among members. This collaborative effort leads to better designs through solutions powered by streamlined data management processes.

Most recently, the AEC industry has been leveraging the cloud to enable real-time access to shared model throughout the design process. For example, GRAPHISOFT BIM cloud – available in both private and public cloud configuration – helps ensure that all team members are always up to speed on the latest edits, regardless of the project’s scale or the member’s location. Our clients, especially those with teams working remotely, have found this to be very helpful in improving efficiency and eradicating mistakes. With recently implemented measures to tackle the pandemic, including social distancing and remote working arrangements, the risk of project delays is undoubtedly higher with some firms still grappling to meet the myriad of requirements while having their workflow disrupted. Therefore, it is all the more vital to ensure that we leverage on technology to enhance productivity and collaboration throughout the process.

Paving the Road to Success

There is an increasing need for the AEC industry to work collaboratively so as to quicken the journey to recovery and reap the benefits of digital transformation. While this process may seem daunting and complicated, there are several straightforward steps that firms can adopt to attain success. First they can start with developing a strategic digital roadmap that will harmoniously integrate with the overall business plan. The efficacy of the technology needs to be considered, focusing mainly on competitive edge, productivity improvement, issue rectification and collaboration capability among the project partners.

In addition, there are several options that firms can leverage to upskill their employees and prepare them for the use of BIM software. For instance, GRAPHISOFT Learn offers a growing catalogue that includes on-demand, self-paced lessons, and detailed, instructor-led courses to help users shorten the learning curve, which is exceedingly important with remote working arrangements. Additionally, over the years BIM software has generally evolved to be more user friendly and intuitive.

Open BIM is another modern approach which firms should consider when choosing the most appropriate digital software to adopt. With Open BIM, they can enjoy better accessibility, usability, management and sustainability of built asset’s digital data on top of all the BIM benefits. On top of that, Open BIM is a collaborative process that is vendor-neutral and facilitates seamless collaboration for all project participants.

Finally, the ability to manage risk is essential. There are digital technologies that can help manage risks, and with that firms can locate and isolate issues before they happen. This will undeniably reduce costs and avoid unnecessary delays or rework. These tools can significantly remove the amalgamation of challenges faced by AEC firms due to the pandemic.

With the strain the pandemic has imposed on manpower, finances, health and safety, a progressively trustworthy and collaborative working environment will go a long way towards improving profitability. Firms that have made collaboration and digital transformation pivotal to their strategy will find that they are responding to problems more efficiently and with greater immediacy, thus enabling them to alleviate the impact of today’s business climate and advance towards a smoother recovery.

This piece was written by Chidambaram Chidambaram, Director, Customer Success, GRAPHISOFT, Singapore and Malaysia

Lead image from Pexels

Siemens Equips Singapore Office with its Smart Workplace Technology to Enable Hybrid Working Model

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Siemens Pte Ltd has equipped its Singapore office at Siemens Center with its Smart Workplace solutions. This supports a safe return to the workplace for over 650 employees during the current pandemic and lays the foundation for more agile and future-oriented working.

The integrated mobile app by Siemens-owned Comfy combines location, usage and building data with a wide range of features to connect employees to their office environment. The app administrators can define the daily occupancy limits, to comply with the government’s work-in-office and Safe Management Measures at the workplace. The Smart Workplace solution is built on a foundation of intelligent IoT sensors by Enlighted Inc, a company acquired by Siemens in 2018.

When integrated with the Comfy app, the sensor technology will enable employees to check the occupancy rate in the office and book a desk or meeting room, based on predefined thresholds. Through this, employees can register their intention to work in the office, receive company-related updates, use indoor navigation, locate co-workers and submit facility issues to the Facilities Management or sanitation team. Furthermore, the app is integrated with the Land Transport Authority’s open-source platform, Land Transport Data Mall, allowing users to get real-time bus arrival information.

“The COVID-19 situation has not eased so we need to continue to be vigilant. Our priority is to protect our people. By rolling out our Smart Workplace solutions, we can provide more information to our employees, to help them make informed decisions about whether to return to the office or not, and if they do, they can do so with a peace of mind,” said Dr Thai-Lai Pham, CEO of Siemens ASEAN. “This way, the application is also supporting our new mobile working model which allows employees to work from home or wherever they are most productive two to three days a week.”

