Power Group has been managing not only to stay afloat, but also keeping its top-5 position despite several odds that are impacting the industry. Competition from new entrants coupled with the impact of global economic slowdown is keeping pressure on the cleaning and facilities management (FM) sectors. The diversified Dubai-based Power Group is engaged into cleaning, facilities management, power elevators/ escalators, landscaping/ irrigation, security services, waste management and property management. For Mohamed Jahir Hussian, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Power Group, key factors such as unmatched quality services, keeping tabs on costs and focusing on sustainability help the company to stand apart in the market.

As GCC governments across the region have embarked on massive spending programmes of construction across different industry verticals, the demand for cleaning and facility management services has started gaining the momentum in the region. “The infrastructure including airports, roadways, parking, ports and railways apart from the rapid construction activity have resulted in a great demand for our industry. Then our industry rose to the occasion answering the growing needs for management of properties and the concrete assets. Though the property market is yet to mature, facilities management services segment emerged as an industry that is growing across the GCC countries. Most notably across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where the scale of investment across the construction sector continues to be the largest in their region,” explains Hussian.

Explaining about the company’s focus on quality service to customers rather than going by the contribution of each business segment to the top line of the company, Hussian explains: “Our mission is to help people build and maintain facilities through sustainable FM solutions. We are committed to provide the highest level of service by delivering quality, dependable, on time delivery and service and partnerships built upon excellence and mutual relations.”

Challenges

Despite healthy and steady growth, the company is still cautious in its approach considering the several challenges that are impeding the industry in general for maintaining the hygiene standards in the region particularly the UAE.

Narrating how several challenges slowing down the industry, Hussian said:”The challenges we are facing are in areas such as health and safety checks, controlling the quality of work to meet hygiene standards, proactively looking for improvements to hygiene procedures and practices, conducting internal hygiene audits and training staff members.”

Getting new customers or renewing contracts are not an easy task amid present market conditions. “Getting reputed clients for new companies has been the most challenging task, but few of the clients have taken the risk in hiring new companies only to seek our services again because of the inability of the new companies to fulfil the clients’ expectations,” said Hussian. As many companies are cutting down costs, it’s increasing pressure on the cleaning industry.

“More refined market segmentation is key in the current environment, where budget constraints are driving down customer spending, making it harder for vendors to gain market share. Hence, we have devised industry specific package for different verticals like hospitals, education, shopping malls, retail, residential and commercial buildings, etc,” said Hussian.

On the other spiralling raw material costs seem to be posing a major challenge. “We employ specialists to extract the underlying trends behind price volatility and use financial derivative instruments. Another method of fighting raw material costs is to develop new combinations of ingredients in our services to reduce waste. But, if no other way can be found to rein back costs they are passed on to the consumer. This is done by explaining the customers in a phased approach,” adds Hussian.

Manpower shortage

Agreeing that skilled manpower shortage is impacting the industry, Hussian said: “With banning Bangladesh, Ethiopian and few more nationalities, the availability of manpower is becoming the most challengeable task. Further growing restrictions from the country of hire like minimum salary range and benefits package have further troubled recruitment.”

Humble beginning

Going way back in mid 90s, two budding young entrepreneurs-- Ahmed Khaleel and Mohammed Jahir Hussain—paved the way to make their dream a reality. Driven by a never give up attitude and commitment to provide total facilities solutions at the highest quality standard in a thoroughly professional manner, Khaleel and Hussain floated Power Services in 1995 for providing cleaning services in the UAE. Over a period of time, the company has gained strength by winning customers’ confidence and this helped it grow further. With rich experience behind them, both the entrepreneurs had devised strategies to push it further. As a result, the company is growing vertically and horizontally to include activities like mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP), pest control, security services, construction, landscaping and facilities management, etc.

“Cleaning service has been the mother of all our services. We have started as a cleaning company and today we are a full-fledged FM Company which provides more than 15 services,” claims Hussian. The company’s philosophy puts employees as the most important assets at Power Group. “Our 3,500 employees are an integral part of the company’s vision and the human resources practices adopted are benchmarked with the best in the industry. Our onsite staff has been very much successful in maintain environment-friendly services in coordination with occupants,” said Hussian.

