UBM India launches the first edition of ‘World of Facilities’

UBM India, India’s leading exhibition organizer launched the first edition of World of Facilities (WOF) today at the Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC), Goregaon, Mumbai. A three day exhibition (24th – 26th April 2017), World of Facilities is India’s premier trade event & conference for the facility management product & service industry.

The inaugural ceremony of World of Facilities 2017 took place in the presence of key dignitaries Mr Sandeep Sethi- Managing Director – West Asia, Integrated Facilities Management- JLL India, Mr. Dharminder Salwan, Director Blackrock APAC & Board Member INFHRA, Mr. Yogesh Mudras – MD, UBM India and Mr. Abhijit Mukherjee – Group Director, UBM India, amidst a sizeable industry gathering.

Through the expo, UBM India provided a trade platform for the facilities management supplier industry to showcase their innovative products & services, network, and connect with key decision makers from every level of a wide range of sectors. With leading global real estate services firm JLL as its knowledge partner, the expo also witnessed a high profile conference on the sidelines where stalwarts from the fraternity discussed industry trends, a peek into future possibilities, challenges, market insights and also provided in-depth solutions.

The show brought together more than 100 exhibitors and over 200 major Indian and global brands of  the facilities management industry such as HIKVISION, Zeta, NESTLE, Cannon Hygiene, 3M, Karcher Cleaning, Charnok Cleaning, Uniclean, MCS, Buzil Rossario,  Pure Duct Services, SMS,  Sierra ODC , Aura facility Management, Arrow Greentech Ltd,  Synconext India Pvt Ltd. and MCS Solutions (P) Ltd, Fine Grace, HygieneTech, amongst others.

WOF showcased an exciting array of novel and futuristic products and services, ranging from smart solutions, security solutions, air conditioning & mechanical ventilation, to energy management, environmental management, Hygiene cleaning and waste management solutions, FM Software & IT solutions, Facilities Services, workplace, HR services and much more. Significantly, the event is well-supported by key associations — Hospitality Purchase Managers Forum (HPMF), Global Infra-facilities and Project Management Association (GIFPMA), The Infrastructure Facility Human Resource & Realty Association (iNFHRA) and Indian Pest Control Association (IPCA); Knowledge Partners —  Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL India ), along with Maharashtra Fire Service as a partner.

The two-day conference delivered unique and innovative value propositions to exhibitors and visitors alike. It focussed on the endless possibilities in the domain as well as challenges faced by Facility Managers, Admin and Operations Managers, Purchase Managers, Facility Technical Heads on cost management, manpower management, integrated facility management, automation, security and new technologies.

The conference has an excellent selection of renowned speakers from the industry that include Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Managing Director -West Asia; Integrated Facilities Management, JLL; Mr. Subroto Mukherjee, Head Administration & Facilities Management, Cipla Ltd.; Mr. Sandeep Sudan, Head – Centre of Excellence – Global Corporate Security, Reliance Industries Limited; Ms. Ratna Pawan, Global Head of Security Risk, GSCs and Technology; HSBC Operations, Service and Technology – Operations | HSBC Electronic Data Processing India Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Manish Kachhy, Head Intelligence & Vigilance, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., and Ms. Gandhali Samant, Senior Technology Evangelist – Microsoft, to name a few.

Day 1 saw renowned industry thought leaders engaging in panel discussions on ‘Getting FM to boardroom’; ‘Data, Analytics & Internet of Things’; and ‘Sustainability: Strategic or Tactical Approach?’ and knowledge sessions on ‘Technology & the changing role of Facility Managers’; ‘Trends impacting FM industry’; ‘Driving value through technology enabled procurement’; ‘Energy Procurement’ and ‘Evolving partnership models’.  The schedule for Day 2 includes panel discussions on ‘Diversity & Inclusion – An industry fad or robust business sense?’; ‘Cleaning, Hygiene, Waste Management  & Green Solutions’; ‘Attracting talent to the FM industry (industry examples)’; ‘Pest Control : Pest Impact on Properties – role of IPM, FM Industry & Public Health’ and ‘FM’s role in managing new age talent’. Further, it will have knowledge sessions on ‘Future of work’; ‘Ensuring Security through technology’; and ‘Changing scenario on Compliance & Labor Laws’, to name a few.

Speaking at the maiden launch of World of Facilities 2017, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India said, “A combination of several factors has created a huge potential for FM services in India. These include the boom in real estate, growth in retail and hospitality sectors, modernisation of technology, increased standards of living, and the need for efficient management of vast and ever increasing human traffic at malls, hospitals, airports and workplace clusters. The industry is expected to reach a value of approximately $19.4 billion by 2020.  Simultaneously, the tendency towards eco-friendly, green initiatives — that will help conserve energy and resources for the future — have also led to an increased sensitisation towards facility management services.

He added, “As innovators and community influencers, UBM India felt it was the right time to present the maiden edition of World of Facilities to India and showcase top-of-the-line, novel and the most eco-friendly products on offer. I am sure the World of Facilities will further catalyse the growth of this sector and its conferences will provide relevant food for thought to industry professionals.”

Sandeep Sethi, MD – Integrated Facility Management, JLL West Asia, and also Chairman, Steering Committee, World of Facilities, said, “The facilities management industry is about $7.5 billion large. It has grown by around 15% in the last three years. The projections are that it will continue to grow at the same pace through 2020. It is at this opportune time that JLL as knowledge partner has joined hands with UBM India to launch World of Facilities. This is going to be India’s premier and most comprehensive B2B platform for the facility management industry.  The show comprises two formats – expo and conference. The event catered to many local and global suppliers, manufacturers, consultants, service providers, along with thousands of people participating from different verticals. All participating organisations will benefit from the extensive learning and showcasing of latest initiatives by the facilities management industry. With JLL as the knowledge partner, along with support from various organizations, such as Maharashtra Fire Services, iNFHRA and a few others, World of Facilities is set to provide a unique platform for various stakeholders from across the world, across different industries to engage, network and learn from each other. JLL is delighted to partner with UBM to influence the facilities management landscape for this powerful event.”