The Intelligent Workplace Platform also provides a dashboard of historical, current and future data of employees returning to the office, eliminating a manual and time-consuming tracking process. Comfy offers in-depth analytics in the form of dashboards and reports that provides insights on how spaces are being used, enabling a smarter, data-driven strategy for real estate right-sizing This allows organisations to better maximise their space through redundant space management, leading to significant operational cost savings.

Siemens is currently deploying its Smart Workplace solution in about 600 locations, with the aim of making the solution available to 100,000 employees in 30 countries. The initiative is in line with the global “New Normal Working Model” announced in July last year, which was a result of a worldwide survey where employees confirmed their desire for greater flexibility and personalised solutions in the way they work.

Kim Custeau of AVEVA Shares How We Can Build a Better Future Post Covid-19

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The Global Asset Performance Management Lead of AVEVA explains why planning and predictive maintenance sets the best foundation

Coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) continues to have a significant impact on all market sectors including the engineering, manufacturing and construction industry. According to Deloitte’s white paper on COVID-19’s impact on the engineering & construction sector, in the long-term, “construction companies across the board will have to contend with decreased demand as governments face rising deficits and residential and commercial projects are dampened by unemployment and low GDP growth.” 1

So, it comes as no surprise that many businesses are looking even closer at improving reliability, performance, safety and controlling costs while maximising value from investments already made.

Setting the Right Foundation with Project Planning

In all capital asset industries, there is a premium on safety, speed and quality of delivery, but construction projects are also characterised by very demanding schedules, global distribution of work, multiple contracts and a drive for seamless start-up and production. Often, this is enforced by strict contractual requirements, but it can also be determined by regional conditions. Late completion of one project can have a detrimental effect on reputations and future business. Together, these factors demand skilful planning and scheduling, and business agility. Complex projects require efficient planning tools to handle the information involved and to present it in ways that enable effective business management.

Any effective planning solution must provide all of the following key features:

  • Multiple levels of planning, from enterprise planning to work pack-based engineering deliverables and construction sequence planning
  • The ability for several planners simultaneously to develop and optimise schedules for individual aspects of the project
  • The ability to analyse and reuse plans from previous projects. Apart from saving time and effort, this can enable more competitive tendering and reduce project risk
  • Close integration with the construction management and materials systems to close the feedback loop, providing visibility of progress against plan and enabling timely and effective rescheduling where necessary.

Gaining a Competitive Advantage with Predictive Tools

Predictive Asset Analytics is a modern tool to help organisations gain the highest return on critical assets by supporting predictive maintenance programs with early warning detection of equipment issues ahead of existing operational alarms. Predictive Asset Analytics gives users the ability to quickly transform raw data into actionable insights to prevent equipment failure and make smart decisions that improve operations

Equipment agnostic, Predictive Asset Analytics can also be configured to monitor assets regardless of equipment type, vendor, or asset age without the need for manufacturer specific asset information. While existing machinery sensor data can be input into the software’s advanced modeling process and compared to real-time operating data to determine and alert upon subtle deviations from expected equipment behavior. This is advantageous for organizations because, once an issue has been identified, the software can assist in root cause analysis and provide fault diagnostics to help the user understand the reason and significance of the problem.

Staying at the Top of the Game

Demand for Asset Performance Management (‘APM’) software has increased significantly over the last five years in particular. Verdantix analysis found that global spending across all industries on APM software, content and related services reached US$2.3 billion in 2019.2

Technological advancements mean that Predictive Asset Analytics can now integrate with a wide variety of data historian solutions, control and monitoring systems and can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud. This effectively means that organisations can monitor a single asset, a specific plant or hundreds of remote assets across multiple sites from a single point. Unscheduled downtime can be reduced through personnel receiving early warning notifications of developing issues.

Instead of shutting down equipment immediately, the situation can be assessed for more convenient outcomes. Maintenance costs can also be reduced through better planning; parts can be ordered and shipped without rush and equipment can continue running. Other benefits include increased asset utilization and life, as well as identifying underperforming assets.