Power Group as part of its human resource development plan, gives top priority in training its employees and also takes measures to bridge the demand-supply gap. “Training and development are an integral part of every employee and the company ensures that our employees exceed industry benchmarks through actively promoting their participation in international workshops and seminars. We have around 50 green clean technicians and very soon we will be the British Institute for Cleaning Science certified training provider. We have more than 50 first aiders and fire-fighters. Our recruitment approach has a pre-selection checklist, which makes each of the post we recruit are customised,” explains Hussian.

Green initiative

At our core, we are a green FM company. We have been pioneers in training our teams in green techniques and product use. Not only do we use all available green products, but our equipment is green as well to reduce the amount of volatile organic compound (VOC) and improving your indoor air quality.

“Our company is the first green cleaning in the UAE. Executive team includes LEED APs, Green Consultants, IMS Lead Auditors, EFQM certified and DQA Assessors. Working with some of the country’s largest property management companies, real estates, industrial, commercial companies, Power Group knows the power of green. Our services will maximize our customers’ budget, carbon footprint and reputation,” added Hussian. The company is also offering tips on green and healthy housekeeping and indoor air quality. Being the total solutions provider, Power Group has developed expertise in delivering environmental friendly solutions. At Power Group, H&S practices have the highest priority. Hence, throughout its entire management process, safety and health aspects are factored into risk assessment.

CRM software

Today’s competitive marketplace compels every organisation to listen to the voice of its customers. Considering the market pulse, the company gives utmost priority to customer relationship. It has installed recently CRM software Maximo. CRM is the Voice of Customer to know the views grievances of customers. “We measure, manage, and help maximize our customers’ satisfaction and bringing them further close to our organisation,” said Hussian. 

Focus on indoor air quality

Poor quality indoor air can produce health effects in occupants ranging from headaches and dry eyes to nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. Janitorial workers experience relatively high injury rates, many of which are due to the toxic chemicals found in cleaning products, particularly floor and carpet maintenance products, disinfectants, and damage, major organ damage, and even cancer. “Our cleaning strategy gives priority to health of our customers first and then second priority goes to appearance aspect. We are focusing on improving indoor air quality, while protecting the health of building occupants and workers,” said Hussian.

Innovation

The growing trend in the market is driving price competition among the industry players where volume demand is now declining. In today’s economy, property owners and managers alike are constantly scanning the horizon, searching for opportunities to outsource their building cleaning and maintenance services to specialist companies in order to improve operational efficiencies. Agreeing that customers turned out to be very cautious and price sensitive, Hussian said: “When it comes to finding a cleaning services company that will provide best practices at the right price, successfully managing the vendor selection process is mission critical to obtaining a good fit. That is why we are concentrating more on innovation through which we are trying to reduce price like microfiber implementation, diluting machines, etc, apart from various chemical reducing technologies.”

Of late, the UAE government has turned very keen on standards in the health and hygiene segment and is working with different organisations on this. Many companies involved in cleaning and facilities management sectors have forged hands with the government to spread awareness among the people about cleaning and hygiene aspects. Power Group is actively participating in such aware building programmes.

“Our CSR programmes have been appreciated by Dubai Municipality and we have been involved with them for the last four years through beach cleaning, clean up world, etc,” adds Hussian. However, though UAE gives top priority to the cleaning and hygiene aspects, there’s no forum or some initiative in an organised manner for the benefit of the industry.

Giving a positive outlook for the industry and the media role in spreading the awareness, Hussian said: “Clean Middle East magazine has really done well in the last three to four years and the issues raised here have been well received. We hope that as the industry is growing, we will see lot of action in this regard. DM has been working on so many projects similar to EPA.”

Rope Access Division

Rope Access is fast becoming the preferred method of work at height for cleaning and maintenance. We invest heavily in training and equipment to IRATA standard which is internationally accepted as representing best practice all work at height industry. With varied portfolio ranging from heavy industry to residential and commercial properties, we are confident that we can get the job done efficiently, safely and to a high standard.