With the expansion of external professional services over the last two decades, new options have been afforded to organisations looking to save time and resources and to improve standards by hiring external bodies. While a vast majority of external assistance has been brought in through different stages of short- and medium-term projects, firms have also come to rely on external contractors over longer periods of time. As a result, external facilities management consultants and professionals have sprung up across the globe, offering a range of contemporary and leading edge services to help assist building services.
Trailblazing in this field across the Middle East, Africa and south Asia, EFS Facilities Services was established a few years ago after a gap in the market was recognised by the firm’s founders.
Leading the team is Tariq Chauhan, whose guidance and strategic vision has seen the company evolve and grow substantially during his tenure. Under Chauhan’s direction, the firm has grown from regional to multinational player, covering the Middle East, Africa, and south Asia, with particular success over the last five years. Since he joined the company, Chauhan has overseen EFS’ expansion from five to 20 countries in total.
The company’s success has been no coincidence. Chauhan has pushed the firm to use the right mix of new and existing technologies to ensure a better standard of service deliverables for clients. As a result, EFS has been able to streamline and temper existing operating procedures, reducing overall operating costs while making more expenses variable as opposed to fixed – a strong plus for many clients in the sector.
For this, the firm utilises a format in which service integration takes the form of a rolling process and covers the lifecycle of any development and construction project. This allows for coverage throughout the project, giving scope for both knowledge transfer and greater internal control of processes and mechanisms. EFS’ approach is to take a strong involvement throughout the design, construction, commissioning and handover stages of project development, delivering a sustainable service and ensuring longevity of standards. By maintaining a presence throughout the process, costs can be monitored and controlled, which is something that Chauhan has identified as pivotal for property owners. By bringing commercial prudence to the overall contract, Chauhan has differentiated EFS from its competitors in the facilities services sector.
Chauhan’s presence has also been felt in other areas of the sector. Under his leadership, EFS has been driven to synchronise a sustainable lifestyle, focus on a healthy and safe environment, and ensure that quality improvement is an ongoing process, all while dealing with governments, fortune 500 companies, large multinationals and banks.
Through the operating of delivery assurance, quality control and service level management, the firm allows for a multilayered approach to client relations. Chauhan’s innovative and forward-looking approach to ensuring a greater customer base has ensured the firm’s growth in new and emerging markets. As such, EFS is looking forward to new projects across all of its operating regions over the coming months.