When the world and construction projects return to normality, inevitably there will be questions about schedule delays and there will also be a scramble for labour, materials and equipment. Organisations can stay ahead of the curve by taking affirmative action now in order to keep existing projects and processes on track.

References:

1. Deloitte: COVID-19’s impact on the engineering & construction sector
2. Verdantix 2020 Green Quadrant for Asset Performance Management (APM) Solutions Report here.

Smart app for fast, efficient water infrastructure service launched in the Philippines

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Basic necessities and services must be within everyone’s reach, that is why the  Philippines continues to push for digital transformation amid the pandemic. The digital shift is also encouraged  for companies to stay resilient, innovative and to respond

 better to the needs of their customers. As water and  sanitation services are crucial in the Philippines, the public and private sectors must leverage intelligent digital  technologies that can provide sustainable water supply and improved sanitation for all.  

Aligned with the Philippines’ renewed focus on digitalization, Grundfos Philippines, a global leader in advanced  pump solutions and water technologies, has launched its SmArt Serv mobile app, an innovative 

way to help  address critical pumping infrastructure in the country. SmArt Serv is a cloud-based mobile service app that  conveniently enables customers to get prompt and efficient service support for any Grundfos product, reducing  the overall service process and minimizing the downtime on any pump or system. 

“This pandemic has drastically changed how governments and businesses are operating, and one of the sought after strategies is to digitalize operations of critical infrastructure. As the Philippines rapidly adopts digital  transformation, consumers too are adopting technology to help improve the way their infrastructure is  operated. The SmArt Serv app is the result of listening to our customers and through this app we will provide  next-generation user experience which is personalized, interconnected, fast and seamless,” said Nicolai  Thrane, Regional Service Director, Grundfos Asia Pacific Region.  

The SmArt Serv app will provide another option of getting service support besides the traditional phone and email queries. Through the app, the customer can contact Grundfos or locate the nearest service  provider, fill in the details of the complaint or request, attach a picture of the pump or system and raise a service request.

The app also allows easy tracking of request or complaint status, or escalate late response to another service partner, if necessary. The service provider will provide remote assistance for digital pumps, while a service engineer will be deployed on site to fix the problems for other  pumps. To continuously improve the user-experience, the app also allows customers to provide feedback, leave ratings, and even get a service report and quotation for spare parts; making it a comprehensive  and must-have tool.

“We take pride in building pumps and systems of outstanding quality and we want to complement this with truly-responsive customer service. Customer satisfaction is important to us at Grundfos and we hope to deliver better services, achieve higher service performance and provide additional support to our customers through this app,” added Nicolai Thrane.

Smart Serv is available and free to download on iOS, Android and can also be installed on Windows and desktop  computers .

62% of Construction Leaders Say Lack of Collaboration is the Biggest Cause of Project Delays

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Finalcad, a leading software provider to the construction sector, released the results of a survey of 400 construction leaders in France, Spain, Singapore and Japan, exploring digital transformation in the industry. The research finds the typical profit margin on a construction project averages only 2 percent across the four regions. It also reveals that a lack of digital transformation has left many companies reliant on manual and paper-based workflows; this comes at a time when the slowdown from the impact of the Covid-19 global pandemic is showing how important it is to digitalise operations and support remote working. Further, not digitalising is significantly damaging companies’ ability to collaborate and having a direct impact on the bottom line, with 62 percent of respondents saying that a lack of collaboration is the single biggest cause of construction project delays.

The survey also investigates how universal tasks such as defect management and health and safety inspections are carried out. The findings show companies have several different methods and channels in place; more than half (51 percent) are using a combination of in-person, telephone, email, and/or paper to inform the person responsible for repairs during the quality process of the next action. Worryingly, 53 percent are using unreliable text/SMS or instant messaging (e.g. WhatsApp) to document a safety incident or hazard. The lack of consistency in how this important information is recorded and shared leaves a considerable margin for errors and miscommunication – which can lead to broader safety risks, delays and cost overruns.

