EPF’s move to a new headquarters marked a significant milestone, presenting an opportunity to create a conducive working environment by leveraging the latest technology. The goal was to increase productivity and enhance service delivery to the nation. This was EPF’s first foray into smart building solutions, setting a precedent for potential expansion to other branches.

Discovery

Defining the critical success factors for Menara EPF Smart Building was a meticulous process. Clear objectives and requirements were established from the beginning, alongside guiding principles to ensure project success. Allocating sufficient time and attention to this stage proved essential.

Solution

The transition to a smart building presented several challenges, with user acceptance being the most significant. Moving away from familiar practices required staff to step out of their comfort zones, a shift many were initially reluctant to make. Effective change management was crucial to navigate this resistance.

Results

The implementation of Hevea brought several benefits to EPF staff and operations:

• Parking Management: The parking function became highly popular among staff, addressing previous parking issues. Despite a steep learning curve, patience and dedication from all parties have gradually smoothed the process.

• Facility Booking: This function has been widely used, maximising the utilisation of shared meeting facilities and freeing up valuable floor space for other purposes.

• Lighting and A/C Controls: These controls have significantly reduced power consumption, contributing to EPF’s ESG goals and carbon footprint monitoring initiatives.

Hevea introduced a welcome change to daily operations, replacing old manual processes with a user-friendly app. This shift has significantly improved productivity and efficiency, while also boosting staff morale by offering unique features.

Operational Intelligence played a crucial role in the development of EPF’s smart building solutions. They guided the project from development to completion and well into the DLP, ensuring EPF’s needs were met while protecting the interests of both parties.

Future

Looking ahead, EPF plans to transition towards cloud solutions, facilitating seamless remote working. The goal is to provide fast and reliable services to all members, enabling interactions without the need for physical meetings.

EPF recommends other companies considering smart building or office initiatives to proceed, highlighting the long-term benefits for productivity. The domino effect of such technological advancements can open up further opportunities for innovation across the organisation.