Mohsin Haider Darwish Infrastructure, Technology, Industrial and Consumer Solutions (MHD-ITICS): Your Partner for Smart Office Innovation

Muscat: Modern workplaces are all about providing a conducive work environment for those that inhabit them. While elements like open spaces, greenery, and natural lighting are all said to contribute to making the place more uplifting and, thereby, boosting productivity, there is a new and more quantifiable component that a number of companies are now turning to – transforming a regular workplace to a Smart Office.

Technology forms the heart of a smart office, and the same technology is primarily geared at enhancing employee experiences, helping them work smarter, quicker and better. The hybrid environment also leads to the best utilisation of management tools and other creative resources while streamlining processes to reduce redundancy, repetition, or inaccuracies.

On a global level, the smart office market was valued at $31.37 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $90.63 billion by 2030, growing at an 11.1% CAGR between 2021 and 2030, according to Allied Market Research. The company also highlighted that one of the main factors driving this trend is the increased focus on energy efficiency and the attention to adhering to industry standards and regulations. Locally, Oman Vision 2040 outlines the country’s path to transitioning to a green, circular economy with sustainability at its core. In line with the same, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has announced the launch of an innovative initiative to develop three smart cities in Sohar, Nizwa, and Salalah. Keeping with the country’s vision, private developers have also announced plans to promote smart cities that will position themselves as thriving commercial and residential destinations. With business parks seeing a strong boom, smart offices will make up an integral part of these smart cities and will incorporate different elements from smart buildings to smart security and communication.

Just like companies prioritise customers and evolve with changing market demands, it has also become quintessential to embrace technology to drive efficiency at workplaces. As a pioneer in introducing the latest developments in the realm of technology to the local market, Mohsin Haider Darwish Infrastructure, Technology, Industrial and Consumer Solutions (MHD-ITICS) provides integrated IoT-based solutions and high-end softwares designed to enhance collaboration, satisfaction, and productivity in any workplace.

• Detecting Employee Occupancy on Desk – Desk or occupancy sensors are non-intrusive monitoring devices that are used to assess office space usage. They reduce the time spent on finding free desks or meeting rooms and generate insightful data on spaces that are most or infrequently used to better manage office layouts. These sensors are ideal for large, multi-level office areas and can be automated with other softwares to help conserve energy when desks are not in use.
• Smart Meeting Room Booking Systems – These systems ensure that meetings are scheduled accurately, communicated to the concerned executives, and free from disruptions. A well-integrated system also gives individuals greater flexibility to manage bookings while reducing administrative workloads.
• Smart AC and Electricity Control Solutions – Electricity wastage is one of the most common problems at workplaces. With the use of smart technologies, it is possible to significantly improve energy efficiency. ACs, lights, and other electricals can be automatically or remotely turned off when not in use. In addition, lights and indoor temperatures can also be customised according to the changing outdoor environments.
• Integrated Visitor Management Systems – With security being a critical component of all organisations, Visitor Management Systems combined with various access controls have proven to be increasingly helpful in tracking and monitoring visitors while reducing the need for physical escorts. It can also be customised to limit access to restricted areas or beyond predetermined timings.
• Zero-Touch Employee Attendance Systems – While the focus of such systems is safety by minimising contact, Zero-Touch Employee Attendance Systems also deliver precise results by eliminating overlapping and accurately identifying employees. With the growing popularity of such systems, MHD-ITICS has implemented Time and Attendance Solutions for leading manufacturing companies and retail chains in Oman. This has also helped automate processes through seamless integration with payroll and other IT systems. Timely and error-free reports of work hours clocked in by employees are not only vital to assessing performance, addressing challenges of absenteeism, and preparing payrolls but have also proven to inject higher efficiency in overall business operations while instilling a greater sense of discipline amongst employees.
• Software Solutions – These significantly enhance employee productivity and are an essential imperative. These solutions range from Unified Communication and Collaboration suites to Service Management and Helpdesk solutions that cater to a variety of end-users ranging from IT teams to HR departments. With expertise in delivering and deploying such solutions to large enterprises, MHD-ITICS brings not just credibility but also knowledge of best practices that can be replicated effectively.