“The construction industry’s continued reliance on outdated processes – both on- and off-site – is causing significant inefficiencies. This is not sustainable in a sector where slender margins are a persistent issue,” commented Frank Le Tendre, CEO, Finalcad. “Construction has fallen behind other global industries like finance and retail when it comes to digitalisation, yet this research shows us many of the daily processes that take place on all projects are prime targets for transformation. From snagging to safety, there is no area that cannot be improved by optimising operations. In addition, as regions emerge from the downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, those that have digitised will be able to act quickly to get back to business as usual.”

Another consequence stemming from the failure to digitalise is the difficulty in documenting and capturing data, resulting in invoices being unpaid when a contractor cannot prove work has been done; a majority (90 percent) of respondents across all regions said this ‘free work’ was a common problem. Moreover, construction companies are guilty of ‘reinventing the wheel’ on new projects; 59 percent say they create new templates for existing workflows some, most, or all of the time – a clear waste of time and resources. Both results should be a major driver of digital transformation for construction managers, CEOs and developers – a centralised digital process enables continuous improvement and makes it far easier to proactively record extra work, as well as creating repeatable models. 

“As with all other industries, construction is set to face a challenging time in the short term with the impact of Covid-19 hitting global economies,” continued Franck Le Tendre. “However, in the long term, construction has huge potential for growth. The United Nations predicts two-thirds of the world’s inhabitants will be living in cities by 2050, and we are seeing the smart city trend accelerate fast.[1] If they are to capitalise on these opportunities, construction companies need to digitalise now. Digital transformation removes existing silos and simplifies the challenge that construction companies face of juggling people, plans, skills and materials against a shifting schedule – improving profitability, while increasing the satisfaction of final customers.” 

*The research was undertaken in February and March 2020; commissioned by Finalcad and conducted by independent market research company, Coleman Parks. The total sample size of 400 consists of 200 site managers/directors managing an average of 10 sites, and 200 HQ managers/directors. On site, respondents are the project lead with overall responsibility for a site. In the HQ operation, respondents are business unit directors with responsibility for construction. See ‘Demographics’ section for more detail. Respondents are from commercial and residential construction companies with revenues greater than $51M per year, in France, Spain, Singapore and Japan.

 [1] The United Nations, 68% of the world population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, says UN, 16 May 2021

The Finalcad 2020 Leaders Survey: Exploring Digital Transformation in Global Construction is the first of a two-part series exploring digitalisation in construction; the second report will be published in Autumn 2020. To view the full results and download the report, please fill up the form:

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IDC Survey Reveals: More Than Two in Three Construction Firms in Asia Pacific & Japan Are Prioritizing Digital Transformation

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Autodesk announced the publication of an International Data Corporation (IDC) InfoBrief, “Digital Transformation: The Future of Connected Construction.”


Sponsored by Autodesk, the IDC InfoBrief – a survey of 835 construction professionals from large construction companies in countries across Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific – assesses the construction industry’s digital transformation (DX) maturity and challenges.
According to the findings, most respondents worldwide (58 percent) are in the earliest stages of their DX journey, while 28 percent are in the middle and 13 percent are in the most mature stages.

APJ construction industry must unlock full potential of digitalisation


According to the survey, Japan leads as one of the top three most digitally mature countries globally, alongside Germany and the United States.While 69 percent of construction companies in APJ are prioritizing DX to drive changes to their processes, business models and/or ecosystems, many are struggling to unlock its full potential. 64 percent of the firms in APJ are still in stages 1 or 2 of their DX journeys, and a mere 1 percent in stage 5 (most mature). Within the region, Singapore has been identified as digitally mature having reached stages 1 and 2, but there is still opportunity to improve in order to reach stages 3, 4, and 5. Almost half of organisations in APJ spend just 3 percent or less of their annual turnover on technology, although there are some notable exceptions, such as Singapore, where 45 percent of organisations spend up to 10 percent of their annual turnover on technologies, and 22.4 percent spend up to 15 percent.

Source: IDC InfoBrief, Sponsored by Autodesk, Digital Transformation: The Future of Connected Construction, March 2020

Singapore’s top 3 challenges: Data Security, Lack of Effective Risk Management, and Outdated Technologies


The IDC survey found that a key indicator of DX maturity is the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM), an advanced digital modelling tool for architecture, engineering and construction – the higher the maturity, the higher the proportion of BIM-based workflows in daily operations, but only 43 percent of Singapore companies are currently investing in the technology. Respondents cite data security, lack of effective risk management and outdated technologies as top organisational barriers against implementing BIM.

