How engineering and construction technologies have facilitated real estate industry

The most important aspect of the industry is the tools that are used to build it. Like any other sector the tools of the trade in the real estate industry have evolved. These advancements have been leveraged to build new business in a professional, efficient & effective manner.

Companies like JCB, CAT etc have been investing heavily in research and development to produce world’s toughest, fastest, smallest and fuel efficient construction equipment. Latest backhoe loaders, tracked excavators, wheeled loaders, compactors, drills etc reduce the time and improve the efficiency of construction work which was not possible otherwise.

High rises usually have long gestation period which escalate the cost. Today exciting new technologies have emerged like Jump from ie climbing form. With this the core walls can be completed ahead of the rest of the building structure. The monotonous and engineered nature of form work, allows fine tuning of construction operations which in turn leads to minimal concrete wastage.

Low rise and value homes have been blessed with pre cast technology. In this case various sections of the structure are cast in factories and then assembled on site. This technology thrives on economies of scale and similarity of layouts.  It can achieve almost zero wastage and reduction in the number of highly skilled engineers leading to reduction of cost.

Aluminum formwork technology has helped in constructing huge number of houses in short period of time. It involves using room sized forms to construct wall and slab in one continuous pour of concrete. On removal of bolted forms a high quality concrete semi-finished product is produced which requires no plastering. Such technology requires less labor, provides uniform quality and reduces chances of leakage.

With rapidly increasing GDP of India we can expect engineering & construction technology companies investing more in research and development wing in order to come up with superior products.

Employee Engagement more than just a ‘buzz word’

Who is an engaged employee? Author Tim Rutledge explains that an engaged employee is the one who is inspired by his work.  Engaged employees are willing to invest discretionary effort and exceed working hours to make sure that the organisation succeeds. But does the onus of working with commitment towards the greater goal rests only with the employee or does the organisation and the leadership have a role to play? It is the responsibility of the organisation to create an environment which is conducive to learning via training, mentoring etc as it is noticed that these things are directly proportional to the commitment or engagement quotient of the employees.

To ensure that employees work with the same rigour and robustness through the year,organisations can take the following steps-

Encourage Higher Education –
Most employees want to do new things with their jobs. Some even want to pursue higher education in top universities, but often hesitate because of financial challenges or work pressure. However, if the organisation encourages the employees to take up a course it sets an example that the organisation cares for them.

Conduct Training Sessions –
Case study led training modules with experts across the organisation  inspires the employees to strive for more. These sessions should be interactive, where the employee gets an opportunity to collaborate with the senior management. These sessions should be in collaboration with other functions of the organisation, which will help the employees to know their colleagues from other departments and will help them understand group goals beyond personal targets.

Have an open door policy –
To create leaders out of employees it’s important that they interact with the leaders without any hesitation. When empowered with the opportunity of being part of the decision making process of the organisation, employees take ownership of the problems. Having an open-door policy or style creates room for employees to drive innovative ideas.

Provide constructive feedback –

Employee engagement is not a onetime activity; it is in fact an activity that the leader should undertake on a regular basis. Most of the organisations have quarterly reviews and appraisals as a standard procedure to share feedback with the employee, if the leader provides positive and constructive feedback to them at regular intervals it provides great encouragement to the employees.

In conclusion, employee engagement ensures that the roadblocks towards the growth of the company and the employees are cleared and the true talent of the employees is unleashed.

Why do malls symbolise a failed city

The hustle and bustle of a city life, its streets, the shopping arenas and the food is what defines the soul of the city. These are at the core of any city that you visit across the globe. You will often hear people visiting cities to explore its street life and not to explore the malls.

While there is an increase in the number of malls in the city there is also a growing phenomenon of malls shutting shop. Wonder why is this happening? The mall culture has its perks but has led to entrapping people in an enclosure. The soul of the city is lost,-shopping and entertainment should be more social in nature and play a vital role in weaving the fabric of the city.

What a city needs is a high-street shopping experience and not a shopping mall. A place they can call their own, a place that defines the story of the city, a place where people can just hang out and unwind, this needs to happen on the streets where it enlivens city life.. A visit to any vibrant and successful city is a testimony to the fact that high streets are an integral part of their lives and that it adds characterto the city.

How has marketing technology facilitated real estate sector

 In the past decade marketing technologies have changed the way people are viewing  content.  It has given greater access to  information on your fingertips thereby helping in better decision making  and bridging the gap between buyer and the seller.

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Owing to higher returns, developers are aggressively sharing project information to potential buyers through the digital medium. It has now become a key aspect of the marketing media plan of all companies. Simulating an actual property in the form of a virtual tour or 360 degree tour is the best thing that can happen to the real estate industry. This technology gives a clear picture of the product to the potential buyer staying far away from the destination of purchase. Such simulation expedites his decision making process, which wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

As real estate is an extremely high involvement purchase, customers thrive on the opinion of existing customers or other potential buyers. Today, there are various forums, blogs and social networking sites dedicated to real estate that provide in depth information and help them understand the nuances of the project.

Virtual appointments is another game changer in today’s world which enables sales personnel connect with customers smoothly. Talking to the sales personnel online who actually share their screen and explain the entire project with help of floor plan, unit plan, payment schedules etc has completely transformed the sales process today.  Further usage of graphical images on i-pad and other mobile devices help relationship managers communicate effectively.

Togetherness is the true essence of our communities – Not Malls

Crafting dreams and creating communities has always been the corner stone of our business model. It’s never about constructing a building; it’s always about great places to live.

We share our customer’s dream and understand their residential and business needs. While buying a house it’s not just the price but an entire gamut of important components that contribute to the decision of buying a property.

In Our projects we have built more than 300 buildings, and we brought these buildings to life understanding the different needs of the community, where each building caters to specific needs like some are residential and some are commercial. We believe in creating a vast blend of activities, we have created a hospital, a school, hotels and leisure destinations with ample green spaces. Horticulture and landscaping is our core and we take pride in the spaces we create.

It is communities that we have built where within the hustle and bustle of the city; public can find a place of their own. This would not be possible if we had built a mall.  Within our communities it’s about shopping by the streets it’s a unique experience that each one has. Therefore, in large cities like New York people love to walk even though it is crowded with pedestrians. Congestion on streets with pedestrians is welcome and happens where there are ample retail, dining and entertainment options available on the street front. What is not welcome is private automobiles if they eat up large road spaces and require huge parking lots which malls necessarily do.

Having a healthy street life also enhances the well being and security of a community.