Total construction demand in Singapore is expected to remain strong through 2024, reaching between S$27 billion and S$35 billion per year. To support this growth, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has committed to digitisation in construction, setting up the Building Innovation Panel to assess innovations to improve the industry. Its Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) efforts, which includes BIM technology, are also crucial in enabling project stakeholders to collaborate better through the use of shared data and information platforms for greater productivity and better project management.

The Path Forward

“While many organisations worldwide have embraced digital transformation and are bringing new innovations into their businesses, the construction industry has yet to fully reap the benefits of digitalisation due to the unique challenges it faces,” said Daniel-Zoe Jimenez, AVP and APAC Head of Digital Transformation at IDC. “However, our research indicates that digital construction solutions (such as BIM workflows, bid management, project management and insights) can help improve construction projects, and construction companies are looking into new, innovative technologies to accelerate their digital transformation.”

“The APAC construction sector is at a crucial stage in its digital evolution; it is poised for growth, but companies must first take full advantage of the technologies available in order to transform. In Singapore, for instance, only two percent of organisations have automated most of their manual processes despite strong governmental and industry push for digitalisation,” said Matthew Dewees, ASEAN Head of Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Media & Entertainment at Autodesk. “Autodesk is committed to helping organisations discern where the changes need to be made, and how to go about doing it. This is especially pertinent in times of change, where companies need to rapidly transform and adapt to new technologies in order to survive.”

 Learn more and read the white paper here.

Aurecon Wins Prestigious Construction Industry Council Innovation Award In Hong Kong

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After a rigorous judging and interview process, global engineering, design, and advisory company Aurecon has won the ‘International 2nd Prize’ in the Construction Industry Council (CIC) Innovation Awards in Hong Kong for its innovative Drone Rock-Mapping Technology. The award was presented at a ceremony on 18 December.

The biennial awards program is one of the flagship events for the construction and engineering industry in Asia, promoting divergent thinking and innovative solutions through new technology applications and scientific breakthroughs, spearheading the sustainable development of the industry.

The award-winning technology was developed by Camilla Gibbons, an Infrastructure Associate and Team Leader at Aurecon, along with her team, which were tackling the challenges faced in New Zealand by post-earthquake projects to remediate damaged cliffs and landslides.

To safely enable construction work underneath the 80-metre-high cliff at Deans Head in Christchurch, and on the surrounding unstable land, the project team engineered the unique and cutting-edge smart drone mapping technology. Combining laser scanning of the cliff and use of drones with photogrammetry techniques provided the inputs to Aurecon’s new digital rock-mapping tool: the first technology of its kind to be used in New Zealand.

Ms Gibbons said the need for accurate rock-face data to address safety concerns was what drove them to innovate.

“To work safely, we needed an accurate 3D photogrammetry model of the site, which would have been impossible without the drone,” she said.

“The technology marks a positive step forward for the industry by offering an alternative to old-style manual rock-mapping techniques, in which safety was a major challenge to overcome.”

Not only did drone-mapping capture vast amounts of information very quickly, but the extracted data was transformed into highly accurate three-dimensional models using sophisticated software. The innovative digital rock-mapping tool then extracted the information required to undertake stability analysis, directly from the digital model.

Aurecon’s Managing Director for Greater China Johnny Lam said that Aurecon is very proud to receive this award in recognition of the team’s effort and contribution to driving construction safety.

“At Aurecon, our passion for digital is reimagining engineering and driving us to use our engineering and advisory expertise to support our clients with creative solutions,” he said. 

Signify Helps Hotels Save Energy Use And Costs While Maintaining Superior Guest Experience

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The hotel industry faces the challenge to reduce its carbon emissions by 66 percent by 2030 and 90 percent by 2050 to stay within the 2˚C threshold agreed at COP21, a United Nations Climate Change initiative. Commissioned by Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, a study by Cundall shows that for mid-scale and luxury hotels, using Interact Hospitality can deliver significant energy savings without compromising on quality and guest comfort.

This connected guest room management system allows for intuitive guest room management in a single dashboard. Compared to rooms with no smart controls in operation, a luxury hotel can consume 28 percent less energy per guest room at 80 percent occupancy. When the guest uses the Green Mode on the thermostat an additional 10 percent energy saving can be achieved.

Hotels are big players when it comes to energy consumption, consistently ranking among the highest energy consumers of the tertiary building sector, which focuses on delivering services.

One possible explanation for high energy use and inefficient energy practices, is that hotels often prioritize guest comfort and experience over everything else. But much more can be done than asking guests to opt-in to less frequent towel changes and the increasing use of refillable toiletry dispensers Cundall’s study shows how integration of control systems into key building services (air conditioning, lighting and power), can play a major role in reaching the energy reduction targets set by the International Tourism Partnership, while maintaining guest comfort.

“Signify’s Interact Hospitality system has a big impact on reducing energy costs, as it controls the room lighting, air conditioning, power and charging sockets and motorized curtains. For example, hotels can optimize their energy usage in unoccupied guest rooms by adjusting the temperature levels in the room automatically and open curtains only when guests have checked in,” said Jella Segers, Global Lead for Hospitality at Signify.

Cundall’s study shows that 65% of the realized energy savings in the hotels studied were achieved due to the integration between Interact Hospitality and the hotel property management system. The remaining 35% energy savings are achieved due to the real-time occupancy control in the guest room.

“Commonly used temperature setpoints used by hotels often make guests feel too warm or too cold, marking vast gaps between indoor and outdoor temperatures. Working with Cundall, recommendations of temperature setpoint ranges have been created, commonly referred to as adaptive comfort hypothesis,” Segers added. Understanding the bandwidth of comfortable temperature set points gives more options for energy savings.

“Based on seasonal changes, the Interact Hospitality system provides support to automatically update temperature setpoints across the hotel, balancing energy use with optimal guest comfort,” said Marcus Eckersley, Managing Director SEA for Cundall.

“Although this study has presented significant energy savings for hotels in hot climates within Southeast Asia, Middle East and North Africa, we anticipate similar savings from heating for hotels in temperate climates, like Europe and North America. Hotel operators can expect favorable returns on investment, compared to guest rooms without a smart control system in operation,” Eckersley added.

Through its open Application Program Interface (API), the Interact Hospitality system communicates to various hotel IT systems, from housekeeping to engineering, as well as guest tablets. Other than maximizing energy efficiency and meeting sustainability goals, staff productivity and guest experience are improved.

Operations can be streamlined, and fast turnaround times are possible with minimal guest disruptions, as Interact Hospitality offers an intuitive dashboard with real-time displays of guest requests and room conditions.

R+T Asia 2020 is Set to Hit a New Record

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One of the most important annual checkpoints for roller shutters, doors/gates, windows and sun protection systems, to be held from 24-26 February, 2020 is expected to be a record-breaking expo in terms of exhibition space.

The 2019 edition of R+T Asia was the biggest ever, attracting a record number of visitors from all-over the world to connect with 640+ exhibitors. Three months prior the show organisers have been predicting another new record in exhibit space sold, with booking figures already ahead of the previous year’s booking.

More Products, More Opportunities

“For most visitors, the primary benefit of R+T Asia is the hundreds of exhibits of high-end products that combine innovative design with smart and sustainable solutions, which are increasingly demanded by Asian consumers” organizers said.

“Our expectations of the show were high,” said Bruno Doucet, CEO, Progressive Distribution, a visitor to R+T Asia 2019. “And so far our expectations have been met. There were an amazing selection of suppliers there. The size of the show has been extremely impressive, and there are so many potential suppliers. I look forward to coming back to R+T Asia 2020.”

“The show’s international area is growing rapidly, attracting many overseas brands that want expand their position in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The floor space devoted to sun protection products continues to grow. In The exhibitors will feature variety of drive and control systems, the newest finished window coverings, blinds and shades, external sun protection systems, pergolas, awnings, machinery, a wide range of window covering accessories and fabrics. The exhibiting space for doors and gates has already increased by 40 per cent over R+T Asia 2019. Next yera the visitors will find the newest solutions dor industrial doors and gates, garage systems, automatic and interior dors, including smart access systems, and more”

New Product Categories to Complete Buyer Portfolios

R+T Asia continually extends its exhibited product categories to satisfy visitor expectations. At the 2020 show, the new co-located HD+ Asia show in Hall E1 will feature three new product categories: Soft Decoration, Future Living, and Outdoor Furniture. Consequently, visitors will learn the latest Chinese e trends in decorative cloth products for walls, curtains, and smart homes, as well as the latest outdoor furniture, furniture fabrics and materials, and outdoor-living solutions.

Educational. Networking. Inspiring.

“Central to the show are the networking initiatives that bring together visitors and exhibitors. These include before-the-show and onsite programs like the Hosted Buyer program, the Business School, InnovAction online system, InnovAction Hub, summits, workshops, group delegations of industry associations, as well as the presence of Chinese and international media.”

IWDS, the International Window & Door Summit, the only high-end international summit in the window, door/gate, and sun-protection system industries in the Asia Pacific region will come bact for the 8ht time, atracting global leaders and industry experts who will share the latest trends and technologies and discuss hot topics affecting the market.

In addition, R+T Asia 2020 will include educational events, such as the Smart Home Summit, Real Estate Forum, Soft Decoration and Design Summit, Hospital Architectural Art and Light Environment Forum, Warehouse Construction and Cold Chain Planning Seminar, Hotel Design Forum, Materia, as well as the most international summit International Window and Door Summit (IWDS).

These contentrich events feature international speakers and industry experts who help attendees gain a better understanding of the Chinese market and global trends. Since its establishment, R+T Asia’s vision has been to provide a platform for companies that want to expand business in the Asia-Pacific region.

Through networking initiatives, matchmaking programs, and educational events, the show accelerates dialogue between buyers and suppliers for the sun protection systems and door/ gate industry.

The pre-registration system is now open. It takes less than two minutes to register and receive your confirmation email.

Scan below code to receive FREE exclusive access.

Cosentino We is the New Global Community for Professionals

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Cosentino Group, one of the global leaders in the production and distribution of innovative surfaces for the world of architecture and design, announced the launch of the “Cosentino We” platform, a new international digital community that connects the various professionals who choose and endorse the Dekton®, Silestone® and Sensa by Cosentino® surfaces.

This is in line with the company’s philosophy to recognise teamwork as a key factor in the milestones it has achieved and as a company oriented towards its customers and partners. The new platform also forms part of the digital transformation initiative the company is spearheading. 
This project is based on a new digital ecosystem that takes the company’s existing loyalty programme one step further, transforming the means of collaborating and communicating and opening the door to new professional segments such as architects and designers.

General Manager of Cosentino Southeast Asia, Pablo Abad Gomez expressed, “Since the launch of Cosentino We last April, we have seen more than 300 professionals joining the platform. Now as we plan to make this platform available to more people in various parts of the world including end users by next year, we hope to be able to bridge the communications among professionals of diverse backgrounds to come together through collaborations and sharing of ideas to showcase the best of Cosentino’s brands in a highly interconnected world.”

Cosentino We offers a range of opportunities for stonemasons, kitchen retailers, architects and designers to grow their businesses, such as better access to information, enhanced ways of experiencing the brands and products thanks to new and agile digital tools, a closer relationship with the end client, greater visibility and awareness for their projects and the creation of a dialogue among professionals from different nationalities, and even different languages.

Cosentino We offers four levels of collaboration, simplified according to professional segments: “Pro”, “Elite”, “Premium” and “Platinum”. The approach taken by Cosentino We is characterised by the development of tools that motivate and respond to the needs of each of the profiles it includes, with the speed and agility that the world of digital is able to provide.

The result of two years’ hard work, Cosentino We is part of the digital transformation process that the company is currently undergoing, with the aim of leading the digitalisation of the sector and its own internal processes in order to inspire and promote loyalty among clients and partners. Initially launched in Dubai, Brazil, Sweden and Singapore, Cosentino We will be implemented in a total of 20 countries in 2019 and extended to further markets in 2020.

Check out Cosentino We here.